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  “What did they discuss?” Had she known Mr. Edwards would be in attendance, she might have gone to bed so early instead of attending the play. She would rather have sat in a box with him, discussing mundane topics, than to have lain in bed staring into the growing darkness as her fire died away while she thought about him.

  “The usual things, the weather, the season, the various people in boxes near us, and the play, but I did not hear everything that was said. There were a couple of very serious looking conversations, but they were done in such low tones that I could not make out a word.” She pulled Evelyn close. “He even offered her his assistance to her carriage when it was time to leave. Trefor was a trifle put out with it, but he acquiesced readily enough after one sharp look from Aunt Gwladys.”

  He was an excellent charmer if he had worked his way into the good graces of Mrs. Kendrick so quickly. Perhaps there was hope that he would persuade her mother that he was not so very terrible, and she would be allowed to be his friend with her mother’s blessing. “Did your brother speak to him about his lack of cravat?”

  Constance shook her head. “No, not a word was mentioned beyond my aunt’s delight about hearing he had visited Mrs. Verity and her pleasure for his plan to continue visiting. He said he was going to make a list of things a valet must know and present them to Arthur and Stephen one at a time on each visit.” She chuckled. “I think that is what dumbfounded my brother. His left brow rose as it does when he is not entirely believing something, and he kept glancing at Mr. Edwards in the most quizzical way now and again for the remainder of the evening. It is as if he is not certain what to make of the change in his friend.”

  Evelyn drew in a large breath and released it slowly. It had taken very little effort on her part to inspire Mr. Edwards to good deeds. She only hoped he would continue down this path of noble actions once the newness wore off or when Arthur and Stephen were placed in an apprenticeship or some such thing.

  “You have done well,” Constance said, interrupting Evelyn’s thoughts.

  “I did not do much,” she admitted. “But it does feel gratifying to have had even a small part in it.”

  Knowledge of that small part made a pleasant day even pleasanter. The day was bright, and the temperature was acceptably adequate for a stroll in the park. One still required adequate wraps and gloves, but there was no need to hide from the wind. And since it was such a day, the park was well-occupied.

  “Miss Barrett, Miss Linton.”

  The ladies turned toward the gentleman who had called to them.

  Evelyn sighed. It was Mr. Marsh. She had feigned a headache last evening to avoid seeing the man as she had not yet decided how she would refuse him without crushing him and angering her mother.

  “Mr. Marsh,” she greeted as he reached them.

  “You are looking well.” His eyes swept her form, coming to rest on her face.

  “A good sleep was all that was necessary,” she assured him.

  “I am glad to hear it.” He extended an arm in offer, and Evelyn dutifully placed her free hand on it. “I worried that you might have contacted some disease working with those people at those places you visit.” He shook his head. “One must be careful.”

  “The places I visit are kept very clean,” Evelyn retorted. “I would not have it any other way. You could come visit to see for yourself,” she added in offer. It was not the first time she had asked him to visit Eiddwen House or Mrs. Verity’s, but he had yet to accept such an offer. How she had not found that irritating before, she did not know. Mr. Edwards had not needed any prodding or persuading to visit. He had been eagerly curious to see both places.

  “I will have to mark that in my schedule one day soon,” he answered as he always did.

  “Tomorrow, I am reading to the children at Mrs. Verity’s. You could join me.”

  “Oh, tomorrow is not a good day. I must meet with my solicitor, and then it is the day I play a hand or two of cards at my club with friends.”

  There was always some reason for him not to visit. His schedule was always brimming with things that must be done and traditions which must not be broken.

  “Surely, your friends would be understanding if you missed one game,” she prodded.

  “Oh, I would not wish to disappoint them. We form a set, and without me, there would be no set to form.”

  Evelyn was confident that there must be some other fellow at one of these gentleman’s clubs who could stand in for Mr. Marsh, and she considered saying as much. However, that would not get her the response she needed to hear. “You could not disappoint them even once?”

