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“Oh, perhaps you and Jules would like to join us for dinner?”
“Minx, my minx. Are you sure your brother will be up to it?”
“I am,” she said quite unsure.
“Then I shall extend your invitation to Jules. I, however, cannot, though it pains me for I would like nothing better. I have business in Hastings that may take a good part of the day and some of the evening.” He touched her cheek. “But…it pains me to say no, for I would enjoy dining with you.
She lowered her eyes, “You know, you don’t…owe…me anything…It was not your fault. It was what I wanted.”
He frowned, “Don’t talk like that, Star.” He bent and brushed her lips with his own. “You never stood a chance once I decided you were mine!”
A moment later, he had turned to walk the distance to his horse, and another moment took him hurriedly away.
* * *
Georgie knocked on Vern’s door and waited for him to call out a welcome before she opened it and stuck her head in. “Good morning, or is it nearly afternoon?” she said brightly.
He was up and standing by the window. He wore a maroon brocade dressing gown, cinched by a black silk belt. His fair hair fell about his head in the windswept fashion. When he turned to her, Georgie saw that his color had returned a bit and that he was looking much better.
He took his hand out of his pocket and went forward, reaching for hers as he said, “Georgie, love, do come in and have a cup of coffee with me.”
She smiled at him and went inside and as she had not opened the door widely enough gravity shut it. She didn’t give it a thought and went to take his hand amiably. “Oh Vern, you are looking well this morning.” She waved away at the coffee though, “I have already had a cup and will have another when Star returns.”
“Returns?” Vern interrupted. “Where has she gone?”
“Dilly tells me she went off on Butch for a ride, which is just as well, as I do want to have a private word with you, Vern.” She sat on a nearby chair and motioned for him to sit beside her.
He smiled and as he pulled up the chair closer to her he said, “Georgie…your hair with the sunlight shining through it—so lovely.”
“Stuff and nonsense, now stop Vern. I want to talk to you,” Georgie replied putting an end to any flirtation he might have had in mind. “You and I have been friends for a very long time and I have not wanted to pry, but I feel as your friend, I now must.”
“Don’t Georgie,” he said regarding the darkly woven rug at his feet.
“Yes, but Vern, it is drawing Star into something that is beyond her capacity to repair. So, whereas I may not be the one to meddle in your life, I must do so in regards to Star’s life.” Her tone was meant to indicate that she had quite made up her mind. “Now, if you please. Why did you come charging in at the Sefton Ball last night? I am not a fool and laudanum in the dosage you were taking would not have made you do so and you were not, I believe fevered and delirious.”
He eyed her appraisingly and she wagged a finger to add, “That’s right, you decide if you think me fool enough to believe a farradiddle.”
He eyed her and sighed heavily, “I won’t try and bamboozle you, ‘ole girl. I was under the misguided impression that a robbery was afoot. Something I remembered.”
She frowned, “You said you would not try to bamboozle me. So, shall we try again?”
“I was at the Mermaid Inn some nights ago and overheard some brutes…then it hit me last evening that it was the Sefton Ball they were talking about.”
“Oh Vern, I do wish you would tell me the truth. The lie is there, on your face, in your eyes…how can you?”
He shrugged and looked away from her. “As it happens, nothing of the sort occurred so I was wrong. End of a bad tale.”
Georgie went to him then and sympathetically put a hand to the wide black silk lapel of his gown. He put his hand over hers and both sighed together.
* * *
Jules gave his big hunter over to Jeffries with a wink and a coin before he made his way to the Berkley’s front door.
Dilly greeted him shyly and bobbed a curtsy. “Why Mr. Stamford, how nice.” She stepped aside and added, “His lordship is still abovestairs having his coffee. Ye can join him there and I’ll bring up another cup, I will.”
“Thank you, Dilly, but is Miss Star about?”
Dilly smiled and shook her head, “She is out having a late morning ride, she is. No doubt she’ll be back by the time ye finish yer cup of coffee with his lordship.”
