Page 51 of The Sea Siren of Broadwater Bottom
Edward arched a skeptical eyebrow at his brother before opening one. Inside he found a tube of paper-thin, white, almost translucent material, closed at one end and with a pink ribbon around the opening of the other.
He blanched, realizing what it was. “Harrington,” he hissed, stuffing it back inside its envelope and shutting the flap, “is this a—”
“A condom,” Harrington said cheerfully and at full volume, as if this were a completely normal conversation to be having with one’s brother at eight o’clock in the morning.
“What am I supposed to do with this?” Edward hissed.
“You put your prick inside, tie the ribbon, and—do you need me to explain the rest?”
“I meant,” Edward ground out, “why would you think I need it?”
Harrington’s eyes were sympathetic. “Given your reputation as the golden boy of Gloucestershire, I know you can’t exactly walk into a shop in town and ask for them behind the counter. At least, not without causing a storm of gossip. Whereas I, the scapegrace of the family, can do so without anyone batting an eye.”
Edward frowned. “You’re not a scapegrace—”
“Oh, come off it. We both know I am.” Edward started to protest, but Harrington cut him off. “In any case, seeing the two of you beaming at each other yesterday, it was clear you were going to propose at first opportunity. It’s also clear that you don’t stand a prayer of making it the three weeks it will take for the banns to be called. And knowing how you would hate the scandal of an eight-month baby, I thought this was an area where I could assist you.”
“A rather astonishing series of assumptions,” Edward grumbled.
Harrington raised a single eyebrow. “Are you saying you don’t want them?” he said, reaching for the stack of envelopes.
Edward snatched them away, stuffing them inside his coat pocket. “I want them,” he muttered.
“Ha! I knew it. Now brother, allow me to give you some advice. When your darling Elissa gets here, what you need to do is heed the immortal words of the poet Addaeus.”
Edward peered at his brother suspiciously. He would have wagered a great deal that Harrington did not recall a single line of Greek verse. Edward had personally completed just enough of his brother’s schoolwork to prevent him from getting sent down. “What do you know of Addaeus?”
“‘She’s pretty?’” Harrington quoted with a florid gesture. “‘Then strike while the iron’s hot. Just grab your balls and state your case—’”
“Thank you, Harrington!” Edward said, cutting his brother off before the torture could continue.
Harrington grinned as he rose from his chair and strolled toward the door. “You’ll want to soak the condoms in some water before using them.”
He was halfway out the door when Edward called out, “Harrington?”
His brother paused, leaning back inside. “Yes?”
Edward forced himself to look him square in the eyes. “Thank you.”
Harrington grinned. “You’re welcome. Good luck, brother. We all like her, you know.”
* * *
At nine o’clock,Elissa stood nervously outside the library door. She had managed a scant few hours of sleep, tossing and turning and worrying about the conversation she was about to have.
She still could not wrap her head around the notion thatEdward Astleyintended to propose marriage toher. It was beyond comprehension.
But now that she understood that his intentions were serious, it meant she had made a serious blunder in not telling him the truth. She needed to tell him that she was the anonymous translator, and she needed to do it before he made his proposal.
And then she was going to have to live with whatever his reaction might be.
She was so anxious as she knocked at the door, she worried she might be physically ill. “Come in,” Edward called. She heard the muffled sound of hurried footsteps upon the carpet.
He reached the door just as she stepped through it. “Elissa,” he breathed, “I’m so glad you’re here.” He shut the door behind her, then cupped her face and gave her a kiss that was almost reverent in its gentleness.
He stepped back immediately, taking her hand and leading her to the sofa. “I’ve been waiting for you all morning.” He gave her a sheepish grin. “I all but leapt out of my skin every time someone walked past the door.”
He settled her on the sofa and sat beside her, still holding her hand. “Would you like some tea?”
