The Thames, in the afternoon, was a cluttered sight. Barges taking people and goods from shore to shore competed with ships darting down the river to head out to sea.
The noise of it sounded like life, busy and full. Yet Mark and I, both full of life and no sickness, were quiet as squirrels scurrying along the banks.
“Umm, you look well, Miss Wilcox . . . Georgina.”
With a nod, I pointed him to the spot between the tavern and the lumberyard. “You can have a better view here. It might inspire you.”
“Georgina, you never worry about being here amongst the industry?”
“I grew up on Ground Street. Everyone knows everyone else. Nothing but good honest people live and work here.”
“Oh, I see.”
“I wish you did, Lord Mark. There are a lot of misconceptions about this side of the river.”
He stopped, gently tugging on my arm until I moved my hand from my pocket to his palm. “Can I say I’m sorry? Can I say I’ve missed you?”
“You can say all of that. Whether you mean it or not, that’s up to you to decide.”
“No, it’s you who must change my circumstances. I offended you. I only showed my desire for you. I had no plan to truly offer about how we’d live, how I’d earn a living. I was not being fair. I took many things for granted.”
He looked contrite. The way he held my hand, so softly with his thumb rubbing against mine, I knew everything. That he truly wanted my forgiveness, and me.
“You are forgiven. Anyone can be overcome in the moment. My biscuits are quite delicious.”
“But I still haven’t had one.” He laughed, and I did too. Then we walked a little deeper between the properties to get to the shore.
“It looks the same here. I don’t think the sides matter.” He took a long breath of the sulphury air. “The duke’s ball is coming up. I want to show you favor. I want everybody to see that you have my attention. I don’t want to fake break apart. I want to ask for your hand, properly.”
I squinted at him, trying to figure out how to tell him I hadn’t changed my mind. “How does my not begging off dispel the rumors about us, about that kiss? You had to have seen Gilroy’s latest horrible cartoon.”
“I did, but it’s a reprint of one of his earlier horrible pieces. There have been rumors about us, couples of different races, always. The politics that are happening make those against such unions crazed. We can’t let them stop us.”
“I don’t want to be an example for the world. My sister suffered because of her husband. All of us have. I can’t.”
“If you didn’t love me, then I’d understand. But I think you do. We’re not playing anymore. Or at least, I’m not playing anymore. I want—”
I put a finger to his lips. I didn’t need for him to say that he wanted me to be his wife or that we’d have a happily-ever-after or that we could build a family and a life together. “Here are my conditions to consider. You tell me if they’ve been met.”
“Conditions, Georgie? This is a negotiation?”
“Conditions.” I started to walk back to the office.
“Wait. Tell me what they are.”
Folding my arms about me, I said, “Have you informed your parents?”
“My mother knows. Prahmn is on holiday.”
“Do you have their blessing?”
“My mother’s.”
“Do you have their assurances that your powerful father will not use his influence against us or my family?”
His handsome face looked down to the river. The Thames had no answers, not for this.
“Have you finished your sonata? Have you entered that great competition?”
