do—”
“Alice,” Honoria said.
“Oh, I forgot to introduce you,” Alice said, without trying to conceal the mischievous light in her eyes. “Mr. Hylliard, may I present my tutor and most earnest champion, Miss Brundish.”
Reid’s smile this time was a little more guarded. “Miss Brundish, a pleasure.” He offered his hand, and when she looked indignant, withdrew it. “I had an Aunt Honoria,” he rambled on. “My father called her Honey.”
Honoria’s jaw shifted forward, her eyes a glittering gray. “I beg your pardon?”
For an instant, Jonah thought she would make use of her rather substantial umbrella. Though the possibility enchanted, he thought the better of permitting it in the lobby. Half-forgotten business came out of the fog which had encompassed everything since Reid’s arrival, and Jonah turned to Alice. “You have a meeting with Mr. Hook today?”
“Why do you think I brought along Honoria?” she whispered, laughing.
“Mr. Hook,” Reid said, a wrinkle between his brows. “I haven’t met him yet, have I?”
Jonah shook his head. “Our discount clerk. He’s three doors down from yours, at the end of the corridor. You may have heard—”
“Oh, I’ve heard. He was arguing with someone this morning,” Reid said. “Doesn’t he come out of his office?”
Jonah had to smile. “He’s rather… temperamental. I suppose it’s the nature of the work. You’ll have to make the best of it, I’m afraid. The board only meets once a week, and they’ve given us authority to decide on the loan requests that may be presented.”
“I take it not too many requests go further than Mr. Hook’s office.”
“Not often, unless of course it’s merely a matter of drafting the papers.” Jonah sent Alice a reassuring glance. “When do you open?”
“In a few weeks.” Alice bounced on her heels. “I can hardly stand the wait. Father was a bear about it at first, but now he’s quite reconciled.” She sighed, beaming. “My own sweet millinery, Mr. Hylliard. I do hope you will come by and bring your mother or sister… or wife?”
“I am woefully without any of the three, but I will certainly recommend you to all the ladies I know.”
“What a dear you are.” Alice ignored Honoria’s warning cough. “Come with us to see Mr. Hook, won’t you? He’s the most frightening creature, and I’d feel better with an officer peering sternly over my shoulder at him. Jonah, you as well, if you will.”
“There’s no need to worry,” Jonah said. “I believe Mr. Hook has already approved the sum you require.”
Reid cast him a bemused glance before turning his attention back to Alice. “I don’t know that I peer as sternly as Mr. Woolner, but I’m yours for as long as you wish.” He offered her his arm, and instantly Honoria was on her feet. Alice gave him a resigned smile and proceeded on ahead, her governess at her heels. As Reid followed, Jonah watched his easy gait, wondering at how comfortable he seemed, how utterly self-assured in any situation, as if he believed he had nothing to prove to Grandborough or the directors, nor any need to worry over whether Jonah might report his questionable decisions to the board.
Reid certainly risked Honoria’s—and perhaps Grandborough’s—wrath by flirting with Alice. Alice didn’t mind it. For all the years he’d known her, she’d been an ambitious girl, her father’s daughter. Her father kept a strict eye on her, but had permitted her friendship with Jonah, perhaps thinking him a respectable choice when his daughter chose to marry. Jonah admired her, but no other feelings had asserted themselves in the years since, and he did not imagine himself a suitor. Still, watching her flirt with Reid left him strangely lost again, as if everything in his life seemed destined to slip away from him. Reid had been her first choice for the unpleasant task of dealing with
“Alice,” Honoria said.
“Oh, I forgot to introduce you,” Alice said, without trying to conceal the mischievous light in her eyes. “Mr. Hylliard, may I present my tutor and most earnest champion, Miss Brundish.”
Reid’s smile this time was a little more guarded. “Miss Brundish, a pleasure.” He offered his hand, and when she looked indignant, withdrew it. “I had an Aunt Honoria,” he rambled on. “My father called her Honey.”
Honoria’s jaw shifted forward, her eyes a glittering gray. “I beg your pardon?”
For an instant, Jonah thought she would make use of her rather substantial umbrella. Though the possibility enchanted, he thought the better of permitting it in the lobby. Half-forgotten business came out of the fog which had encompassed everything since Reid’s arrival, and Jonah turned to Alice. “You have a meeting with Mr. Hook today?”
“Why do you think I brought along Honoria?” she whispered, laughing.
“Mr. Hook,” Reid said, a wrinkle between his brows. “I haven’t met him yet, have I?”
Jonah shook his head. “Our discount clerk. He’s three doors down from yours, at the end of the corridor. You may have heard—”
“Oh, I’ve heard. He was arguing with someone this morning,” Reid said. “Doesn’t he come out of his office?”
Jonah had to smile. “He’s rather… temperamental. I suppose it’s the nature of the work. You’ll have to make the best of it, I’m afraid. The board only meets once a week, and they’ve given us authority to decide on the loan requests that may be presented.”
“I take it not too many requests go further than Mr. Hook’s office.”
“Not often, unless of course it’s merely a matter of drafting the papers.” Jonah sent Alice a reassuring glance. “When do you open?”
“In a few weeks.” Alice bounced on her heels. “I can hardly stand the wait. Father was a bear about it at first, but now he’s quite reconciled.” She sighed, beaming. “My own sweet millinery, Mr. Hylliard. I do hope you will come by and bring your mother or sister… or wife?”
“I am woefully without any of the three, but I will certainly recommend you to all the ladies I know.”
“What a dear you are.” Alice ignored Honoria’s warning cough. “Come with us to see Mr. Hook, won’t you? He’s the most frightening creature, and I’d feel better with an officer peering sternly over my shoulder at him. Jonah, you as well, if you will.”
“There’s no need to worry,” Jonah said. “I believe Mr. Hook has already approved the sum you require.”
Reid cast him a bemused glance before turning his attention back to Alice. “I don’t know that I peer as sternly as Mr. Woolner, but I’m yours for as long as you wish.” He offered her his arm, and instantly Honoria was on her feet. Alice gave him a resigned smile and proceeded on ahead, her governess at her heels. As Reid followed, Jonah watched his easy gait, wondering at how comfortable he seemed, how utterly self-assured in any situation, as if he believed he had nothing to prove to Grandborough or the directors, nor any need to worry over whether Jonah might report his questionable decisions to the board.
Reid certainly risked Honoria’s—and perhaps Grandborough’s—wrath by flirting with Alice. Alice didn’t mind it. For all the years he’d known her, she’d been an ambitious girl, her father’s daughter. Her father kept a strict eye on her, but had permitted her friendship with Jonah, perhaps thinking him a respectable choice when his daughter chose to marry. Jonah admired her, but no other feelings had asserted themselves in the years since, and he did not imagine himself a suitor. Still, watching her flirt with Reid left him strangely lost again, as if everything in his life seemed destined to slip away from him. Reid had been her first choice for the unpleasant task of dealing with
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