He turned slowly, a smile stretched across his face. I walked right past him. How did I miss him? Franklin had mentioned Bergen was here, yet with his own preoccupation, Colin had forgotten—in the space of a few strides!
“I came to see how you were progressing. I was on my way to the club and waited for you,” his friend said, his voice full of mirth. “You look as if your attention is elsewhere.”
“Damnation! I cannot go with you. This day has not gone as I would ever have imagined.” He picked up a second glass from the silver tray and poured a generous amount for his friend, passing it to him as he refilled his own. “Congratulate me, Bergen. I should get this over with.”
“Congratulate you?” Bergen raised an eyebrow in amusement. “You had my full attention at damnation. I am listening.” His eyes glittered with enjoyment as he raised his glass and took a small sip.
“I should start from the beginning. However, I do not have time; and I need your help,” Colin responded. “I am engaged. I also need to hire a good Bow Street Runner.”
Bergen spat out a small amount of the brandy as he struggled to sit up straight. “Wait! Who? What? Can we go back to the beginning?”
“Miss Mason…” Colin started before breaking off, certain of the ridicule he would suffer.
“How did that happen?” Bergen sniggered.
“Hush! Mother is upstairs. I have no wish to have her join this discussion.” Colin felt heat rise past his ears.
“Hear what, my son?” A swish of silks and taffeta accompanied her query as his mother glided in and took the chair in front of his desk. “Thomas, I was unaware you were here. It’s always good to see, you, my dear. Did I hear you say Miss Mason’s name?”
He was well and truly caught, mired in mud up to his waist with nowhere to go.
“Mother. To what do I have the pleasure?” he asked politely.
“Whisht! Do not distract me. I wish to hear more about Miss Mason.” She waved at him. “Tell us at once.”
He turned away, unwilling to watch their faces. This was not like him. Hell! This day had been like no other he could recall. To top it off, he felt a burning need to return to the orphanage. “I asked Miss Mason to marry me,” he said in a low voice, turning slowly. Two shocked faces stared back, both gaping rudely. The silence was deafening.
“You appear displeased, Mother,” he quipped. “I thought you, of all people, would be happy.” His tone was sarcastic and at once was ashamed. Mother did not merit that.
She walked to him and hugged him, her arms about his neck. “I am thrilled. However, I am rather taken aback. When did this happen?”
“I apologize for my tone, Mother. There was no need for that.” He kissed her on the cheek. “I am as eager to review the details as you are to hear them. Yet I beg you will allow me to do that later. My… b… betrothed…” He stumbled over the word before moving on. “…is in trouble and I need to assist her.” Clearly, becoming accustomed to his new circumstance would take time.
“This was a ‘gallant knight’ type of engagement then, was it?” his mother said, her expression radiating pleasure. “I rather like it. There are so many possibilities.”
Colin turned to Bergen, who still sat in stunned silence. “I can see I must say more.” He sipped his brandy, hoping for fortification. “I was trying to carry out the Countess’ wishes in order to gain my winnings. Miss Mason was not compliant. We argued, and the next thing I knew, I had proposed. She accepted before I even comprehended my words.”
“Whew!” Bergen whistled. “I would never have guessed such a turn of events. You have won yourself a beautiful lady with a brain to boot. You shall never be bored.” Now grinning widely, he returned his drink to the tray and stood up. “I offer my heartiest congratulations,” he said, extending his hand. “Did she run?”
“Is that why you need the Bow Street Runners?” his mother enquired in a neutral tone.
“I suppose you both think yourselves very funny.” His mother and Nora shared a quick humor. “You should enjoy Nora’s wit. I find her verbal sparring very attractive.” Colin realized his affliction today, for saying things unchecked by his brain, was continuing. But strangely, he realized he liked the sound of her name on his tongue and acknowledged a warm feeling he felt when he thought of her. “There is danger afoot, and I need to return to Nora and the children. A man is trying to claim one of the smallest children, whose mother passed away in a drugs den. The child is but a toddler. He is watching the orphanage. The household servants have reported seeing him twice. I want to protect them and find this villain.”
“Good God, man! Trouble continually follows that bet with Whitton,” Bergen exclaimed.
Thankfully, Bergen did not elaborate on the wound he had suffered. “It does,” Colin agreed. “As you will realize, I am sure, I had had no intention of offering for her. Quite the opposite, in fact. It was quite extraordinary; it was as if I was witnessing the event from without my own body.” He chuckled. “Yet, I cannot say I am sorry,” he added hastily. “I find her passionate and engaging, and as I will eventually have to pick a wife, this lady will never bore me.”
His words met with disapproval from his mother, who was glaring in his direction. Father and Mother had been a love-match.
“I apologize again for the unfeeling remark, Mother. I understand it will not be the marriage you have always envisioned for me.” His mother had always wished the same for him and had never engaged in chicanery or other means in an attempt to leg-shackle him as he had seen happen with other ton friends.
“My son, ideas and circumstances change.
