Page 60 of Unforeseen Affairs
The barb buried itself deep in his heart, the sting of betrayal growing the longer he considered it. Both Beaky and Alice demanding his help as if he were in their debt. Quick to upbraid him over his progress, yet never caring enough to inquire after him.
Colin had never told either of them of his problems with his head, and it now occurred to him that, rather than merely wishing not to burden his friends with his troubles, he had been afraid of how they might respond. He could see it clearly now, though. Alice would look away uneasily and fiddle with her fan or the lace of her glove. Beaky would probably laugh, if not outright mock him.
The realization fanned the flames of his anger.
He would see his task through. He would keep trying until he exposed Mr. Bass. But not for Beaky. And not for Alice.
Colin picked up Beaky’s letter once more and glared at the hateful words. His eyes then drifted back to Alice’s letter, looking so pathetic as it lay unfolded upon the table. Colin clenched his fist.
He no longer cared about the Pearce family’s reputation. They and the Gearings would never again be close. Beaky would no longer be a friend. He tightened his grip on Beaky’s letter, enjoying the way it crumpled under his fingers.
He stood, pausing to check if he felt dizzy; blessedly, he did not. He crossed to the small fireplace and tossed the letters from Beaky and Alice into the flames, then watched them burn with a spite he hadn’t known to exist within him. Returning to the table, he picked up Miss Sedley’s missive and read it again.
Charlotte, Miss Sedley had signed it. He studied each letter in her name individually as he idly fingered the edge of the paper.
Colin had done his best to be a decent and loyal friend. But, it was now apparent, to the wrong person.
Yes, he would continue to work to discredit Mr. Bass. But not for Beaky.
For Miss Sedley.
A tiny flame of hope flickered to life in his chest. A hiccup of excitement. All was not lost. He simply needed to change course. Follow the wind.
Colin frowned. He ought to see Beaky and inform him. For what sort of a person was he, if not honest and forthright?
Nowadays, he could not say.
Chapter Seventeen
BreakfastattheRagwas something Colin typically enjoyed, despite the rudimentary fare. The club, with its membership of military men used to being about before dawn, was always buzzing with a quiet busyness he found soothing and familiar. Of course, there was always still some of the prior evening’s lot, wrung out and bleary-eyed as they choked down their possets before heading home to a hot towel, but they usually avoided conversation and even eye contact.
Colin had finished his eggs and hash by the time his old friend appeared, ambling across the breakfast room with a rolling, off-kilter gait, as if he’d just ridden all the way from Newcastle to get there. Colin was not surprised to see Beaky in such a state; in fact, the likelihood of it was why he had requested such an early meeting time in the first place.
“Morning,” Colin offered in a cheery voice, though he felt far from it. In truth, his head was tingling worryingly.
“Beastly hour,” Beaky said by way of a greeting, grimacing as he sat down.
“Have you gone and injured yourself?” Colin asked, frowning.
“In a manner of speaking,” Beaky groused.
Colin waited, but no more information seemed to be forthcoming, so he decided against pressing the matter. He did his best to steady himself as he reached for his tea.
“Will you not eat?”
Beaky shook his head, looking a bit green.
“Something to drink?”
“What, this bilgewater?” Beaky sneered in the direction of Colin’s tea.
“Right.” Colin set his cup down, feeling more certain of what must be done. He decided not to tarry any longer.
“Alice has a beau, then?”
“Abeau? You say it so glibly,” Beaky scoffed as if he couldn’t believe it all. “Very well, if that is how you play it…yes, Sir Colin, my sister is quite taken with some Army chap. I daresay she’ll not be thinking ofyoumuch longer.”
“That’s quite alright,” Colin said, and he meant it wholeheartedly. Alice Pearce was not for him. Not anymore.
