arise. I’d be passed over for appointment and my judicial career ended.”
“You are expecting the worst that could happen, James. I truly believe your fears are unreasonable.” She glanced toward the door. “Did your mother come up with this…” She did not want to unjustly accuse his mother of interference or causing the situation in the first place. She faced him and implored. “Lily deserves better than being jilted.”
His eyes widened, then he let the silence stretch. He brushed his thinning hair across his forehead. “Yes, on principle I agree with you. I apologize and wish to make amends by any means other than marriage. But I have no wish to remain a junior lawyer. Gentlemen have a great desire to succeed, Meta—a strong ambition that women are not fully aware of.” He walked to the fireplace and stared at the ruby-like coals. “Tell me, how is Lily? What does she think of me?” His cinched fist rested on the mantel.
Meta rose and placed her palm on his back.
He turned and smiled at her.
“I do not wish to betray a sister’s confidences, but I am concerned about her welfare. Lily loves you dearly and is deeply hurt by your refusal. I hate to pain you, James, but you must be aware of that?”
He nodded, lips pursed. “It will be for the best. I must believe that.”
She pulled away and placed her hands on her hips. “Well I do not. The two of you are in love. And that is a rare thing, indeed, rare enough to celebrate and fight for. Right now I feel like a governess in charge of naughty children. So to set the situation to rights, I had a word with Mr. Drexel, the so-called author of the field guide you mentioned.”
“Meta! You did not mention my name, did you? Involve a stranger in my personal affairs?”
She blushed. “I-I do not remember what I said precisely. I did, however, call in the company of Lily and Fitzy. After requesting a private interview with Mr. Drexel, I discussed Lily’s happiness and the great injustice of his field guide. After some protestation of nonsense about men and feelings—”
“You didn’t.” Once again, wide-eyed horror graced his features.
She never realized before how touchy gentlemen could be on the subject of feelings. “Mr. Drexel was kind enough to give us this note.” She reached into her silver chain link reticule, pulled out the white paper folded into a small square, and held it out for him to take.
He snatched it out of her hand. “I would hate to falsely condemn you, Meta, but please do not concern yourself with my personal affairs in public.”
“You have no concerns on that score, James. Mr. Drexel is as reticent and sardonic as they come.” After yesterday’s excitement, she realized her interest in Mr. Drexel had not faded in the least. Even this morning during her ablutions, she couldn’t help but wonder what he was doing that very moment—an unsettling thought.
James unfolded the note and read, “ Mr. Codlington…Miss Lily Broadsham is not a female of my acquaintance…not in my field guide…mistake her initials for Lady Lynette Bearsham. Regards, Geo Drexel. ”
“So you see,” Meta said, “you were quite wrong to believe Lily’s name appeared in this man’s book.”
His brow smoothed as he returned to his seat. “The note provides little explanation and is rather terse.”
“It provides the necessary information, surely. Now that you understand this whole nonsense is just a mix-up, please speak to Lily again.”
“Lynette Bearsham? That name is fictional, don’t you agree? I’m acquainted with many of our aristocracy, and I am not aware of a family named Bearsham. It seems this Mr. Drexel cannot be relied upon to tell the truth.”
“James, his field guide is fictional, so the names are fictional too.” She considered James to be one of the most intelligent of men of her acquaintance. However, the fact that the field guide was fictional seemed to be irrelevant to him. It didn’t surprise her, since many
“You are expecting the worst that could happen, James. I truly believe your fears are unreasonable.” She glanced toward the door. “Did your mother come up with this…” She did not want to unjustly accuse his mother of interference or causing the situation in the first place. She faced him and implored. “Lily deserves better than being jilted.”
His eyes widened, then he let the silence stretch. He brushed his thinning hair across his forehead. “Yes, on principle I agree with you. I apologize and wish to make amends by any means other than marriage. But I have no wish to remain a junior lawyer. Gentlemen have a great desire to succeed, Meta—a strong ambition that women are not fully aware of.” He walked to the fireplace and stared at the ruby-like coals. “Tell me, how is Lily? What does she think of me?” His cinched fist rested on the mantel.
Meta rose and placed her palm on his back.
He turned and smiled at her.
“I do not wish to betray a sister’s confidences, but I am concerned about her welfare. Lily loves you dearly and is deeply hurt by your refusal. I hate to pain you, James, but you must be aware of that?”
He nodded, lips pursed. “It will be for the best. I must believe that.”
She pulled away and placed her hands on her hips. “Well I do not. The two of you are in love. And that is a rare thing, indeed, rare enough to celebrate and fight for. Right now I feel like a governess in charge of naughty children. So to set the situation to rights, I had a word with Mr. Drexel, the so-called author of the field guide you mentioned.”
“Meta! You did not mention my name, did you? Involve a stranger in my personal affairs?”
She blushed. “I-I do not remember what I said precisely. I did, however, call in the company of Lily and Fitzy. After requesting a private interview with Mr. Drexel, I discussed Lily’s happiness and the great injustice of his field guide. After some protestation of nonsense about men and feelings—”
“You didn’t.” Once again, wide-eyed horror graced his features.
She never realized before how touchy gentlemen could be on the subject of feelings. “Mr. Drexel was kind enough to give us this note.” She reached into her silver chain link reticule, pulled out the white paper folded into a small square, and held it out for him to take.
He snatched it out of her hand. “I would hate to falsely condemn you, Meta, but please do not concern yourself with my personal affairs in public.”
“You have no concerns on that score, James. Mr. Drexel is as reticent and sardonic as they come.” After yesterday’s excitement, she realized her interest in Mr. Drexel had not faded in the least. Even this morning during her ablutions, she couldn’t help but wonder what he was doing that very moment—an unsettling thought.
James unfolded the note and read, “ Mr. Codlington…Miss Lily Broadsham is not a female of my acquaintance…not in my field guide…mistake her initials for Lady Lynette Bearsham. Regards, Geo Drexel. ”
“So you see,” Meta said, “you were quite wrong to believe Lily’s name appeared in this man’s book.”
His brow smoothed as he returned to his seat. “The note provides little explanation and is rather terse.”
“It provides the necessary information, surely. Now that you understand this whole nonsense is just a mix-up, please speak to Lily again.”
“Lynette Bearsham? That name is fictional, don’t you agree? I’m acquainted with many of our aristocracy, and I am not aware of a family named Bearsham. It seems this Mr. Drexel cannot be relied upon to tell the truth.”
“James, his field guide is fictional, so the names are fictional too.” She considered James to be one of the most intelligent of men of her acquaintance. However, the fact that the field guide was fictional seemed to be irrelevant to him. It didn’t surprise her, since many
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