A smile came to Fredrick’s lips. “I hear that congratulations are in order.”
Caleb gave him a bemused look. “Whatever for?”
“You are engaged to Miss Delacourt, are you not?” Fredrick asked. “At least that is what my housekeeper told me.”
He furrowed his brow. “How in the blazes did your housekeeper know about my engagement already?”
“Apparently, one of your footmen fancies one of my scullery maids and couldn’t wait to share the news with her,” Fredrick explained.
“Yes, well, it is true. I am engaged to Simone,” Caleb said. “I shall post the banns at once and we will be married in three weeks’ time.”
Fredrick eyed him curiously. “Pardon me for saying so, but you don’t seem too excited about the prospect of marrying Miss Delacourt.”
“The marriage will be in name only,” Caleb explained.
“And Miss Delacourt agreed to this… willingly?”
Caleb nodded. “It will allow her to continue working as a spy, and my mother will finally leave me alone about getting married.”
“Ah, so you both get what you want,” Fredrick said. “It is practical.”
“Exactly,” Caleb responded.
Fredrick frowned. “But is that what you truly want- a marriage of convenience?”
Caleb tightened his hold on his glass. “Yes, that is why I proposed the idea.”
“Interesting,” Fredrick muttered.
“There is nothing ‘interesting’ about this arrangement,” Caleb stated. “Simone’s father was pressing her to get married and I came up with a solution that would benefit both of us. That is all it was.”
Fredrick leaned back in his chair. “But you care for Miss Delacourt.” His words weren’t phrased as a question, but more of a statement.
“No more than I would care for a partner,” Caleb lied.
His friend chuckled. “You are in denial, I see,” he said. “Anyone with eyes can see that you have developed true affection for Miss Delacourt.”
“They would be wrong.”
“Would they?” Fredrick questioned.
Caleb took a sip of his drink, hoping to end this line of questioning. He didn’t want to discuss his feelings for Simone. Not to Fredrick. Not to anyone.
But he was not so lucky.
“There is nothing wrong with admitting that you are happy to be marrying Miss Delacourt,” Fredrick said.
“If I did admit it, would you leave me alone?” Caleb muttered.
“No, but it would be a start,” Fredrick responded.
Caleb leaned forward and placed his glass onto the table. “I have made peace with the fact that I will never marry for love. My duty is to King and Country.”
Fredrick sighed. “I used to feel as you did, but everything changed when I met Emilia. She showed me another way- a better way.”
“For you, perhaps,” Caleb said. “I do not have the luxury of falling in love. Someone has to keep England safe.”
“And it has to be you?”
