“I am full of those,” Caleb joked.
Simone shook her head. “And you ruined it,” she said, but there was a lightness to her words.
Caleb chuckled. “I am just here to entertain you, my dear.”
The term of endearment slipped out before he realized what he was doing. He saw Simone grow visibly tense and he wished he could take back his words. What had he been thinking? He should never have said something so bold to Simone.
Before Simone could respond, Mrs. Fernsby entered the room and announced, “You two are entirely too close to one another.”
Caleb took a step back. “My apologies.”
“What?” Mrs. Fernsby asked, placing a hand to her right ear. “I did not catch that.”
He cleared his throat. “My apologies,” he said, his voice rising.
Mrs. Fernsby approached him, adjusting the glasses on the top of her nose. “Why do you need a ball of cheese?” she asked.
Simone spoke up. “He didn’t say ‘ball of cheese,’” she started, “he said ‘my apologies.’”
“Oh, that makes much more sense,” Mrs. Fernsby said. “Although, I do love a good ball of cheese. Perhaps we shall have the cook make us one.”
Caleb knew it was time to leave. “I should be going. I have work to see to,” he said, performing a slight bow.
“Must you go so soon?” Simone asked.
“I’m afraid it is for the best,” Caleb replied. “I shall beworking late this evening, perhaps even until midnight. Then I shall take my walk, just as I always do.”
Caleb was speaking vaguely and hoped that Simone would understand what he was trying to say.
Simone nodded her understanding. “A walk at midnight is not safe. Perhaps you need a walking companion.”
“I hope to persuade someone to join me,” Caleb said.
Mrs. Fernsby interjected, “The streets of London are a dangerous place. I would not take a walk at such a late hour.”
“You are right,” Caleb responded with a wink at Simone.
Simone’s lips twitched. “Allow me to walk you to the door,” she said.
“I would like that very much.” He offered his arm.
As they walked towards the main door, Simone lowered her voice and asked, “Could you have been any more obvious?”
“I thought I was being rather devious.”
“You thought wrong, but you did get your point across,” Simone said. “I shall see you tonight at midnight.”
Caleb glanced at her. “We will have to take my coach since no hackneys run that late at night. Will that be an issue?”
Simone pressed her lips together. “I suppose I will survive.”
“That is the spirit,” he teased.
Lord Hungerton’s booming voice came from one of the doorways off the entry hall. “What a pleasant surprise, Mr. Bolingbroke.” His words were anything but cordial.
Caleb dropped his arm and bowed. “My lord.”
Simone’s father walked closer to him. “I see you came to call upon my daughter.”
