She rose from the desk and walked to the window. The gardens outside the library were full of small green leaves, but like most homes, the colorful flowers never appeared in the cold temperatures of their unusual summer. She didn’t mind. Her soul didn’t want to see bright cheery flowers. As her gaze drifted past the bushes, it landed on the ice house near the kitchens. The sadness of missing Belinda tore at her new heartache, and she spun to face the room again. She needed to do something, anything to engage her mind and let her heart heal.
She started for the door, but it opened before she could reach it. “Teddy.” He rarely came into the library when he visited.
“I need to talk to you.” His hair was disheveled as if he’d run his hand through it a number of times and his cravat was a mess.
She frowned. “Have you been drinking spirits?”
He strode in, dropping into the wingback chair her father used. Probably because it was the closest seat to him.
He waved off her question. “She has too many suitors. What am I to do?”
She didn’t have to ask who he spoke of. Elsbeth was the only thing he’d talked about since he met her. She better understood how he felt about the young woman now. Dragging the chair from the desk over to the area where he sat, she tamped down her irritation at his constant need for support. Maybe it had to do with being an only child. Of course, James was an only child and had lost both his parents as well, and he didn’t seem to need support at all. Then again, he had to be at least eight years older and had no heart, while Teddy did.
She took a seat and patted his hand. “Come, tell me everything.”
He pulled his hand away. “I did. She has too many suitors. I go to call on her and there are at least five other men there. Five.” He held up his five fingers as if she didn’t know how many that was.
She let the insult pass. “But you were there too, were you not?”
He threw one leg over the arm of the chair. “It doesn’t matter. I’m just one of many. I had to literally trip a bloke in order to reach her first at last night’s ball. Even dancing with her has become a major accomplishment.”
“You are no longer the only gentleman she knows. You knew this was coming.”
His brows lowered into an ugly scowl. “That’s not helpful.”
She sat back, studying him objectively. Did he really love Elsbeth or was he enamored of her? “What is her favorite book?”
“Huh?” His head jerked back as if she’d tried to hit him.
“I asked what her favorite book is.”
“I don’t know.” His gaze darted toward the bookcase across from him before he looked at her. “We haven’t talked about books. But we have talked at length about her. Her favorite color is violet, and she can’t wait to marry so she can wear it. I told her I would buy her dozens of violet gowns.”
That wasn’t much. “And what is her favorite food, fondest memory, greatest interest.”
He pulled at his cravat. “Why are you quizzing me? You’re supposed to be supporting me. Telling me not to worry.”
Irritation burned hot, like everything else about her emotions lately. “How do you expect me to tell you that when I don’t have the facts?” She rose and walked to the bookcase to lean against it. “You tell me you love her. So what do you know of her?”
His gaze shifted to someplace far away. “I know she’s beautiful and kind and would make a wonderful mother. She’s always polite and gracious. As the hostess of a marquess, she would be perfect. She has a gentle smile and a lovely laugh. Her pale blue eyes have a touch of violet in them, and when she smiles, they crinkle at the corners. She listens to everything I say and even asks why I made certain comments.” He returned his gaze to her. “You’ll also be happy to know that she has a quick wit and an adorable sense of humor.”
Everything he listed disappointed her. She’d thought she’d had some influence on him, but he sounded like every other man looking for a wife. Did he not care that Elsbeth wanted to learn and even start a collection. She opened her mouth to comment, but he held up his finger.
“And before you ask, she is well-read and very intelligent. Though I don’t know her favorite book, I do know she likes to study rocks and minerals and has much knowledge of astronomy and literature, but doesn’t care for philosophy.” He lifted his brows as if expecting a compliment.
Relieved at least some of what she’d taught him had taken, she was still not sure he loved Elsbeth, but she would accept that he did for argument’s sake. “I’m pleased that you know so much about her. She must know about you if she listens to your every word.”
Color rose in his cheeks. “I’m not saying she agrees with me all the time.”
“Good. That’s the first indication that there is some mutual respect.”
He dropped his leg and sat up. “That’s not fair. Of course we respect each other.”
His attitude was grating on her. “Does she love you?”
Teddy stood. “Of course she does. Why wouldn’t she? What are you saying?”
She shrugged. “You can’t simply tell by a person’s face if they love you. Their actions and their words are more important.” And even those could be meant to deceive as she’d discovered. “Does she make time for you, or does she share her time equally among her suitors to be fair?”
