William scratched the back of his head. “Alas, sir, I have no desire to offend the lady by approaching her when I have already been rejected. We have become friends for the very reason that I no longer take her for granted.”
“That’s just it, Cole, don’t you see? It is very unusual for a lady to welcome friendship with a gentleman after she has rejected his suit. If I may, she is not the only one who has noticed a change in you. You are a long way from the newly commissioned officer I met five months ago. That chap was all swagger and not much substance, if you’ll forgive my bluntness. But women are a forgiving sort. If Miss Lockhart liked you then but wished there was more to you, she may be pleased with what she sees now. It would seem a terrible loss if she carried the same regret you do, and nothing comes of it. I certainly would not wish to proceed with my own efforts until I was sure her affections were not aimed elsewhere.”
“Are you saying I should risk my newly formed friendship so that you can court her without fear? That hardly seems reasonable, sir.”
“Come now, William. There are ways to establish where a woman’s heart lies without so greatly offending her that your friendship is at risk. An honest conversation could do the trick, for one.”
William drew a hand across the stubble of his jaw, his eyes narrowing as he tried to decide the wisdom of the captain’s words.
“You know, sir, you are much more the romantic than I would have credited you.”
Larson looked down at his feet. “Let’s just keep that between the two of us, hey? There’s a good chap.”
“I shall think upon what you have said.”
The captain’s head lifted briskly. “Good for you. And don’t waste time. Life is short. It is often especially so for men who march with the king’s colors.” Larson looked wistfully into the distance, as if he saw his future there. Then he turned to William once again, his businesslike manner reestablished. “I believe there is a picnic next week in Munro Park. Everyone who is anyone will be there. And you should be too. It is a public place. The lady will not need a chaperone as long as you speak in view of others. Yes, I believe that will do nicely.”
William folded his hands across his chest. “And if it is a charming, little disaster, I can let you know I am officially out of the race, I suppose?”
“Just so. Though I suspect, given what you have told me, that I have already lost.” Larson patted William on the back. “Don’t fret, Lieutenant. You and I shall maintain our mutual respect, regardless of the outcome. Though, perhaps, the winner can buy the loser a drink. What say you?”
“I say you are putting the cart before the horse. I have yet to think further on it. But I promise that I shall.”
“Good man. In the meantime, how about we enjoy our evening at Shillington’s now that the riffraff has been removed?”
William grinned. “I’d say that is an excellent idea, sir.”
They turned toward the entrance of the gentlemen’s club, when the moonlight caught something gleaming on the ground. William picked it up. It was Foyle’s hip flask.
Larson whistled a descending scale in admiration. “Looks to be pure silver, Cole. You’re in luck.”
William shook his head. “It’s Foyle’s, sir. I’ll return it to him when he’s sober.”
Larson uttered a single, gruff laugh. “You may have to wait some time, then.”
William stared at the flask, the earlier events rushing through his mind. “I want him to apologize first. He won’t do that when’s he’s half-sprung.”
“Just promise me you won’t risk everything by laying a hand on him. He’s not worth it.”
“I promise.”
“Right. Good. Now where were we? Ah, yes, onward and upward.”
They marched smartly up the stairs and back into the warm rooms filled with the smell of good brandy and cigar smoke. The thick carpeting and hum of conversation swallowed the sound of their footfalls.
Soon William was seated once more at the whist table, his shilling on the dark-green cloth. All thoughts of Richard Foyle were forgotten. And a wonderful feeling of anticipation for a certain picnic grew full in his heart. Given enough time, it would galvanize him to action. Then he would know, once and for all, if Miss Lockhart might ever be his one great love.