  “Oh, no, I do not think I could.”

  “Not even for me?” She smiled sweetly and batted her lashes.

  “Well…” he stammered. “It is just that it is tradition, and I am not certain…” His voice trailed off, and he looked off to his right for a moment before beginning again. “These charities are yours, not mine, and I would not wish to interfere with your pleasure. You are very capable of seeing to them without my help, are you not? I have always thought you were a most excellent manager and would make a competent hostess. These places have helped you refine those skills. They are an excellent education in many things and show just how tender your heart is, which is a fine quality for a mother to have. They will have played an excellent role in having formed you into the woman you will need to be when you leave them behind.” He smiled indulgently.

  Leave them behind? It was as she expected. She was important to him as a wife, mother, and hostess, but what she was doing was not considered serious or something that required he take time from his schedule to see. She was secondary to his friends, and her activities were ones which could be given up while his must not be. She wished to rail at him about all this, but the park was busy and shouting at the gentleman who was courting you was not something which would go without remark, nor would it go without an excessive amount of displeasure from her mother. So, Evelyn did what she had learned to do during one of her mother’s lectures and held her tongue firmly between her teeth as she smiled and remained silent.

  Constance gave her a concerned look while Mr. Marsh made no notice of her silence and rambled on about how he found himself most fortunate to have come across them. He had meant to call earlier but had been delayed by some important mail which had been delivered just as he was leaving.

  “I do hope it was all good news,” Constance said since Evelyn’s tongue was still clamped firmly between her teeth.

  “It was the best news,” he said with a sly smile. “The very news, in fact, for which I had been waiting. Most promising, most promising.”

  Evelyn turned wide eyes toward Constance. Had her father already given Mr. Marsh permission to present his offer? She needed more time to figure out how to keep her mother from becoming too greatly displeased. She would claim his unwillingness to put aside his activities to visit her charities, but that argument would likely be met with a “That is to be expected, my dear. Your husband comes first. That is just how it is.” But, that was not how it was! She had met several ladies at both Eiddwen House and Mrs. Verity’s whose husbands took an interest in the things their wives did to the point of joining them on occasion at one place or the other.

  “Ah, Mr. Crawford!” Mr. Marsh waved vigorously as he called to the gentleman. “I am certain he will be as delighted to find you here as I was.”

  Henry approached with a smile, giving truth to Mr. Marsh’s words. “May I?” he asked as he offered his arm to Constance after the pleasantries of greeting were over.

  Constance glanced at Evelyn, who nodded, before accepting his arm and releasing her friend’s. For a time, they walked and talked as a group, but soon, Mr. Marsh slowed his pace, causing him and Evelyn to fall behind.

  “As you know,” he began, “I have been showing you marked attention.”

  Evelyn thought her knees were about to collapse. He was not going to make his offer here and now, was he?

  “And I hav
e come to realize that I could not find a better wife if I were to look for another five years. You are kind and compassionate. And your ability to see to the needs of several charities assures me you will do well in running a home, even one as large as my estate. I am not a man of small means, and you have nothing to fear as far as my provision for you or our children.”

  He did not speak with pride, and the smile he bestowed on her was one of complete satisfaction and pleasure, which caused her heart to pinch. He was not a horrible gentleman. He might not see her activities as of great importance, but it was not because he was some sort of demanding ogre. He was gentle really. Gentle and old. His views were the unwavering from tradition sort of opinions held by people such as her mother. Those same views were some which caused the most strife between her and her mother. That was yet another excellent reason to deny him his request. She did not wish to be the sort of wife who was always at odds with her husband. Her tongue could not survive years and years of being clamped between her teeth. Some ladies might be capable of such a thing, but she was not.

  “I wrote to your father just last week, and he has replied with approval for me to seek your hand.”

  “Oh,” she replied softly. She was thankful that Mrs. Kendrick had mentioned that letter to her so that she was not completely unprepared for his revelation.

