Charlotte marveled that George did not possess the same sentiments as their older brother. He hadn’t the opportunity to be so ingrained in prejudice by Father, that was true, but the Jenkinses had been slandered enough around her home that even Joseph knew the name.
Charlotte added, “And don’t you go around asking if anyone else is Lord Ainscough just because I’ve mentioned him in a few letters. It’s impertinent, and it makes me seem too forward.” She didn’t even begin to go into all the other dynamics that made this such an excruciatingly awful situation at present.
Joseph shot his green eyes back and forth between them. “I’m sorry. I should have kept my mouth shut.” He crossed his arms. “Can we forgo my lecture now and move closer to the tiger-looking creatures? They do sort of resemble dogs... or maybe wolves. I wasn’t done with the hippo, but we can visit him again on the way out.”
His smile was so genuine that Charlotte grinned at him. “I suppose. I’m glad you approve of my outing.”
“Truly,” Joseph said, glancing over his shoulder. “I couldn’t imagine a better day.”
“Indeed,” Charlotte responded. If Alex hadn’t happened upon them, she might have said the same.
The boy’s high spirits carried them through the rest of the afternoon, but seeing Alexander had done something to Charlotte. It wasn’t so much that he’d changed in the month and a half since she’d seen him. His manners had been better than her own. It was more that seeing him had made her reevaluate her own hasty actions toward him. But she’d probably never happen upon him again.
Chapter 13
Alex could not clear hishead. He had to admit that going to the zoo had been a splurge, but he’d brought a bit of saved coin to see it since he’d heard about it for the past few years. Now he’d finally seen animals from all over the world, but he found his mind wasn’t musing about a hippopotamus.
As soon as he could get away, he’d hailed a hack and begun the journey to Christopher’s house. The man must be at home, and seeing Miss Roylance had brought to the fore what real responsibilities and objectives he needed to attend to. He could not shirk the meeting, no matter how much he was loath to keep it.
As the carriage drove, he reviewed his main points, but by the time he’d finally reassured himself of the infallibility of his argument, he found he couldn’t stop thinking of Charlotte.
He hated how his heart had jumped when he’d realized he was in the same vicinity as her. How many times had he told himself to forget her? Whatever the number, it hadn’t been enough. He’d watched her in agony as she’d thrown back her head and laughed at something one of her brothers had said. He had noticed her true and genuine smile on her perfect mouth, nothing like the last time they’d met, when they’d exchanged cross words. Something about her very countenance had seemed to scream that she wasn’t disagreeable, that she couldn’t truly hate people like her brother did or really intend the words she’d spat at him.
His willingness to see the good in her shocked him. Why couldn’t he hold a grudge against her? If he disliked her more, this would be so much easier.
And then there’d been her eyes, wide and vulnerable and kind, when he’d said her name. Those eyes had spoken more than any sentence. Was he wrong to think she longed for reconciliation?
No, that must be his vanity speaking. Perhaps his talk with Lord Ashley had led him to think too highly of himself, though he wasn’t sure what would come of that either.
He had no real answers to anything.
He glanced at the large clock tower as he continued down High Street. He still had an hour before he’d need to head to the train station. He glanced out the window, noting how deucedly close he already was to the familiar town house. The carriage pulled to a stop.
Alex alighted and flung a coin to the driver without looking back.
By some stroke of luck, the butler let him inside. He didn’t get farther than the front vestibule, though, before Christopher, heat already on his cheeks, came sailing down the main stairway. “I hope you didn’t pay much for a ticket, coming all the way here just to be ushered out again.”
Alex decided against any preamble and stood his ground. “Hear me out, Chris. There are so many people who want to seize a part of your south forest for mining. I can help you turn the best profit. I can work the deal in your favor. I’ve worked with Mr.—”
“It’s not for sale,” Christopher cut him off. “And I won’t be selling it in the foreseeable future.”
Alex studied Christopher’s face. He seemed angry and resolute, but something else shone behind his eyes. A hesitant glimmer, like he was hiding something. “Why do I sense you are hiding something about it?”
Whatever momentary worry had shown on the man’s countenance, it was gone in a flash. “I hide nothing,” Chris spat. “But it willneverpass through your hands.” His voice rose to a bellow. “And if you think, regardless of how good the deal might be, that you’ll ever have a chance to return to favor among your peers, you are even more addled than I thought you were.”
Heat crawled up Alex’s neck. “Do you have an actual reason for hating me?” He took a step closer. “What did I ever do?”
Chris’s eyes tightened. “It’s harder than you realize to remove the smell of stray dogs once it’s hung around.” He looked Alex up and down once. “There are still people who remember our fathers’ friendship.” He curled his lip. “I’ve said it before, but I will not have anything to do with you, and if I ever see you near my property again, you can just imagine what ruin will come to you.”
“What else of mine could you possibly ruin?”
Chris stepped closer, his cheeks almost the color of his bright hair. “I don’t think you want to know the answer to that question.” His fists balled, and Alex thought Chris might try to strike him.
“Don’t do it,” Alex said, a new measure of calmness suddenly issuing from some unknown reservoir. Chris had always struggled with keeping his cool, but Alex would, at all costs. He took in a slow, measured breath. They may not ever be friends again, but he could at least leave with dignity and respect. “I see you aren’t to be reasoned with. Good day.”
Before Chris could offer any other snide remark, Alex turned and descended the steps, hailing another hackney cab. Once inside the cab, the ire he’d suppressed surged through him, and he slammed his fist into his other palm.
He could still feel the heat of anger on his neck from his interaction with Christopher when he boarded the evening train to Northumberland. He settled into his own quiet car near the rear of the locomotive and wished he could bask in his positive interactions with Lord Ashley, but the haunting glare of Christopher’s red face as he came down the stairs pressed against the backs of Alex’s eyes.
