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“My intentions are honorable, sir. Rest assured of that much. With my duties at the clinic, I fear I cannot spend as much time courting Lady Honoria as I would like, and I wish for us to become better acquainted before I make an offer.”
The man’s auburn eyebrow quirked. “So youdointend to offer for her?”
That lump rose, lodging itself firmly in the middle of Timothy’s throat. “Yes, sir. When the time is right, and if you approve.”
Stratford nodded. “Very well. That will be all.”
And with that, Timothy was summarily dismissed, making his way to the parlor and Lady Honoria.
More spirited than usual, Honoria greeted him warmly and motioned for him to take a seat. She poured and handed him a cup of tea. “It would appear the card party was a mixed success.”
He took a quick sip before answering. “How do you mean?”
“Well, as we agreed, I’ve crossed Lord Highbottom and Lord Felix off my list. But perhaps we should reconsider Lord Nash.”
He practically choked on his tea. “Pardon?”
“As a suitor for Miss Pratt. They appear to get along well. He seemed most attentive when they partnered together.”
“He did, did he?” Timothy bit down so hard, he swore he cracked a tooth. He’d spent several days blotting out the image of Priscilla’s flirtatious laughter at everything the scoundrel Nash had said.
Apparently, Honoria found his words amusing, for her laugh rang through the red haze clouding his vision.
“Dr. Marbry. From your reaction, one would think you’re jealous.” Her expression was all innocence, completely free from accusation.
“I’m merely concerned for her safety, and she is trying to rebuild her reputation. Keeping company with Nash is hardly the best approach to accomplishing an already difficult task.”
She grew pensive, her brows drawing down over her green eyes. “I think there is much more to Lord Nash than meets the eye—that there is good in him he keeps hidden.”
Timothy gave a boisterous laugh at her naivety but stopped short. From the serious look on her face, she truly believed it. “You are too good, Lady Honoria, especially for blackguards in the world like Lord Nash.”
“Cressida Cox, who is a friend of Camilla Somersby, said that Lord Nash was instrumental in saving Dr. Somersby’s life during the uprising at the gypsy encampment. I ask you, Dr. Marbry, would he do that if there wasn’t good in him?”
Timothy had heard the same rumor and was tempted to ask Oliver himself. “People have motivations for seemingly selfless acts that aren’t entirely selfless.”
The lines between her eyes deepened. “I . . . that is a most perplexing statement.”
“What I mean is, he must have had some ulterior motive, something that worked to his advantage.”
“Yet, because of him, a man lives who could have died.”
He couldn’t argue with her there. In fact, it seemed futile and ill advised to argue with her at all. Arguing wasn’t the best approach to wooing a woman.
“I concede to your wisdom, my lady. Please consider me thoroughly enlightened. Now, shall we cease speaking of Miss Pratt and Lord Nash and move to more pleasant topics?”
As she chatted amiably about Lord knows what, his mind drifted to a certain blonde with clear blue eyes.
“Dr. Marbry. Is everything all right?” Lady Honoria’s soft voice jolted him and reminded him of his priorities.
A sickening feeling swept over him at the concern on her face, and he swallowed hard. Although compassion shone in her eyes, there was no trace of desire, and any affection he found therein seemed more of a filial nature.
Could he continue to pursue her, knowing they might never have the type of connection that Bea and Laurence had found?
He reminded himself he no longer believed in love, and that a marriage based on mutual respect was good enough for most of thetonand better than many experienced.
There had been a time when he’d wanted more, believed in more. Young and foolish, full of dreams and hopes, he’d trusted and believed, which had made him vulnerable to a scheming, deceitful woman.
He’d grown up since then. He wasn’t that innocent, trusting lad any longer.
