“So, you admit that you are miserable?”
“I meant it as a figure of speech.”
“I will not apologize for being in love with my wife,” Caspien said rightly. “Just as I will not apologize for looking forward to the birth of my child. I only pray that a day comes when you might feel this same sense of joy that I do. Even if such a display of happiness plays havoc with this misery you seem so intent on courting.”
Damien sighed and turned to find Evander. “Evander, will you back me up here, please. Don’t you agree that Caspian was far less insufferable before he married? And even more so before his wife became pregnant?” They both looked at Evander, who gave no response. “Evander? Don’t you agree?”
Whether Evander agreed or not was unimportant, as he had not heard so much as a word spoken in the last five minutes.
Why does she haunt my thoughts like this? I might do better to dismiss her now and save myself the trouble. But to do that willbe to admit that there is a problem, which there is not. But if that was the case…
The three men had met just thirty minutes ago for what was a standing affair at their local gentleman’s club. The hour was still early, so the club was mostly empty, which allowed the three friends to tuck themselves in the back corner where they might discuss politics and business and those things that only men of their esteemed pedigree could ever truly understand the importance of.
For thirty minutes, the conversation had flowed. However, in this instance, it had pertained to Caspien’s marriage, his coming child, and Damien’s aversion to such things – an aversion that all three men used to share.
Throughout those thirty minutes, Evander had not spoken so much as a single word.
Likely, the woman will do something that will force me to let her go. She seems like the type, and when that moment comes, I will not hesitate. But is that even an option? Aaron needs structure and discipline, and if I let her go, won’t that just prove that she has gotten to me…
“I know you are rarely one for good conversation, Evander, but even for you this is absurd,” Damien snorted.
“Poor his drink on him,” Caspian added. “See if that snaps him out of it.”
Evander’s mind was awash with thoughts of his new governess. He did not want it to be. This had not been the case with the last six whom he had hired – not once had they entered his frame of thought, save for when they had quit in hysteria. But this Miss Finch… she was not like them, and Evander was yet to decide how he felt about that.
“That’s it.” Damien leaned across the table and slammed his fist down so that the tankard of ale in front of Evander rattled and nearly tipped over.
Evander jumped in shock and then blinked to further exaggerate it when he found his two friends watching him with looks on their faces that might have spoken of worry, were they the types who would ever feel such a thing for him.
Rather, they looked curious… even amused that someone as stoic and as well-composed as Evander could become so befuddled.
“There he is,” Damien chortled. “Welcome back.”
“Is something the matter?” Caspien added. “You seem rather distant, even for you. And while I might regret forcing your attention back onto us, as it's rarely anything worth coveting, I do wonder…” He chuckled. “What has gotten into you?”
“Nothing,” Evander said a little too quickly, snatching at his tankard and taking a long sip.
He knew immediately that he had misspoken. The quickness of his response, the way he tried to cover himself with his tankard, made it obvious to anyone who knew him that he was lying.
Well done, Evander. Why not just announce to the world that something is the matter? This is why I hate disorder, because it leads to unpredictability, which leads to chaos…
“Liar,” Damien said. He was undoubtedly the ‘funny’ one of the group, with his sharp wit and scathing sense of humor. His blue eyes danced, his thick lip curled in mischief, and he glanced at Caspian before winking.
“Dare we ask what is wrong?” Caspian sighed. Caspian was like Evander in many ways. Dark. Intimidating. Even brooding. However, the man had changed much this last year, and it had everything to do with his marriage… one which, if he was to be believed, had seen him fall hopelessly in love.
“Do you even care?” Evander said.
“Not really,” Damien said. “Well, only so much as it makes you uncomfortable. Now, that is something I do rather like.”
“It does no good to bottle these things up,” Caspian said. “As my wife always tells me –”
“Here we go,” Damien groaned. “Any excuse to mention that he is happily married.”
“Is that jealousy I hear?” Caspian noted.
“You wish,” Damien scoffed.
“I am fine,” Evander growled to silence them both. As much as he did not wish to speak about his problems, he wished even less to listen to his two friends bicker like fishwives. “My son is who occupies my mind, as thrilling as I am sure that is to hear.”
