‘Something has gone wrong with your smile.’
He immediately let it fall. Now that he wasn’t pretending to be happy, it didn’t matter what Emily thought of him. She’d lived with him and his brothers for long enough and would not spread rumours or gossip about any of them, because she was family.
‘I hope you do not think that is an improvement. You still do not look like yourself.’
He sighed. It was a noise he generally only used when around his brothers, but Emily was becoming more like Freddie the longer shewas married to him. That was to say, incredibly irritating. Not that he could say that to her, of course. He was just going to have to suffer in silence.
‘Are you concerned that Mr Harber is going to run off with your beautiful betrothed?’ asked Emily, undeterred by his show of rudeness.
It wasn’t that he was worried about it per se; slightly depressed about his own inadequacy might be a better way to describe his current mood, although that was not quite right either. ‘It would not matter if Mr Harber did manage to persuade Miss Jacobs to run away with him. You do remember that my engagement to Sophia happened because some people caught us alone together. Prior to that moment, we had never spoken a single word to one another. I have only known her a couple of weeks; if she marries a man who is not me, that will be all well and good as far as I am concerned.’
‘Oh, Christopher.’ Emily sounded deeply disappointed in him, although for the life of him, he could not understand why. It was not as if he had said anything that should surprise someone who knew him well.
‘What does that mean?’ he asked.
‘It means that all you Dashworth brothers are the same. You cannot see what is right in front of you.’
‘There are two grey horses.’
‘Do not be obtuse, Christopher. It does not suit you.’
There wasn’t a good way to respond to that, so he didn’t. They spent the rest of the journey home in silence.
Chapter Nineteen
Excerpts from letters between Lord Christopher and Miss Sophia Jacobs
Dear Sophia
I hope you enjoyed the exhibition yesterday. I know we agreed that we would use the Johnston Ball as our next meeting, but I am afraid that I shall not be able to attend after all. I am sorry to disappoint you in this matter. Perhaps we could arrange a different excursion to replace it or continue with the next item on our list instead.
The book I have enclosed with this letter is by an artist Freddie greatly admires. He says this may give you some guidance. I hope I have not overstepped the mark with this gift; not knowing how proficient you are with your drawing, this may be too basic for you. If that is the case, feel free to use it as a doorstop, or anything else that may suit your needs.
Yours, Christopher
Dear Christopher
You must not worry that I should be disappointed in missing the ball. I sometimes feel that there are too many in one Season and like to take a break from them now and then. Besides, Marrisa has come down with ahead cold and is in a dreadful temper. I have offered to stay at home and keep her company so that she does not succumb to a fit of the dismals.
Thank you for the wonderful book. I have already studied it intently and plan to put some of its instructions to use shortly. In return for your generosity, I have enclosed with this letter a gift for Lotte. I found this blue bear and thought it perfectly matched your splendid lounge. I should be delighted if you could pass it on to her with my warm affection.
Yours, Sophia
Dear Sophia
Thank you for your gift for my niece. Lotte positively adores her new bear and takes it with her everywhere.
Freddie told me that the enclosed pencils are superb for drawing. I took the liberty of procuring some for you. I hope that you enjoy them.
Today I spent a large portion of my time trying to get Lotte to call me by my proper name, but she insists on Kissyfur (do you think this is the appropriate spelling?). I am in utter despair as I am afraid it might stick as my name within the household for evermore. I should not have made such fun of my brother Edward, when she started to call him Teddy. It will come back to haunt me in ways I do not want to imagine.
Have things progressed with Mr Harber?
Yours, Christopher
Dear Christopher
The pencils are a delight to use; thank you for the kind gift. I hope the enclosed drawing does not offend. It is how I imagine a Kissyfur to look: part bear, part human.
