“Evelina, a very pretty name. Well, I saw her at the opera last year, with the Duke of Southwater. She’s truly lovely. I think more people were watching her than paying attention to the presentation.”
“That’s likely true,” Arabella said. “She’s impossible not to watch when one is the room with her. Not only because of her beauty, but she’s kind and very witty.”
“I’m certain she must be. Have you met Miss Comerford’s sisters, Silas?”
Silas had been so caught up in this conversation between these two women who were so important to him that he had almost forgotten he might be included in it. He blinked. “Er, yes. Julia, the youngest, a few weeks ago and Evelina just two nights ago.”
Phoebe nodded slowly and then turned her attention back to Arabella. She was clearly about to ask more questions, but Arabella spoke instead. “What about you, Mrs. Broughton? I know you have two other brothers. And you have children, as well.”
“Yes,” she said. “Three from my first marriage and one from my second. A daughter and three sons. All of whom think their pirate of an uncle is fascinating.” She turned toward Silas. “You have only seen them twice since your return, though. Once when you first arrived and in passing at the bookshop. Certainly you must come over soon and see them again.”
He smiled at the thought of his niece and nephews, who he liked a great deal but also tended to avoid so that he wouldn’t bring them harm or confusion. “I think I might be a bad influence.”
Phoebe laughed. “I’m certain you are, but all children need a little bad influence in their lives. Besides, I think you are not quite so wicked as you play at.”
Arabella snorted and he pivoted to look at her. “Et tu, Arabella? You participate in this slander?”
“Your sister has the right of it, I fear. You may at your heart be the best of men, play acting at being a scoundrel.”
He arched a brow and she blushed ever so slightly. Good, he hoped she was thinking of the very many ways he’d been the perfect scoundrel with her lately.
Phoebe seemed to miss the intensity of that connection, though, and was laughing full out now. “Good, I’m glad to see I have an ally in this thought.”
“If you two spread this nonsense around, I will be forced to take legal action.” He leaned back, folded his arms and gave them both a playfully stern look. “Don’t think I won’t.”
“I’m certain you will,” Phoebe said. The clock on the mantel chimed and she sighed. “And now I fear I must leave you two. My daughter has a fitting this afternoon that I want to attend.”
They all rose together and Phoebe extended her hand to Arabella without hesitation, just as she had in the foyer. “I’m very pleased you stopped in so I could meet you, Miss Comerford. A friend to my brother is very much a friend to me. I hope that if I see you out and about in the world, you won’t mind if I greet you.”
Arabella’s lips parted, for if a lady such as Phoebe greeted her in public that would be a shocking event. But she inclined her head. “I -I would be very pleased to meet with you. Perhaps we’ll bump into each other in Mattigan’s bookshop.”
“I hope so, it’s one of my favorite places in the city. Good day. Silas, will you see me out?”
He nodded and gave Arabella a quick glance before he led his sister from the room and into the foyer. He could read her expression—she had something to say.
And he just hoped that her kindness and warmth to Arabella wasn’t just some act and that whatever she would say about the woman who had come to mean so much to him wouldn’t put a further wedge between him and his family.
CHAPTER17
As they entered the foyer, Poole came into the space, still looking sour. Silas nodded to him. “My sister’s carriage, please.”
The butler left to make the arrangement and that left Silas alone with Phoebe. “You must have something to say,” he said, feeling nervous and breathless as he waited.
She nodded. “My God, what a beauty she is. But I think that’s not what draws you, or not entirely. The woman is impossible not to like. Not to mention, there’s something between you that practically crackles.”
He tilted his head. “But?”
She blinked up at him. “What makes you think there’s a ‘but’ that goes along with all those observations?”
“Because you know what she is. And even though I’m not of your world, she isn’t either. I know what you and our brothers asked of me and it most definitely includes many less charitable thoughts about her than what you’ve expressed.”
“I have no uncharitable thoughts about Miss Comerford,” Phoebe said. “Our brothers have been able to choose their wives…or lack thereof…and futures. That is a privilege and one they may not fully grasp. But having not had that option, at least not for my first marriage, I have a very different view about love and happiness. I don’t know your intentions with this woman or hers with you, but if you were to make her a more permanent fixture in your life, I wouldn’t say a word against it. In fact, I’d very much support it, especially if it kept you in London.”
Silas glanced back over his shoulder, in the direction of the parlor. He’d never sought acceptance for anything he did in his life, but right now Phoebe offered it. And somehow it mattered. Just like Arabella mattered, more than just a lover, more than just a friend. In the time they’d connected, she’d grown to matter a great deal more.
“I always appreciate your support.”
“And I offer it. But not just in private. I should have said something at our gathering last week. I should have spoken up in your defense to Charlie and Reg. I’ll do that now. I’m going to tell them again that I disagree with their edict that you must change yourself in order to fit into our family.”
