“Hello, Fish,” Charles said.
“Charles.”
There was an awkward pause where they studied each other, struggling to deduce what their next comment should be, and Charles broke the silence.
“I thought we should talk. May I come in?”
She’d planned to deny him entrance, but her tongue seized control of her mouth, and she said, “I suppose.”
He strolled in, but didn’t bluster or strut, and she realized he’d been reduced somehow, as if much of his haughty aplomb had leaked away when he wasn’t paying attention.
He looked a tad lost, as if he didn’t remember how to sit down, and she waved him to a sofa. He was nearly relieved that she’d provided instructions, and he staggered over to it and flopped down.
“I was about to have a whiskey,” she said. “Will you join me?”
“Yes, an alcoholic beverage would be perfect.”
She poured two glasses, handed him one, then moved to the chair across. There was a table between them that would serve as a barrier. She couldn’t imagine why he’d blundered in, and she wasn’t about to make it easy on him. She simply stared, waiting for him to speak up or leave.
“How have you been?” he ultimately asked.
“Fine.”
“And how is Libby?”
“Fine too.”
“Is she here?”
“She’s out running errands.”
Her tone was overly surly, but she couldn’t help it. He’d kicked her out of his home, as if she were a scullery maid who’d been lifting her skirt for a penny. It had been a malicious act that she suspected would always sting.
“I hope your ordeal with her wasn’t too awful,” he said. “Lord Barrett told me it wasn’t. He insisted you’d muddled through with no difficulty.”
“Yes, Charles, jail is just fun and games.”
His cheeks flushed with shame. “I know you assumed I signed the papers to have you arrested, but it wasn’t me.”
“We were informed that it was your sister-in-law.”
“I’m stunned that she implemented such a wicked scheme. I would never have expected it from her.”
“You’re gullible about women, so I believe you.”
At least she thought she believed him. He wasn’t generally a cruel person, but so what if he hadn’t signed the papers himself? He’d still evicted her—as if she’d been too disreputable to tarry. She was so embarrassed she might never fully recover.
“I didn’t end things very well with you,” he said.
“I beg to disagree. From my perspective, you were quite thorough.”
He snorted with disgust. “I deserve that, I guess.”
They stared again, and she couldn’t bear it. She asked, “Why are you here, Charles? What is it you want? Forgiveness? All right. You’re forgiven, so your mission is accomplished. You can go.”
He scowled. “Would you stop being such a shrew?”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not sure how to act in this sort of situation.”
“Neither am I, but I’m trying. Could you try a bit too?”
“I’ll rein in my temper, but clarify your purpose so we can get it over with.”
He sighed heavily, as if she wasn’t behaving correctly. Was she about to be scolded for an infraction? If he dared, she’d escort him to the door.
“Tell me about Simon Falcon,” he said.
She was taken aback by the query and instantly on guard. Simon had vanished days earlier, and they weren’t certain where he was or what he might be doing. He might have perpetrated any insane deed, and she braced for the worst.
“Why are you curious about Simon?” she asked.
“Would you describe him as a fortune hunter?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
“Has he had any schooling? Has he any antecedents worth mentioning? Has he any prospects? Or is Libby his sole support? I’m anxious to receive details about his character.”
“Why?”
“He’s eloped to Scotland with Penny.”
Fish’s jaw dropped. “You’re joking!”
“I’m not joking.”
“Of all the stupid, preposterous, outlandish . . .” She couldn’t finish the sentence. There weren’t enough words to define how shocking it was.
“Will he marry her? Or will he simply ruin her, then abandon her at a coaching inn along the road?”
“I can’t predict what he’ll do. He was flirting outrageously with her, but matrimony? It seems outside the realm of possibilities.”
“I can’t decide if that’s good news or not. Would it be better if they’re wed or wouldn’t it?”
“Libby warned him to stay away from her, but once he gets an idea in his head, it’s hard to dissuade him from pursuing it. In that, he’s just like his father who was as reckless as they come.”
“If he actually marries her, what kind of man is he? Is he a drunkard? Is he a philanderer? Would he be violent or abusive?”
“He doesn’t have many bad habits—except for his being a rogue and a charlatan. He’s generous to a fault and incredibly flamboyant. He works tirelessly so people will like him, so he’s funny and interesting. He doesn’t drink to excess, and he’s never angry. For the most part, he’s a very happy fellow who loves life and enjoys reveling. In many ways, he’d be a grand husband for a young girl like her. She’ll never be bored with him. I can guarantee it.”
“Will he presume I’ll hand over her dowry?”
“I positive that’s a motivating factor.”
“I won’t give it to him.”
Fish shrugged. “But then, Penny would be left in the lurch financially. I can’t imagine you being so spiteful.”
“No, I couldn’t be,” he glumly agreed.
She smirked with amusement. “They’ll likely return to Roland very soon, so you’ll have a son-in-law in the house—and it won’t be Lord Barrett.”
“Gad, don’t remind me! I’ll have to tell Luke she tossed him over for a circus performer. His ego might not survive it.”
“In my opinion, he has too much ego. He’ll bear up.”
She was still fuming over Lord Barrett and what an arrogant prig he was. When they’d been freed from the jail, they’d trotted away without him, and he hadn’t bothered to ride after them. He hadn’t visited, hadn’t tried to rekindle Libby’s affections. So . . .
A pox on his sorry hide!
“Could you chase after them?” she asked.
