Page 39 of The Spinster's Stolen Hear
“No, I don’t.” he heard himself admit. “But she’s practical, I think. Or at least, she says that she’s trying to be.”
Rose nodded slowly, thoughtfully. “You discussed it, did you not?”
“Of course.”
“She seemed to enjoy spending time with you, Nathan.”
He flushed, looking away. “She’s pleasant company.”
“So are you.”
“That means nothing.”
There was a long pause, during which Rose sat back and folded her arms across her chest, eyeing him narrowly.
“You,” Rose said at last, with finality, “are lying to yourself. You care for her, and if you have any sense at all, you’ll pursue her. Nathan, darling, none of us have forever. Time passes by in a blink, and faster than you can imagine. Love is a rare thing, and…”
“Who spoke of love?” Nathan interrupted, getting to his feet. “I’m not in love, Mother. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be so blunt, but really, you do not know what you are speaking of.”
“Well, I…”
“I have to go, I’m sorry,” he interrupted again, bending down to kiss his mother on the top of her head. “You know how Lord Davenport hates lateness. I really have to go, or else Ishallbe late, and he’ll have a good deal to say about that.”
Rose pouted, leaning back in her seat. “Oh, Nathan. I wish you wouldlistento me. I’m older than you, and a little wiser, and I have a good deal of wisdom to impart, if you would just listen!”
“When I get home, I shall listen to you at length,” Nathan promised, smiling faintly. “But for now, I really must go.”
She gave a sigh which he took as a dismissal and hurried out of the breakfast room and out to where his carriage waited in front of the house. The carriage jolted beneath his weight, the seats uncomfortably cool and unyielding.
The coachman clicked to the horses, and they pulled away. Nathan sat in cold silence, breathing deeply.
She’s wrong. I don’t have affection for Miss Randall. At least, no more than is natural. I promised myself I would keep a firm rein on my heart, and not let it slip away without my say-so.
Could I have broken my resolve already? I hope not.
He swallowed, adjusting his position. He wasn’t entirely sure when he would see Miss Randall next. Some party or other, no doubt.
It hardly matters;he scolded himself.I shall think only of my meeting with Lord Davenport on the journey, and I shall not think of wretched Miss Randall, not even once.
He suspected that he was destined to break this vow. Several times.
***
“Yes, indeed, all is in order,” Lord Davenport grunted, nodding approvingly. “Good work as always, Nathan.”
“That concludes our meeting, then,” Nathan responded, carefully replacing the documents in his leather messenger bag. He was already thinking of the work waiting at home. His mother would probably want a long conversation with him about something important, which he was not looking forward to. Still, if she promised not to mention Miss DavenportorMiss Randall, there was no reason that they could not have a pleasant, cosy evening together. For once, there was no social engagement arranged, and Nathan was determined to get on top of his paperwork. If there was time, he might even relax a little with a novel.
“You’ll stay for tea, won’t you?” Lord Davenport asked, glancing at him anxiously.
Nathan hesitated. He had no objection to tea, of course, but he did not want to run into Miss Davenport. As he’d suspected, she and her mother were out paying calls, but the longer he stayed here, the more chance it was that they would come back and catch him, and politeness would constrain him to stay a little longer.
“No, thank you, Lord Davenport,” he answered, rising to his feet. “My mother expects me at home.”
As he rose, however, Nathan heard the rattle of carriage wheels on gravel, and the familiar high-pitched tones of Miss Amanda Davenport herself. His heart sank.
“Ah, they’re back early,” Lord Davenport said, in a bland, off-hand way which informed Nathan that it had been arranged ahead of time. “Well, youmuststay and have tea with us now. My wife will insist upon it.Iinsist upon it. And you must hear Amanda play, as well.”
Nathan swallowed reflexively, cursing his bad luck. Caught in the trap of politeness once again.
