“No. I think so little of you, Burchester.”
Phineas was seconds away from a black eye or a broken jaw. Thank goodness he had no difficulty coming up with words quickly. “You know a lot about me. Too much, I’m sure, for me to be your first choice for your sister. But I hope you can believe I’ve changed my ways. I shed all my mistresses in September after meeting Lady Caroline again. I didn’t really know why I did it at the time, but now I do.” He took a deep breath. “I really think she’s the woman for me, Edmund. I don’t know if I’m the man for her, but my deepest wish is to make your sister happy. And I will put all my energies toward that end. And you know I’m very energetic.”
Edmund’s fists relaxed. But his face was still twisted in a suspicious scowl. “I was under the impression you weren’t ready to get married.”
“Caro changed my mind.”
Edmund shook his head.
Phineas went on. “And although I wouldn’t have wanted it this way, would never have designed it so your sister’s reputation was compromised, it’s a bit out of all of our hands now, isn’t it? With Lady Huxley now privy to the fact that Lady Caroline kissed me?”
Edmund walked to a chair and collapsed into it. Phineas held his breath, thinking the chair might also collapse, but it didn’t.
“Yes,” Edmund said, finally.
“Let me court her.”
Edmund looked up at him. “My sister is . . . complicated. And you are not.”
Complicated? Of course, there must be hidden depths to Caro. But on the simplest, most primitive level, they had connected, hadn’t they? Yes, Phineas knew there was more to marriage than unchecked and endless acts of fornication. There would be breakfasts and dinners and sitting in front of a fire and quiet talks and brief touches and affectionate looks. He wanted all of that with her. In fact, he was at the point where he thought he wanted all of that more than he wanted the fornication.
And Phineas Edge was used to getting what he wanted.
“Couldn’t the fact that I’m not complicated make me a good choice for her, Edmund? Maybe more complication is exactly what she doesn’t need.”
Oh, no. The fists tightened again in Edmund’s lap as he leaned forward.
“Don’t have the effrontery to tell me what my sister needs.”
“No, no, no,” Phineas said as soothingly as possible. “I just think we have to let it be her decision, don’t we?”
“I think the fact that she ran out of here shows she’s made her decision.”
Phineas bridled. “That’s not fair. You scared her.”
Suddenly, Edmund had a look of worry, something Phineas had never seen on his face before. “I did?”
“Yes, you did. And my guess is Caro, after living with your father so long, has had enough of feeling frightened in her life. At the very least, can’t you admit I’m the least likely man in London to frighten your sister?”
Edmund sat back in his chair. He stared at Phineas, considering. Phineas took this time to sit in a chair opposite Edmund’s.
“I could be good for her, Edmund. Draw her out of herself. You know I could do that. She’s been too alone for too long.”
Another long silence. Phineas waited. At last, Edmund cleared his throat. “Yes.”
“Yes, what? Yes, I can court her? I have your permission to try to get her to marry me?”
“Yes, she’s been alone too long.”
“Let me see her again. Talk to her.”
“Talk her into marrying you?”
“Well, yes. As you’ve pointed out, we’ve only had a few minutes together.” What Edmund didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. Or lead him to hurt Phineas with his fists or a sword or a duelling pistol. “Let me have a chance to prove I could be a good husband. Let me befriend her. You have to admit, up until a quarter of an hour ago,youwould have counted me as one of your friends. You know I’m not a bad sort. Would it be so terrible to have me as a brother?”
Edmund rubbed his face with his hands and groaned. “This is a mess. I wish I knew what was best. Yes. I’ll let you see her tomorrow. But first,” he stood, “first, we have to have tea with Lady Huxley and her daughter. Try to smooth this over as much as we can.”
Phineas grinned. He stood and dared to clap Edmund on the back.
