Charles by Leenie Brown

Author:Leenie Brown [Brown, Leenie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Leenie B Books

Chapter 11

“I saw your sister,” Charles said as he flopped into the same chair he had taken just a day ago after seeing Evelyn at Eiddwen House.

Henry filled the same cup with tea he had filled on that day and placed it in front of his friend. “Did you?”

“She is looking for someone to fill your place at her friends’ soirees.”

Henry took his seat, lifted his cup, and took a slow sip of its contents.

“I told her to find some other chap.” Charles was certain Henry wished to know if he had accepted the position or not but was hesitant to ask. Whether that hesitance was from not wishing to insult Charles by assuming he might take Mary up on her offer, or whether it was because he did not wish to hear that Charles had accepted her invitation, Charles could not be certain. However, either way, he wanted Henry to know that a pretty face and a willing companion were not enough to divide their friendship.

“She was not pleased, and I was obliged to assist her in selecting an ornament for her hair before she would allow me to depart from her side.”

Charles lifted and lowered his cup while Henry slowly nodded his acceptance of Charles’s information.

“She played the part of innocent and injured sister quite well when we met Miss Barrett and Miss Linton outside the shop to which she had compelled me to accompany her.”

“Did she speak to Constance?”

Charles could hear the concern in Henry’s voice. It would be wonderful to have his own someone like Constance about whom to worry. The thought caused him to involuntarily gasp just as he was attempting to swallow his tea. “No,” he managed to say between coughs and sputters, “not beyond telling the ladies to give you her regards as they left. Otherwise, Miss Barrett put herself forward to speak, so that her friend would not be obliged to do so.”

The right corner of Henry’s mouth tipped up in a pleased half smile. “I am certain Constance appreciated that.”

Charles shrugged. “I am certain I cannot say with any degree of acuity one way or the other, but I would imagine it to be the case. Miss Barrett is very compassionate. She seems to always be looking to the needs of others and seeing to their welfare. She is quite remarkable really.”

Indeed, Evelyn was so remarkable that if he were to be absolutely truthful, more than the bruise remaining around his eye and the knowledge of the scheming against Henry in which Mary had taken part, it had been remembering Evelyn’s smile of approval that had compelled him to refuse Miss Crawford’s many attempts to persuade him to her cause. He took a long, slow sip of his tea. He had felt guilty when he had stepped out of that store and found himself in front of Evelyn. She had not been pleased to see him with Miss Crawford. It had been a fleeting look, but he had seen it.

He expelled a great sigh.

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