“Yes, and he sends his best wishes,” Tobias answered, suppressing the nerves that were starting to get the better of him.
“Well, here we are, then. How can I help you? I got the impression this was not to be purely a social call. That is partly why I entertained the idea of your visit. I am not a very sociable man, as I am sure you’ve heard.”
Apprehension flooded Tobias’s body, and his leg began to bounce in agitation. He pressed his hand firmly to his knee to stop it. “I appreciate your willingness to accommodate me,” he replied, resisting the urge to squirm in his chair.
“Are you here on behalf of yourself or Lord Carthige? I am always willing to help a neighbor, whether they have been my frequent guests or not.”
Tobias felt oddly tongue-tied. There was so much at stake. One wrong word and this chance would be lost. Best just to speak plainly, then. The truth was a straight path with fewer obstacles to trip over.
“I am here on behalf of myself…and Miss Grant.”
“Oh?” Mr. Grant leaned back and cocked his head to the side. “That is a rather odd notion from a virtual stranger.”
Heat crept up Tobias’s neck and he imagined his flushed cheeks betrayed him.
“You should know, sir, that Miss Grant and I have been corresponding.”
“I see. No doubt you discuss literature, as she does with several other gentlemen.”
Tobias was taken aback by his host’s calm response. “Er…yes, I am a great admirer of her poetry.”
“As you should be. She is very talented.”
“But…er…I am also an admirer of Miss Grant.”
Mr. Grant’s chin lifted. His eyes grew hooded. “What do you mean by that, sir?”
“You see, um…the more we wrote each other, the more I came to know the…er…woman…” Tobias swallowed hard. “The…er…woman behind the words, so to speak.”
“You have feelings for my daughter?”
“Yes.” Tobias breathed out his relief. There. It was finally out in the open. And the man had not yet thrown him out on his ear.
“And does she reciprocate these feelings?”
“That is my understanding, yes, sir.”
“What do you plan to do about it?”
“Well, you see, I would like your permission to formally court your daughter, sir. To give you the opportunity to see I am anhonorable man. And to reassure you that I do not intend to steal your daughter from you.”
“Hmm. I assume you are referring to what happened with her sister.”
“I cannot speak for another. I only know that I love Sophia. And she loves her family. I would never separate the two.”
“Ah.” Mr. Grant leaned back in his chair. “Then you do not wish to marry her.”
“No! I mean, yes! I mean… I want very much to marry her. But I have no desire to injure her family in the process.”
“So, in fact, you have not come to ask permission to woo her, but to request her hand in marriage.”
“I suppose that is ultimately what I ask.”
“Then you are asking the wrong person.”
“Please, sir! Do not reject me out of hand. I only ask for a chance to prove myself. Sophia deserves as much. I know you have suffered great loss. I do not wish to add to your sorrow. Quite the opposite. I…”
“Have you quite finished?”
