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‘Who else is there to accompany me?’ Althea retorted hotly ‘If I mix with the servants, you criticise my speech and conduct All I have is Uncle James, and he scarcely listens to me, only stares off into the distance I know you don’t wantany friends!’
Her flush deepening, Miss Neville said, ‘That’s not what I’ in mid-sentence, she took a deep breath and made a valiant attempt at a sle Could we not cry pax? I don’tsouide you as Aunt Felicia would have done’
‘Well, you’re not et on better, leaveshot, Althea flounced up the stairs and stoh the door
For ato Greville, her cheeks scarlet with mortification, she said, ‘I am so sorry you had to witness that’
‘I have noticed a certain…tension between you’
She gave a shaky laugh ‘Indeed She’s still very young…and for some reason I can’t puzzle out, resents me very deeply’ An expression of sorroashed over her face, led with hurt
His strong inclination was to ht remark and put the uncomfortable interlude behind them But as it had before, her sadness pierced his heart
After struggling ato convince himself to let the th during our ride—for which, by the way, I did room, so you may be easy about the matter of a chaperon’
‘Thank you for looking out for her, Mr Anders’ She gave a rueful chuckle ‘I certainly could never have persuaded her to employ such a precaution’
‘It’s not my place to intervene, but Miss Althea did share soht wish to know’
The concern on Miss Neville’s face sharpened ‘Please, do continue’
‘Oh, nothing that would threaten her safety or reputation,’ he added hastily ‘Rather, they shed light on her attitude towards you’ Briefly he related how Althea had described what transpired during the time of her mother’s illness and death
At his revelations, Miss Neville looked appalled ‘But we never intended…how could she have thought that?’
He shrugged ‘Why do people perceive what they do? When one is labouring under extreht want to talk with her about it, although I’d appreciate your notwhy you came to do so She did not expressly forbid me to repeat her remarks, but I’m sure she would feel betrayed if she learned I’d spoken to you about them’
She nodded ‘I’ll consider how I onisain the little girl who trailed after ly, but this past year has reduced as already a small family We’ve always been close, and I miss that’
She reached over to press his hand, sending little eddies of delight up his arh? You’ve been a true friend—to both of us’
‘My pleasure, Miss Neville I wish you luck in your chat with her’
She nodded and he followed her in, the i There was a pleasant warmth deep in his chest as well
He was glad now that he’d ignored his natural disinclination to discuss emotional matters and related what her cousin had revealed Over this last year, he’d co faht at thison board the Illustrious, or stranded penniless in son port, left to heal under the care of indifferent strangers
Had Miss Neville so overcome her prejudice about his status that she now truly considered him a ‘friend’? That attitude would be a decided i a friendship with a woman would be a new experience for hi more physical, since that wasn’t a possibility anyway, he decided he rather liked the feeling There still wasn’t any future in the connection, of course, but perhaps while they both remained under one roof, he could cautiously explore the waters of this uncharted territory
Chapter Ten