compliment, she faced him squarely. “Ah, I do see the similarities. Fitzy could speak of nothing else other than the amazing Drexels after our visit. I wish to thank you and your father for your generous attentions to him.”
“Your brother mentioned something about engineering drawings to my father. We have use for a young man to take some of the drafting burden off of me. He will even get some time down in the pit, delivering and copying the latest plans. We will of course pay him for his help. It won’t be much, but he’ll gain valuable experience—skills that might come in handy when he studies to become a member of the Royal Academy. Would you consider allowing him to assist us?”
She jumped to her feet. Nothing could make her happier than for Fitzy to leave the isolation of his old schoolroom to join these men actively toiling here. He’d gain a valuable lesson about the effort needed to create a major achievement. “Yes, I will put the matter before him. I really don’t see any reason he should refuse…”
She spontaneously reached to shake his hand in a gesture of thanks. Once holding on to his palm, she did not let go. Instinctively, she examined it closely. When they had first met, she noticed his palm was unusually large. Now she noticed the strength visible in every sinew of his fingers, his wrist, and his lower arm. All this power lying just underneath a covering of tanned skin marked with a few healed cuts. A canopy of dark hair shadowed his forearm and traveled up to become a visible shadow under his white linen shirt. More heat stole up from under her collar and warmed her face.
“Do you need a hand, madam?” He gave a low chuckle.
She instantly dropped his palm. “I have never seen a gentleman’s hand that dirty.”
“Apologies, I…” He immediately brushed his hand numerous times on his trouser.
“I came today to request your assistance on another matter.” She glanced at him and discovered a raised eyebrow but no expression that might give her alarm. In fact, he seemed slightly bemused. “You see, the letter you wrote had no effect on James whatsoever. He became skeptical of your intent due to the letter’s brevity and lack of specifics. You were correct in that the note conveyed all that was needed to be said, but for some reason, James decided you could not be trusted.”
He rolled his dark, fathomless eyes.
She recognized that this was an opportune time to appeal to his good will. “I was hoping you would join me, and together we can pay a call upon James. First, your very appearance will show him that you are a gentleman and your word is to be trusted. Then you can explain to him that your book is fiction and that all of London knows this fact. No misunderstanding could ever come about. Once the truth is placed before James by the author himself, he could no longer willfully believe anyone should think those initials were Lily’s. Moreover, a scheme may be hatched between us to ensure the public could never believe the initials were hers. I have great hopes this will come to pass, and James will resume his addresses soon.”
“I disagree.” He slapped his thigh. “My presence will not change his mind. This James should have come around. If he refused, it means he had a reason to call off. Perhaps one you are unaware of?”
They sat silently watching the busy men toiling around them.
How could she change his mind?
She doubted any tactic would work other than the absolute truth. “I don’t pretend to know everything about my sister, but I do know she loves James. I also believe he loves her. I can have no other goal in life than to see my siblings happy in love. It is my greatest dream.”
“Right. You have now reached a subject I know nothing about and refuse to discuss.”
“Your greatest dreams?”
“No, happy in love. Don’t mistake me; I know it exists. My two best friends fell under its spell. But it doesn’t happen to everyone. Your sister and her
“Your brother mentioned something about engineering drawings to my father. We have use for a young man to take some of the drafting burden off of me. He will even get some time down in the pit, delivering and copying the latest plans. We will of course pay him for his help. It won’t be much, but he’ll gain valuable experience—skills that might come in handy when he studies to become a member of the Royal Academy. Would you consider allowing him to assist us?”
She jumped to her feet. Nothing could make her happier than for Fitzy to leave the isolation of his old schoolroom to join these men actively toiling here. He’d gain a valuable lesson about the effort needed to create a major achievement. “Yes, I will put the matter before him. I really don’t see any reason he should refuse…”
She spontaneously reached to shake his hand in a gesture of thanks. Once holding on to his palm, she did not let go. Instinctively, she examined it closely. When they had first met, she noticed his palm was unusually large. Now she noticed the strength visible in every sinew of his fingers, his wrist, and his lower arm. All this power lying just underneath a covering of tanned skin marked with a few healed cuts. A canopy of dark hair shadowed his forearm and traveled up to become a visible shadow under his white linen shirt. More heat stole up from under her collar and warmed her face.
“Do you need a hand, madam?” He gave a low chuckle.
She instantly dropped his palm. “I have never seen a gentleman’s hand that dirty.”
“Apologies, I…” He immediately brushed his hand numerous times on his trouser.
“I came today to request your assistance on another matter.” She glanced at him and discovered a raised eyebrow but no expression that might give her alarm. In fact, he seemed slightly bemused. “You see, the letter you wrote had no effect on James whatsoever. He became skeptical of your intent due to the letter’s brevity and lack of specifics. You were correct in that the note conveyed all that was needed to be said, but for some reason, James decided you could not be trusted.”
He rolled his dark, fathomless eyes.
She recognized that this was an opportune time to appeal to his good will. “I was hoping you would join me, and together we can pay a call upon James. First, your very appearance will show him that you are a gentleman and your word is to be trusted. Then you can explain to him that your book is fiction and that all of London knows this fact. No misunderstanding could ever come about. Once the truth is placed before James by the author himself, he could no longer willfully believe anyone should think those initials were Lily’s. Moreover, a scheme may be hatched between us to ensure the public could never believe the initials were hers. I have great hopes this will come to pass, and James will resume his addresses soon.”
“I disagree.” He slapped his thigh. “My presence will not change his mind. This James should have come around. If he refused, it means he had a reason to call off. Perhaps one you are unaware of?”
They sat silently watching the busy men toiling around them.
How could she change his mind?
She doubted any tactic would work other than the absolute truth. “I don’t pretend to know everything about my sister, but I do know she loves James. I also believe he loves her. I can have no other goal in life than to see my siblings happy in love. It is my greatest dream.”
“Right. You have now reached a subject I know nothing about and refuse to discuss.”
“Your greatest dreams?”
“No, happy in love. Don’t mistake me; I know it exists. My two best friends fell under its spell. But it doesn’t happen to everyone. Your sister and her
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