“This is not a discussion I wish to have.” Matthew barely managed to make his voice flat instead of a growl.
Alexander immediately snapped back in his seat and gave an understanding nod. “Very well. Let’s change it back to how you became so proficient at fighting. And please do not mention the New World again.”
“I traveled to ports all over the Americas. It only makes sense that I picked up some skills,” Matthew lied. There would never be a good time for Alexander to probe into Matthew’s hidden life, but now was especially fraught, with the Wick cousins about to hand Matthew instructions detailing his next illicit mission.
Alexander started to speak, but before Matthew could listen to his friend, he noticed Sophia signaling with a twist of her hand. The movement was slight, but Matthew had been looking for just such a sign. Alexander’s voice faded into the background as Matthew concentrated on Sophia, who was across the room preparing coffees.
Damn. The message Matthew was waiting for must have arrived, and Sophia meant to deliver it to him straightaway.
Matthew tried to shake his head to indicate that now was not the time to covertly transfer the missive into his possession, but Sophia missed his gesture.
“Is that a no then?” Alexander demanded, his body now on the edge of his chair, his voice louder than usual.
“A no to what?” Matthew asked, realizing that Alexander must have asked an important question that Matthew had inadvertently answered when trying to silently communicate with Sophia.
“Were you not listening to me?” Alexander practically roared.
Given that Matthew kept avoiding Alexander’s questions with half-truths, Matthew could understand his friend’s frustration. Unfortunately, now Hannah was trying to attract his attention. As she walked by him carrying trays, she brushed against his shoulder and then pointed surreptitiously in her cousin’s direction on the other side of the coffeehouse. Matthew tried to focus on Alexander, but Hannah bumped his arm again. Matthew glanced over at Sophia and saw her slip a wadded-up piece of vellum between a cup and saucer.
“Talbot!” Alexander practically shouted, and Matthew swiveled in his friend’s direction so fast that he almost upset his own coffee.
“Yes?” Matthew asked, hoping he sounded both focused and contrite.
“Are you or are you not hiding more things from me than just the necklace?” Alexander crossed his muscular arms over his chest and was now looking considerably bellicose.
“What?” Matthew asked in alarm. Surely his moments of distraction shouldn’t have led Alexander to that particular conclusion. Had Alexander realized that Sophia was in the process of passing Matthew a secret missive? Alexander’s back had been toward her, and he’d never noticed any similar clandestine exchanges in the past. Or at least Matthew thought Alexander hadn’t.
“You just indicated that you were keeping truths from me,” Alexander said.
“I did?”Bollocks.Matthew’s voice had actually risen an octave. One would think him a green lad at subterfuge.
“Yes, you did. I asked, ‘We have no more secrets between us, right?’ Then you shook your head no. Is it ‘No, there are secrets between us,’ or, ‘No, you are correct. There are no additional secrets’?”
“I wasn’t shaking my head at you,” Matthew said in a panic.
“Then who were you shaking it at?” Alexander asked.
Just then Hannah appeared with a tray of coffees, including the one that contained Sophia’s hidden message. Hannah slid a steaming cup on a plate down before both of them. “Sophia is trying another new recipe, so they’re yours for the taking.”
She whirled away. Alexander, who was generally distracted by any small thing and who never passed up free refreshments, ignored the drinks. His eyes were locked on Matthew.
“Are you or are you not keeping something of import from me?” Alexander asked.
Matthew eyed the corner of vellum sticking out from underneath his new coffee. If Alexander saw the details in the missive, he would discover the clandestine life that Matthew had been hiding for years. Sweat dripped down his back, running straight between his shoulder blades. “I…” He stopped and cleared his throat, “I—”
“Alexander! Matthew!” Charlotte’s voice rang out brightly, and Matthew nearly collapsed in his chair in utter relief. He turned to find Charlotte standing next to Lady Calliope.
Alexander grabbed his cane and pushed himself to his feet to warmly greet them. Matthew followed as a wave of awkwardness swept over him. Despite having seen the poet at the Black Sheep over the past few weeks, Matthew had not officially met Charlotte’s best friend.
“My dear Lady Calliope, it is always a pleasure to see you.” Alexander bowed deeply.
Lady Calliope’s smile was as ethereal as her pale, pixie-like appearance. “It’s friendly faces like yours that make this dreary city bearable.”
Matthew tried not to fidget as the Society beauty’s eyes landed upon him. Vaguely, he heard Charlotte introduce him, but he could barely manage to grunt out a response as shyness crushed him. He couldn’t spout flowery phrases like Alexander. Swounds, Matthew struggled to simply say his name. Yet Alexander thought him a suitable life partner for the vibrant Lady Charlotte?
“Dr. Talbot is an old schoolmate of Alexander’s,” Charlotte breezily told Lady Calliope. “He’s traveled to the New World on many occasions as a ship’s surgeon.”
“How adventurous! You must tell me all about it. I am always looking for inspiration for my ballads. What do the Colonies look like?” Lady Calliope beamed at him. But even the warm enthusiasm in her voice couldn’t melt Matthew’s frozen brain and mouth.
