“Dare I hope that you enjoyed yourself?”
Simone pretended to consider his words for a moment, not wishing to give too much away. “It wasn’t as unbearable as I thought it would be.”
Caleb grinned. “That is high praise coming from you.”
Her father cleared his throat. “Shall we, Simone?” he asked, the irritation evident in his tone.
Not wishing to upset her father further, Simone dropped into a curtsy and said, “Good evening, Mr. Bolingbroke.”
As her father led her towards the coach, he remarked, “For a man that claims he has no interest in ever marrying, Mr. Bolingbroke seems rather taken with you.”
“You are mistaken, Father,” Simone said. “Mr. Bolingbroke and I are just friends.”
He huffed. “Wonderful,” he grumbled.
Once Simone was situated in the coach, she glanced back at Caleb’s townhouse and realized that she was saddened to leave at such an early hour. It would have been rather enjoyable to beat Caleb at a game of whist, or two.
Caleb knew he was in trouble the moment he stepped into the dining room to eat breakfast before his carriage ride with Simone. His parents were sitting at the table and they both were watching him with smiles on their faces. This can’t be good, he thought.
“What is it?” he asked as he pulled out a chair to sit. He might as well ask and get this over with. Whatever it was.
His mother spoke up. “You made the Society page.”
“Is that all?” Caleb asked, uninterested.
“Yes, apparently thetonhas taken notice that you have been paying court to Miss Delacourt,” his mother continued.
Caleb sighed. “I am not courting her.”
“Well, your actions suggest otherwise,” his mother responded. “I, for one, would love to have Miss Delacourt as a daughter-in-law. I rather enjoyed our time spent together last night.”
He leaned to the side as a footman placed a plate of food in front of him. “Miss Delacourt and I are just friends, and we are enjoying getting to know one another.”
His father interjected, “That is a good start to any relationship. First comes friendship, then comes love. It is a simple equation.”
Caleb picked up his fork and knife and started eating his food. There was no point in debating this with his parents. He couldn’t explain the real reasoning behind why he had been spending so much time around Miss Delacourt.
“You can ignore us all you want…” his mother started.
“Is it so obvious?”
“…but you must proceed cautiously if you don’t want to ruin Miss Delacourt’s reputation,” his mother advised. “The more time you spend with her, the more thetonwill assume you two have an understanding.”
Caleb put down his fork and knife. “I understand. Is this interrogation over?”
“I am only concerned about you,” his mother replied.
He lifted his brow. “You are only interested in seeing me wed.”
His mother gave him a look that was the epitome of innocence. “There is no shame in that. Look how happy Anette iswith Roswell. Those two can’t be in the same room without smiling.”
“I am happy for Anette, I truly am, but I do not wish to marry,” Caleb said.
“You say that now?—”
Caleb spoke over her. “I have said that always.”
His mother turned towards her husband. “Will you talk some sense into our son?” she asked.
