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Chapter 13
“Two pair,” Harry said, sighing as he lost the card game.
Crispin sat across from him at the table in the gentleman’s club. Smoke curled into the air from Harry’s pipe and Crispin coughed, not liking the way it weighted down his lungs. The other men were always telling him that a club was a silly place to go for a man who disliked the feeling of smoke.
But people were always urging Crispin to change his nature when he was at the club. Although they had been playing and it was meant to be a source of entertainment, Crispin couldn’t deny that his mood was rather down. He was discouraged after the day he’d had at the tea party.
“Are you all right?” Harry asked, apparently noting his dour attitude.
“Yes, I suppose,” Crispin replied. He was quick with his answer, knowing that it would do no good to say anything honest about how he was feeling. After all, he’d had a wonderful time at the picnic—but it was the disappearance of Lady Mary that had really gotten to him.
Of course, Harry knew him well enough to point out the problem and the fact that Crispin was clearly lying. He had been a fool to even try to hide it from his friend.
“Then why do you appear as though something is dreadfully wrong?” Harry asked, just as Crispin had expected.
Crispin sighed. He had been deeply confused all afternoon once Lady Mary had simply gone into the house and not returned. He wondered why she had not come back down. Had she been upset about something?
“It is nothing,” Crispin finally said, deciding that he didn’t wish to talk about it.
“I am no fool, Crispin. It was clear this afternoon that you and Lady Mary were getting along excellently. While I cannot say with any great certainty, I think her stepmother must have called her away for something and that is why she left us.
It is clear to me that there is quite a dynamic between the two of you. I would go so far as to suggest that, perhaps, you might be as interested in her as I have ever seen you in any woman,” Harry remarked.
Crispin smiled, unable to deny that. It made him feel a good deal better to have Harry acknowledge the interest between Crispin and Mary. But he still didn’t know how he felt about what had happened.
“You seem awfully fond of one another,” Harry said.
“I had thought it was possible, but then she left and never even came to say farewell when we departed. I worry that I must have done something which upset her. I cannot stop replaying every moment in my mind, wondering if I ought to have done something differently,” he said.
“You did not see her at all?” Harry asked.
“Only up in the window. She was looking down at us, but it was difficult to see her clearly. The sun was reflecting on the windows. Maybe it was not her at all; it looked like her, but perhaps they have a maid with similar colouring,” he said, reasoning that maybe he had only been fooling himself into thinking it was Lady Mary because he so wanted to see her again.
“Well, if that were the case, I think you would have known, and she would not have been staring down at you. Perhaps something happened when her stepmother sent her inside,” Harry reasoned.
Crispin had certainly thought of that, but he just didn’t want to say it.
“Anyway, as I said, it is clear that you care for one another and that you would both be happy to court. I cannot understand why you have not taken the step towards it yet when it is painfully obvious that you wish to and she so clearly wants you to ask her,” Harry said.
“You believe that she feels the same as I do? I am almost afraid to hope for it. It seems impossible that a week ago I was afraid to speak with anyone at a ball and now my heart is longing for this woman,” Crispin confessed.
“I think it is clear and you ought to be more than satisfied with that fact. Lady Mary seemed to prefer you just as I could tell that you preferred her,” Harry said.
“Indeed?” Crispin asked, feeling much better.
“Well, I am merely an observer, but yes. I would say that it is clear. Now, what I would ask you next is what you intend to do about it?” Harry asked.
Crispin paused for a moment, thinking about that very question.
“I find her to be the most remarkable young woman I have ever met. She is clever, deep, and very charming. Lady Mary is…friendly and caring. Honestly, we have much in common and I enjoy her company more than I might have ever anticipated. I am immensely fond of her,” he admitted.
“Well! That is quite an answer,” Harry said, raising his brows in surprise that Crispin was so enthusiastic.
“I cannot help it, Harry. I never thought I would feel this way, but it seems I cannot avoid caring for her so much,” he said.
“Then I believe there is only one thing for you to do about it,” Harry said.
“What do you mean?”
