Or do you want to marry me instead?The question tickled at his tongue as his eyes bore into hers.
Her gaze flitted away. “’Want’ is rarely a factor for women as they plot their lives, Mr Alwyn.”
“Yes, of course,” he murmured, feeling foolish at this bold truth.
Yet surely every woman wants a viscount.
Though the thought burned brightly, it flared out at once. Never before had he leveraged his birthright.
And I won’t start now — especially with her!
He took a breath. “Well, as I was saying, I have another…idea for you to consider.”
She looked at him again, clearly puzzled.
“Forgive me for not speaking plainly of it now,” he said. “But I must sort out its details first. Will you grant me a couple of days to do so, and hold off on settling matters with the Hartleys?”
Miss Everson’s mouth opened, then closed, then opened again.
“Very well,” she conceded.
The two regarded one another for a moment longer – then Alwyn turned and went out of the front door. He had walked all the way to Clarges Street before realizing he had not even said goodbye.
Why did I bother asking her for two days’ time when I won’t hold my licence for another two weeks? And what are these ‘details’ I told her I needed to sort out?He slowed his pace a little.Well, at least I’ve given myself some time to think.
Andthinkhe did — he ruminated on the matter all the way to Hemmings Row where he lanced a boil on a cabinetmaker’s left buttock. He pondered it further as he stood in the operating theatre, barely craning his neck to watch a hernial repair. By the early evening, he was sitting in the Grey Bull’s taproom, thinking still.
What if the Hartleys are as eager to settle things with her as I myself am?A wisp of reason chimed in,Well, even if theydidcoax her into some sort of agreement, it would not be so permanent as marriage.
But she’d be in Lancashire!
“May I join you?” a voice asked.
Drawn back to the moment, Alwyn saw Sliger was standing beside him.
“Yes, of course,” he said, resituating things on the table to make room as the boy sat down. Then, realizing he had no stomach for the meat pie that had been brought to him tenminutes earlier, he pushed the plate across the table, offering, “Steak and kidney?”
Sliger eyed the wedge’ filling warily. “I thank you, but we studied necrotic organs in Morbid Anatomy just this morning. The crust looks alright, though.” Pulling off a golden flake, he popped it into his mouth. “You look worried, Alwyn. Are you afraid you won’t pass your examination?”
“No, not at all,” Alwyn replied, then hoped his honest answer didn’t sound arrogant.
“Then what is troubling you?”
Fixing his gaze on the few scraggly hairs sprouting from Sliger’s upper lip, Alwyn wondered,Shall I unburden my heart to this stripling?
Sick to surfeit at being alone with his dilemma, he decided that hewould— at least, in part.
“There is a very admirable young lady who…well, I am not yet at liberty to speak with her as I would like to, and I’ve just learned there is a family that would like to employ her.”
“Can you mean, Miss Everson?”
Sitting straight up in his chair, Alwyn marveled,How can he know? Didn’t he see me with her just the once? Is my regard for her so blatant?
Oh…he’s probably suspected all along that I was just jealous when I scolded him for flirting.
He studied Sliger’s face, finding neither guile nor mischief there, and replied, “Prudence will keep me mum on that.”
“Of course, sorry.” Sliger pulled the plate closer. “But why can you not address the matter with her now?” He forked a bit of pie into his mouth.
