Eva had no idea what he wanted with her, or if he wanted anything at all.
Mr. Fitzallen set the last of his items on the counter. “That will be all for now. I am sure as soon as I am not distracted by two lovely ladies, other essentials will occur to me, though.”
Eva all but rolled her eyes at the flattery. Mrs. Fleming glowed and, for an instant, she appeared twenty years younger.
“We can bring all of this to the house,” she offered. “My son will carry it.”
“How good of you. You have my appreciation.”
Mrs. Fleminggiggled. “It is nothing, sir. Nothing.”
Eva took her leave while Mr. Fitzgerald paid. He caught up outside and strolled along as if he intended to spend the day in her shadow. To be polite she pointed out the lane to the church, although he showed more interest in two taverns they passed.
“It is an attractive town,” he said. “It appears prosperous.”
“Although there are old families in the area, out on land beyond, many who live here moved from Birmingham after they made their fortunes. In the early morning hours, you can see the men going to Birmingham on horse or in carriages. There are many new homes if you stroll the lanes, usually of good size. The assemblies are full of fine garments and jewels.”
“Industrialists? I doubt I will be well received. My experience has been that the newly prosperous are more critical than most about a person’s birth. My own is a mixed blessing. I am indeed related to dukes. In fact, I am a duke’s son. However, my mother was not his wife.”
He was a bastard.
An awkward lull passed while she sought some response. “Your birth will not signify, I believe,” she said. “I hope people will be enlightened enough to know better than to judge a person by things he does not control.”
“I am glad to know that there are some free thinkers in Langdon’s End, and feminine ones at that,” he said, then added, “I could not help but overhear your conversation with those other ladies outside Mr. Duran’s shop.”
Her face heated as the exchange with the sisters Neville repeated in her mind. “Perhaps I was wrong, and you are not a gentleman after all, if you eavesdrop on private conversations.”
“Hardly private. It rang through the town more clearly than a church bell.”
“I am sure you misunderstood what you heard.”
“Perhaps. However, so that you know me to be enlightened, too, I assure you that I also do not believe women should be sexual slaves. Unless they enjoy the role, of course.”
“While there are unfortunates who find themselves in that role, I am sure none of them enjoy it.”
He appeared about to debate the matter. She gave him a withering look. He retreated from the topic, but not from her company.
“My apologies,” he finally said. “I fear I have shocked you.”
“I suspect it amuses you to shock people, Mr. Fitzallen. If so, you will find my friendship quite lacking, since nothing shocksme.”
“Nothing? You are indeed enlightened.”
She hastened her steps. She heard a low laugh as his strides kept up.
She abruptly crossed the lane and led him to the door to Mr. Trevor’s office. “Mr. Trevor is an architect,” she explained as she pressed down on the latch. “He can advise you on workers, and help you far more than I ever can.”
Mr. Trevor, a young man with blond hair, spectacles, and an obsequious manner that Eva found irritating, jumped up from his chair when he saw her. She marched over to his massive desk strewn with drawings, and pointed to her companion. “Good day, Mr. Trevor. This is Mr. Fitzallen. He owns the old ruin and intends to rehabilitate it. He will need much advice and many references.”
The men greeted each other. Mr. Trevor turned his attention back to her. “I am grateful for the introduction, Miss Russell. I confess, however, that I had hoped you came about your own property.”
“I have already given my answer on that. Now, I will leave the two of you together and be about my business. Oh, and Mr. Trevor, could you let it be known that anyone who chances upon items removed from Mr. Fitzallen’s home should return them? There were many who thought it an abandoned house. In error, it appears.”
With that she strode out, before Mr. Fitzallen could find a way to take his leave as well.
***
Mr. Trevor watched the lady depart. A man’s appreciation showed in Trevor’s pale eyes.
