He hastily tugged on his top hat. Had she imagined it, or was he staring back at her? Curiosity won out, and she hedged to the side to steal another glance.
As soon as she had done so, she regretted her decision. Her feet cemented to the ground and her body froze, but her eyes could not look away.
What on earth was Alex Jenkins doing in London, let alone in the zoo, at the exact same exhibit as her? He tipped his hat in a slight greeting and then turned back toward the hippopotamus.
So that was to be all, then? She ought to avoid him too. Shehadyelled at him the last time they were together. Half of her wanted to stand tall and aloof and show him the perfect decorum she possessed. But another part of her ached. She wanted to talk with him, to give him the chance to explain himself. How on earth could she feel both things?
It didn’t matter; he’d no doubt soon blend into the crowd and be gone forever. The truth of it stung, and she found herself wanting very much to move on. She came alongside her brothers. “Are we ready to observe the next animal?”
“Of course not,” Joseph whispered, waving a hand behind him. “This is why everyone comes here!”
“I think it’s time to move on,” she urged and linked arms with them again, discreetly pulling them toward a small enclosure to the right that had hardly any visitors despite containing several rambunctious, striped canine-like animals. “Here. It’s a whole group of, um”—she glanced at the placard—“thylacines, also called Tasmanian tigers. Look how many there are. Don’t they seem ferocious?”
She glanced down and tried to pull her brothers even farther along as she watched her own feet. She’d been so focused on avoiding Alex, her head dipped when she and Joseph accidentally barreled into a stranger.
“I beg pardon,” Joseph’s voice squeaked as he shot a quizzical glance toward his sister. “What on earth, Charlotte?” he whispered. “We were quite happy over there.”
Charlotte raised her eyes, and before her stood Alexander Jenkins.
“It is no matter,” Alex said to her brother. “I am sure you did not mean to.”
“Surely not,” George muttered as Charlotte tried to shuffle away.
“Good day to you, Miss Roylance.” With perfect civility Alex lifted his hat and bowed.
His voice made her freeze. What completely bad manners to ignore him before. He deserved a greeting just like he had given her, no matter what had gone on between them before, no matter how awkward and small she felt next to him.
“Good day,” she said, removing her arms from her brothers and dipping into a curtsy.
Joseph spoke next. “You two know each other? Well then, why in heaven’s name did we go barreling into the side of him?”
Charlotte could have wrung her brother’s neck for his thirteen-year-old lack of decorum in such a moment. Couldn’t he focus on the animals? Goodness. Could he not read anyone’s face or body language and notice how awkward this was?
“Oh, I see.” A smile pulled on Joseph’s lips. “Perhaps this was on purpose.”
“Joseph!” Charlotte stared at her brother, pleading with him, her mouth agape.
She felt George come around her back and draw close to Joseph, but not before Joseph’s voice cracked as he said, “Let me guess... this is Lord Ainscough, and you are just trying to make sure you get to speak to him here.”
Charlotte felt the color drain from her cheeks as utter mortification consumed her.
Somewhere in her humiliation, she noticed George give Joseph a huge shove with his elbow and clear his throat. “I believe we haven’t met.” George extended a hand toward Alex. “You are?”
Charlotte raised her lashes just enough to behold Alex studying the three of them. “Well, I am not this Lord Ainscough you speak of.” Charlotte felt the inside of her contort into something like the mess of snakes they’d passed on the way in. “My name is Mr. Alexander Jenkins.”
Holding her breath, Charlotte wondered what her brother’s reaction would be now that he knew who it was. Relief washed over her as George made no scene and shook it heartily.
“Of course.” George smiled. “I am George Roylance, the eldest of Charlotte’s younger three brothers. I am sorry I didn’t recognize you. I was quite young the last time I saw you.”
“It is only natural,” Alex answered. His eyes grew tight. “A pleasure to meet you again.Threeyounger brothers now. I see.” In just those words it was apparent how much Alex didn’t know of their family, for Walter, back home, had been born after they’d severed all ties with the Jenkins family. “But your older brother is not here?”
“No,” George replied. “He’s back at our home, attending to business far less frivolous than this.”
“Naturally,” Alex said. He tipped his hat. “I must also attend to some business. If you’ll excuse me.” His eyes didn’t even flit toward Charlotte. He made a curt bow, and she felt invisible as he walked away.
When Alex strolled out of earshot, Joseph turned to George. “That was the Jenkinses’ son? As in the family Father’s hated all these years? The ones who nearly ruined our reputation because people still associate them with us?”
“Oh, Joseph,” George said, pulling his brother close. “You listen to Christopher too much. They aren’t that bad. But yes, that family.”
