Lydia rolled her lips together, wanting to ask what he’d been doing these past four months, wanting to breach this gulf between them. But also stinging from the animosity rolling off of him.
He’d once welcomed her questions. He’d once allowed her to comfort him. “How is your mother? Is she here in London?” she asked instead.
Pain flashed across his face. She only recognized it because she’d seen it so many times in the past.
His voice, when it came, was unemotional and flat. “She is here, but she is… recovering. She had apoplexy on boxing day.”
Lydia’s hand flew up to her chest. “I am so sorry. I would have visited her if?—”
“She’s not taking visitors.” He refused to meet her gaze now, choosing instead to stare at the gaming tables. “Don’t come here again. This isn’t a place for ladies.”
“Oh.” That must mean he spent a good deal of his time here then. Did he flirt with the ladies when he gambled? “I didn’t know you were a member.”
“The club’s membership is private.” The ice in his voice slashed through to the core of her bones. The look in his eyes informed her that his personal life would be kept private as well.
From her.
She hugged her arms, rubbing the spot where he’d touched her elbow.
Very well. She refocused.
“If I’m going to finalize the purchase of the Tuesday Warehouse, I’ll need your answer soon, before the owner begins entertaining other offers.” If they were going to have to work together, she could at least move things along. Not because she didn’t want to know him again, but because he obviously didn’t want to know her.
If only she knew why!
“Your coat, my lady.” Ben reappeared with the pea-green woolen cloak he’d taken earlier, handed it to her with little ceremony, and then quickly disappeared out the door to keep an eye out for the carriage. Holding the garment, she again wished she’d worn something prettier that day, and then immediately squashed the thought.
“Is shabby and ill-fitting the new style, then?” Jeremy asked, watching her struggle to find the openings to the sleeves. “Not your color at all.”
His behavior was not only boorish but outright rude!
“We dress this way for the docks. I wouldn’t normally—" The coat slipped away from her a third time, and she all but growled. “Have you lost all sense of propriety? A little assistance would be appreciated!” It was his fault, of course, for making her feel so clumsy.
“What good is propriety?”
Lydia’s heart cracked. Was he so unhappy that he didn’t care aboutanything?
“You once thought it was something that mattered.” She tilted her head back in frustration, allowing the coat to hang to the floor, her left arm in the sleeve, her right arm free.
“I once thought a good many things mattered.” Despite his words, he reached out and lifted her coat for her anyway.
Even through her coat and clothing, his touch affected her. Concentrating on her buttons, she took a step away from him and tried to recenter herself again.
“Why an orphanage, Lydia?” he asked. “Why not leave something so…impossibleup to one of the dowagers? I’d think organizing charity events would be more suitable for you.”
“Charity events?” she huffed. “Look, it’s not that I don’t think they do any good at all, but opening an orphanage is something that will have a lasting impact. And it isn’t impossible!”
“For God’s sake, you’re not up to something like this. It’s a massive undertaking.”
“Someone has to do it. If not us, then who? I never realized before how many children were without homes.There are thousands of them!After meeting Clarissa last spring, and then volunteering at one of her orphanages over the holiday, I…”
But his brandy-colored eyes looked cold and bored. She glared. “You wouldn’t understand. Why did you ask if you didn’t care to know the answer?”
“Just making conversation. I thought you wanted me to respect your all-important proprieties.” His mouth twitched, as though he’d tasted something bitter. “Regardless, you’re too young to take this on, and when you get tired of it and the varnish on your pet project fades, you’ll likely do more harm than good.”
“I’m not the fickle one.” She lifted her chin. “Once I begin something, I follow through with it.”
“In that case, perhaps you ought to reconsider your decision now. Best to get out early rather than winding up in over your head.”
