My feet stumbled to a stop. I’d greeted General Blackwell each morning with a respectful nod but on those other mornings my thoughts hadn’t been quite so full of his daughter. I swallowed hard and brought my heels together, stopping my hand just before it rose to a shaky salute.
Had I gone daft? I brought my hand down and gave them each a short bow instead. I’d fully intended to speak to both ofthem soon, just not quite this soon. Evelyn and I had left too many things unsaid last night, being preoccupied with ... other things. Did she want me to wait until the end of the week before approaching her parents, or had we nullified that possibility with our behavior last night?
“Captain,” General Blackwell said, his greeting crisp and short with undertones of disapproval. An undertone of disapproval was never a good thing when it came from the general. Mrs. Blackwell, who’d always greeted me with a broad smile, gave me only the shortest of nods.
I should have allowed my valet time to tie a better knot.
My hands were steady as I filled my plate at the sideboard, even if I was very aware of their eyes upon my back. I scooped up dishes without even noticing what I was choosing and then joined them at the table.
General Blackwell set his fork down to the side of his plate and looked me in the eye with his steely gaze. “I expect you to join me in my study after breakfast, Captain. We need to speak privately.”
I nodded precisely. “Of course.”
Had a servant seen us leaving the library long after everyone else was abed? We should have been more careful. In fact, I should have sent her to bed without doing anything more than telling her my intent to court her. I’d been foolish and rash, and I’d taken advantage of the general’s hospitality and trust.
Evelyn had been undeniably alluring last night and I’d fallen blissfully into that temptation.
I should have been more careful.
Was there a chance Evelyn regretted last night and spoke to General Blackwell about discouraging me? Had I been so caught up in my own emotions that I read everything wrong? It wouldn’t be the first time.
I clenched my jaw. Even I couldn’t be that mistaken. Evelyn asking me to kiss her was a far cry from Miss Pryor misplacing her glove.
Still, I had to know the reason behind my icy welcome. I couldn’t sit here eating breakfast with Evelyn’s parents without knowing why I’d fallen from grace. “Is this about your daughter?”
A muscle ticked in General Blackwell’s jaw and he glanced at the open door. “We will speak of it later.”
It was definitely because of Evelyn. Last night I not only spoke brazenly to this man’s daughter, I kissed her a fair amount as well.
The harsh morning sun shed an uncomfortable light on my actions.
We ate in silence for several moments until two more “good mornings" were murmured softly behind me.
I turned to find Evelyn and Miss Pryor, both in white day dresses. Both smiling. I jolted to my feet. “Good morning,” I responded, my eyes on Evelyn. She looked refreshed and beautiful with a light in her eyes I swear hadn’t been there yesterday.
I left the table without a second thought and went to the sideboard, took up a plate, and bowed to Evelyn. “May I assist you?”
But before she could answer, her eyes widened and lifted to a spot just above my shoulder. Her plate was torn from my hands.
“I’ll help her,” General Blackwell said from behind me, his voice dangerously low.
Evelyn furrowed her brows. “Papa?”
“I need to speak with Captain Calder, and until I do, you two will maintain distance from each other.”
For a general’s daughter, Evelyn wasn’t good at blindly following commands. “But why?”
General Blackwell started placing cold meats on her plate. “You will have to wait until after I speak to him to ask me about that as well.”
She folded her arms over her chest. “Why can’t you simply speak of it now?”
General Blackwell dropped Evelyn’s plate down on the sideboard between the dried fruit and cold meats. “Because anyone could walk in this room, and it is a private matter.”
I stepped to Evelyn’s side. If the general was going to be upset with anyone, it should be me. I was the one who should have kept a cool head. It really would be best if I met with him later, alone. I placed a hand on Evelyn’s arm but she pulled it away and glared at her father. “Does this private matter between you and Captain Calder concern me?”
General Blackwell’s eyes were like a steel trap when he looked at me. I’d seen anger like that in him before. It never boded well. “I sincerely hope not.”
Evelyn furrowed her brows. “Papa, what have you heard?” Her brows relaxed and she stepped forward. “Is it because of that woman in white nonsense?”