  He stopped walking and turned toward her, but looking about, refrained from taking her hands in his. “I know this is not the best place to make such a request, but I am far too overcome with anticipation to wait until tomorrow when I call on you. Therefore, I must know. Would you, Miss Barrett, do me the honour of becoming my wife?”

  Evelyn swallowed and looked around them. People were walking lost in their conversations, while others stood about discussing whatever they were discussing. How she and Mr. Marsh were arranged did not appear out of place. No one, save Constance, would be able to guess the topic of their conversation. But that did not matter. She still felt exposed and vulnerable. It was as if she had woken from sleep to find herself in her robe and slippers sitting in a drawing room filled with guests. It was most uncomfortable. Mr. Marsh, however, appeared completely at ease except for a small tugging on his sleeves and a shuffling of feet as he waited for her to respond.

  “I…” Evelyn began and then shook her head. “I must admit you have startled me with your offer, and I do not wish to do you the disservice of answering hastily or amiss.”

  His features fell.

  “It is not a thing to decide lightly,” she added. “One must feel she is fit for the position she will fill, and therefore, I would beg your understanding in allowing me time to consider my answer with all diligence and solemnity. You deserve no less courtesy than for me to do so.”

  His lips curled upwards but only just. However, it helped Evelyn feel less cruel.

  “Of course, my dear. I will wait for as long as you should like as long as I might have a hope of winning you.”

  Evelyn smiled. “Thank you.”

  He offered his arm to her, and they once again began walking.

  Oh, he had no hope of winning her. She should just be truthful now, rather than allowing him to pine away for days. But she could not. She had to consider her mother in her reply.

  Happily, he did not suspect her discomfort, and upon seeing a gentleman riding a bay, he began discussing his estate and the horses he owned. Evelyn attempted to attend to what he was saying, but she could not. She could only wish for them to catch up to Constance and to be returned home or to the Linton’s or even to Eiddwen House. She smiled. Yes, yes, that is where she would go. She would go sit in the reception room at Eiddwen House. Neither her mother nor Mr. Marsh would find her there. Her mother would simply think that she was conducting an interview, and Mr. Marsh had made it clear that he was not interested in darkening the doors of such a place. Eiddwen House was the perfect safe haven for a lady who needed to seriously consider her future.

  Chapter 13

  “Mr. Edwards,” Mrs. Verity said as she saw him descending the stairs. “There are some people I would like you to meet.”

  The gentleman who stood beside Mrs. Verity looked familiar to Charles. He was nearly certain he had seen him at some soiree or another, and the lady at his side was also familiar, though Charles was uncertain if he had seen her more than maybe once. The other lady and gentleman, he had not seen before.

  “This is Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy,” Mrs. Verity began.

  Darcy. He had heard that name before. Darcy was a wealthy fellow who had just gotten married last season if Charles was not mistaken. And the pretty lady must be his wife.

  “And this is his wife, Mrs. Darcy…”

  He had guessed that correctly. Not that it was terribly difficult to do.

  “…and her aunt and uncle, the Gardiners.” Mrs. Verity turned to the people next to her. “This is Mr. Edwards, the gentleman I told you has taken Stephen and Arthur under his wing.” She turned back to Charles. “The Darcys are very active in the education of several of our children. Mr. Darcy is a favourite of the children for poetry readings, while Mrs. Darcy spends time with the younger girls, helping them with their letters, and the Gardiners are always supplying us with needed items and places for the children to go as apprentices and the like when they are old enough.”

  Charles extended his hand to Darcy. “Forgive the stains, we have been polishing boots.”

  “Oh,” said Mrs. Gardiner, “My husband knows how to remove those stains if you should need such information.”

  Her eyes sparkled, and he suspected Mrs. Gardiner was a joy of a woman to be around. Not at all stuffy.

  “Do the lads have as many stains on their hands?” she asked.

