“I can explain,” Philip began as he dragged his attention back to Winston. How could he offer any excuse for what he’d done?
What had Eliza told Winston? Or worse, had Winston somehow witnessed their kiss?
“Explain what?” Winston dropped into a chair at the table. “Why you have a drink in your hand, and I do not?” He glanced around for a waiter.
Philip resisted the urge to slide his own glass to him if that was his only concern. Luckily, a waiter arrived and took his order.
“What have you been doing today?” Winston asked. His eyes narrowed. “Why is it that you look guilty?”
“You must be imagining it.” Philip took a deep drink, beyond relieved that Winston didn’t seem to know anything. He must’ve imagined his upset when he’d walked in.
“Hmm.” Winston glanced around the room to see who else was there. “Are we playing cards this evening?”
“If you wish.” Philip was willing to do most anything Winston wanted if he didn’t have to tell him that he’d kissed Eliza, let alone why.
The waiter brought his whiskey, and he studied Philip over the rim as he took a sip. “You’re being far too agreeable. Something is clearly bothering you.”
Something is, he wanted to say.Your sister asked me for a simple favor and it’s causing me grave concern not to mention distress. It’s making me think inappropriate thoughts about her. Making me long for what I shouldn’t.
But telling Winston any of that was the last thing he wanted to do even if it would assuage his guilt.
As he watched his friend, he wondered how close Winston and Eliza were becoming now that she’d returned. Did Winston know how unhappy she’d been in Switzerland? Even more important, did he know a man had caught her attention? Or which one?
That was the question on which he needed to focus. Philip cleared his throat. “Has your sister mentioned anyone whom she admires?”
Winston frowned. “She seems to have become friends with Bolton’s wife and the other ladies in that book group.”
“No, I mean a man.”
His friend scoffed. “Why would she? She has been in London a short while and only attended a few events.” He shook his head. “More than likely, it will be a year or two, maybe more, before she considers marrying.”
“What makes you think that?”
“You already know about the disaster of a marriage our parents had. That left us both with a distrust of the institution. I think she will take her time and choose someone for whom she has a deep regard and common interests.”
The thought made Philip’s chest ache. Who filled those requirements? Clearly, Winston wasn’t paying close enough attention to properly protect her, a concerning realization.
“She gained much notice at the ball last evening,” Philip began, wanting to caution Winston and make certain he would be on guard for whoever approached her.
“Did she?” Winston looked rather proud. “She has changed from our youth, that’s for certain. Between finishing school and her travels with Aunt Frieda, she isn’t a little girl anymore. She’s become a sophisticated lady.”
Philip wanted to groan at the thought, barely able to remember the girl Eliza had been. Not when the woman that she was now had captured his regard so thoroughly.
“Thank goodness Aunt Frieda managed to get her interested in fashion,” Winston continued. “The gowns she returned from France with are quite becoming. It would appear that the French maid they brought home has improved her confidence as well.” He shook his head as if in disbelief. “She’s changed so much.”
Philip was fiercely glad he’d helped her after the death of her parents. He hadn’t realized a few simple words of reassurance would make such an impression on her.
Why hadn’t her numerous aunts and uncles provided comfort when she most needed it? His certainly had. He didn’t know what he would’ve done without the guidance his Uncle Herbert, his father’s younger brother, had given him. He should’ve asked Eliza for details, but he’d been so surprised by what she’d said that he hadn’t thought to.
However, he wasn’t convinced Winston was right about her reluctance to marry. “I think you should watch over her more closely,” he told his friend. “As we know, there are unscrupulous men who would like nothing more than to marry a beautiful young lady like her before she truly knows who she wants as a husband. Especially one with a generous dowry.”
Winston grinned. “You sound like an old man. A beautifulyounglady? She’ll be one and twenty later this month. Not so young. And I think her travels matured her compared to most her age.”
Good heavens. That meant nine years stood between them. He could practically hear his father’s words of disapproval.
Philip suppressed a frustrated sigh. He wanted to shake Winston and tell him about the favor Eliza had requested and why. That would open his friend’s eyes to the truth.
But he refused to break Eliza’s confidence unless absolutely necessary. If Winston couldn’t see the truth, Philip would have to keep watch over her until Winston realized what was happening.
