"The attachment Papa mentioned."
"Papa called it a youthful romance. It was rather more than that."
Charles again lapsed into silence. His hand remained closed around the abandoned piece of toast until Jane gently removed it from his fingers and placed it upon the tray.
"I had understood that the young man from Scarborough was..." Charles hesitated. "I do not know precisely what I understood. Papa never told me your name or profession."
"He did not tell you very much at all," Caroline said. There was no sharpness in her voice, but Charles looked troubled by the answer. He pushed himself to his feet and moved a short distance from Jane’s chair, as though standing might make the situation easier to comprehend.
"You have not seen one another since Scarborough?"
"Not until he entered the downstairs hallway," Caroline replied. "Though I recognised him at once."
Charles ignored the jibe. "And after two days you are already speaking of courtship."
"After nearly five years," she corrected. "The two days are just the part you happened to witness."
Thomas felt the tension gathering between them and stepped in before Caroline’s temper could sharpen further. "Nothing has been settled hastily. Caroline and I know that time has changed us both, which is precisely why I am asking for your blessing to court her rather than speaking of marriage. She requires no permission from either of us, but you are her brother and she loves you. I would rather begin with your goodwill than place her between us."
Charles looked towards Caroline. "And if I said I could not give it?"
She met his gaze steadily. "I should be very sorry. But I am of age and will still receive Thomas."
Charles rubbed one hand across the back of his neck. His eyes moved towards Jane, then returned to Thomas. "You must understand that my father entrusted Caroline’s future to me. He made me promise that I would see her settled securely."
"I remember your father," Thomas said. "I understand why security mattered so deeply to him."
Charles’ expression sharpened. "You met him?"
"Only briefly in Scarborough, though Dr Lawson knew him well enough. You may remember Dr Lawson. He attended your family when you lived there."
Recognition dawned. "Yes, of course. Papa thought very highly of him."
"He sponsored my studies in Edinburgh and has remained my mentor ever since. With his support, and that of a physician under whom I studied in Glasgow, I have recently established a practice in London."
Charles looked surprised. "You have already opened a practice?"
"Only recently. Dr Lawson has introduced me to several families who spend part of the year in town, and my former teacher has referred patients to me. It is a modest beginning, but a sound one, and I have already won some notable patrons—including Mr Darcy’s uncle, the Earl."
"And you believe it will support a wife?"
Thomas glanced towards Caroline. "Yes. I cannot offer her an estate or the style of life her fortune might command elsewhere, but I can provide a comfortable home and a respectable position. More importantly, I would never expect her to surrender control of her own fortune or make any decision concerning our future without her."
Caroline’s fingers brushed his, and he closed his hand around hers. Charles noticed. His expression was not hostile, but concern remained. "You speak as though marriage is already settled."
"It is not," Thomas said. "We have been apart for nearly five years. We love one another, but we must also learn who the other has become. A courtship would allow us to do that openly."
Jane looked towards Charles. "That seems both sensible and cautious to me. If their feelings have survived so much time and separation, refusing them the opportunity to spend time together will not make those feelings disappear. It will only forcethem back into secrecy, and I should think enough harm has already come from that."
Charles looked towards her with some surprise. "Would you feel the same if one of your younger sisters came to you after two days and announced that she wished to attach herself to a man you scarcely knew?"
Jane considered this rather than dismissing it. "I should certainly ask questions."
Charles turned back to Thomas. "You are a physician, and I do not mean to speak disparagingly of the profession, but I know almost nothing of your family or circumstances. What was your father’s position?"
Thomas did not flinch. "He was a cabinetmaker."
Charles’ brows rose.
