Page 40 of Unforeseen Affairs
They stood awfully close now, less than an arm’s length apart. His hair was such a nice color—a rich, deep, orange-red that shone like the setting sun when the light hit it just right.
“Us, related?” He grinned now. “I don’t think we’d fool many, with your… well. My hair so…” He gestured to himself. “And yours so…” He paused, his gaze running up and down her.
Charlotte wished he would say she was pretty again. It was remarkable how easily one could succumb to flattery.
“So dark,” he finished quietly.
A silent tension descended over them. Charlotte’s heart thudded. This time she was affected enough to lower her eyes.
After a few breaths he spoke again.
“Shall we say neighbors?”
“Neighbors?”
“Yes,” Sir Colin said hurriedly. “I’ll simply introduce you as my neighbor with an interest in the occult, hence why I extended the invitation.”
“Do not say ‘occult,’” Charlotte said.
“Alright, sorry. Spiritualism, then.”
She tilted her head, considering. A thought came to her of Miss Alice Pearce, nearly swallowed by a swirl of lace and the neat rows of curls framing her face. Of her hand placed possessively over Sir Colin’s.
“No. Not neighbor. We shall say I’m the younger sister of a friend.”
“Younger sister—”
Charlotte nodded.
“But, the Sedleys,” he said with a frown. “Friends with my family?”
“Why not?”
“Well, I mean…” he stammered, rubbing the back of his neck like some bashful lad. “I’m sure Mr. Bass would be surprisedto hear such a thing. Everyone has seen the advertisements, or used a tin themselves.”
“The shoe polish.”
It was a statement, not a question, but he answered all the same.
“Yes, the boot blacking. Everyone knows your family’s name.” He turned away, poking at the straw in the crate once more. “It’s no good, that. When every Tom, Dick, and Harry knows your name and can recite your date of birth, your height, your life story. You’d be surprised, I think, at what information about a stranger someone might bother to commit to memory. Even the address of a person’s residence.”
“The name of their ship?”
He froze for a long moment before replying.
“I suppose I gave myself away,” he sighed.
And why should her being a Sedley and him being a naval hero set tongues wagging? It was not so far beyond the bounds of imagination. And besides, half of his fame was due to the prize money he was awarded from the capture of the two ships—which would put them on, if not even financial standing, then close enough to be suitable.
And yet he looked miserable as he recounted the downsides of his fame. He very much hated it, she realized.
It didn’t suit him, this edge to his voice and the defeated slump of his shoulders. She ought to put his mind at ease.
“Sir Colin, I had no intention of presenting myself as a Sedley.”
He turned around to face her, his expression full of relief.
Chapter Eleven