  Charles smiled sheepishly. “No, it seems I am less adept at staying clean than they are.”

  Mr. Gardiner chuckled. “I would say they are just more adept at doing things which would get them in trouble if there were any stains to be seen on their clothes or hands. We boys were all that way at their age, but as we have grown older, we have lost that skill.” He winked. “Not that we do not still know how to avoid getting into scrapes.”

  His wife gasped softly, and Charles struggled not to laugh at the good humor shared between the two.

  “You help the children get apprentices, so then you are in trade?” Charles asked Mr. Gardiner.

  “I am. I have a warehouse near Cheapside.”

  “And you,” he said to Mrs. Gardiner, “must be the source Miss Barrett was speaking about at Eiddwen House when I was given a tour. She said she had met someone who might help her place Eiddwen House’s residents in the trades.”

  “Miss Barrett is a delight, is she not?” Mrs. Gardiner said.

  Charles could not disagree with that statement. “She introduced me to this establishment.”

  “How lovely,” said Mrs. Darcy.

  Mrs. Darcy appeared to be as friendly as her aunt. They shared a similar smile.

  “I believe Miss Barrett thought I was in want of improvement,” he said. “She is likely right,” he added with a laugh.

  “Yes,” Darcy said, “I do believe I have heard your name.”

  Mr. Darcy seemed the most serious of the individuals in the group, yet there was a small smile just tipping his lips. Charles could just imagine what Mr. Darcy had heard about him. It was likely nothing good. Rumors seldom were about gallant activities.

  Charles pointed to his eye. Though the bruise was fading, it was still evident. “My name was in the paper recently. The society pages and not in a favourable fashion. A good friend, the brother of the young lady whose name was linked with mine, was not pleased. The story was a complete fabrication, but it did not matter to him. He had warned me,” he added to Mrs. Gardiner and her niece.

  “I do remember that account,” Darcy said. “The one the following day which exonerated you was even more memorable.”

  “It was,” Charles agreed.

  “Well,” said Mrs. Verity. “I did not mean to take anyone
from what they were doing for very long. I only wished for you to know one another since you might see each other when you visit and did not wish for you to be strangers.”

  “I think my work is done here for the day,” Charles replied. “I must go home.” He moved toward the door. “Oh, Mrs. Verity, I was instructed that I must allow you to see my cravat. Arthur is excessively pleased by his work.”

  “It is a very fine bow,” Mrs. Verity said.

  “It is, and I have told him I will teach him another knot on my next visit.”

  He paused, wishing to ask her something but not certain he wished to do so before so many people. He had not seen Miss Barrett in two days. She had not been at the Linton’s for tea. She had not been shopping with Constance, and she had missed two soirees. He was beginning to worry about her. Although he had only recently started to form any sort of great acquaintance with her, her actions the last few days did not seem to match the lady he had thought her to be, and Henry was not forthcoming with any information, though Charles suspected strongly that there was something Henry knew but was not sharing. How was he supposed to find a way to improve Miss Barrett’s opinion of himself if he was never to be in her company?

  “Was there something else?” Mrs. Verity asked him.

  “I was just wondering if you were expecting Miss Barrett today.”

  The lady smiled knowingly. “No, I am afraid she is not planning to be here today.”

  “Thank you.” He bowed and took his leave.

  He stood for some time on the street before climbing into his carriage. He had hoped that Evelyn would be here today. He could not go to her house looking for her. Mrs. Barrett was not yet favourably enough disposed to him for him to call on her daughter. He leaned back and closed his eyes as the carriage began to move. However, they had only gone a few feet when his eyes flew open. Eiddwen House. She might be at Eiddwen House.

  ~*~*~

  “I found you.”

  Evelyn jumped.

  “I did not mean to startle you,” Charles apologized as he entered the interview room at Eiddwen House and held out his hands. “Arthur, Stephen, and I have been polishing boots for two days, and I seem to be the worse for the wear.”