Page 10 of The Right to Remain Single

“Perhaps not as many. I’m not as averse to marriage as when I was twenty-three, but…” Why, he wondered, did he feel a need to explain himself? “When I do marry, it will be to a woman I like. Or even, if I’m fortunate, one I love.”

Good Lord, what had possessed him to say that? It was true, he realized, although he hadn’t given it much thought until now.

She laughed. “Your dashing Cavalier has won you over with his maudlin verses?” Finally, a smile from Miss Warren.

“What an appalling notion, but perhaps he has.” He grinned back. “By the bye, thank you for keeping my secret.”

The smile vanished. “I’m perfectly capable of discretion.” She turned on her heel and headed down the winding stairs.

“As you told me once long ago.” He followed her. “I didn’t believe you, but even if I had, it wouldn’t have made a difference to my decision.”

“Understood.” Judging by the rigidity of her spine, this wasn’t true. “I appreciate your good intentions in coming here, Mr. Blakely, but surely you see by now that it will do more harm than good.”

Damnation, he didn’t want to leave just yet. He’d been practicing his Latin, having conversations with himself, and he’d barely met the Roman ghost, much less had a chance to speak with him.

“Perhaps not,” he said. “I may be able to help with your current difficulty.”

She halted, glancing up at him, brows knit. “In what possible way?”

“Just how frightened is this Tilson fellow? What if, for example, the ghost were to remain but moderate his behavior somewhat? Still making his presence known but causing less disturbance.”

Her mouth twitched. “I don’t think Mr. Tilson will put up with any disturbance at all. He stayed to dine once, and Max only ranted a little. It was nothing compared to what he might do, but since then Mr. Tilson is extremely jumpy after dark.”

“Your father approves of this lily-livered fellow?”

“He is respectable, well off, and sporting mad.” She frowned up at James. “Could you really cause Max to become better behaved?”

“Maybe. I persuaded the ghost at school to limit his wailing to a schedule that caused the least amount of disruption.”

“How astonishing.” She turned away. “It’s most kind of you to offer, but I should hate to inconvenience you—and I prefer to keep Max as he is.”

* * *

Thomasina had accomplished what she had set out to do. Mr. Blakely had agreed to leave Max be. So why wasn’t she elated?

“Don’t give me that Friday-face, Mrs. Day,” said a familiar, unpleasant voice from down in the Great Hall. “You haven’t been obliged to put up with me for ages.”

“And I hoped it would remain that way,” Mrs. Day retorted.

“Oh, no,” whispered Thomasina. What was Cousin Sam doing here? She had ordered him to stay away forever.

“Samuel Furbelow?” Mr. Blakely whispered back.

“Yes,” she said, struggling not to panic. Max was still here. She had nothing to fear from Sam.

They reached the foot of the stairs, and she halted to compose herself. “You are acquainted with him?”

Mr. Blakely nodded, expressionless. She suspected he was trying not to sneer. “He was a couple of years ahead of me at school. We belong to a few of the same clubs.”

“He’s my cousin,” she said miserably. What a horrid thing to have to admit. For a Warren, whose family was known for scandal, being ashamed of a wastrel cousin was absurd, but so she was.

Because James Blakely was here.

Which made no sense at all.

“My condolences,” he said.

She hiccupped on a laugh. Damn the man, why must she like him so much?