I looked down at the startled face before me and resisted the sudden urge to look startled myself. Charles and I were on our way to meet the owner of the estate I was to purchase and had just been discussing some of the particulars of what might sway him in our favor as well as my latest idea of the hotel. I certainly hoped she hadn't been eavesdropping again.
"Oh," I smiled and stepped back politely, "Pardon me, Ms. Ainsworth."
"Oh no," she said, a little flustered, "It was my fault."
We stood there awkwardly for a moment, neither of us knowing where to go next. I expected Charles to make the first move but rather, he seemed oblivious to it all.
"I nearly forgot! There's something my wife wanted me to pick up in that shop across the way," he muttered to me, "I'll be back."
I incredulously turned my head and watched him cross the street. My first instinct was to call out to him and remind him of our actual errand but that would only draw unwanted attention. It seemed he'd grown dependent on my taking over of the social half of our plan.
That, of course, left just us two. I shifted my gaze from him to my shoes and back up to Ms. Ainsworth. She couldn't seem to make eye contact either, suddenly focused on the steady foot traffic in the streets.
Finally, I cleared my throat and gave the young lady another friendly smile, "You look lovely this morning, Ms. Ainsworth."
"Oh," the comment only seemed to fluster her more, "Thank you, sir."
I decided then and there that this was a grand opportunity. Here she was--the only potential obstacle in the way of my goal--caught off guard. Clearly the small amount of suspicion she might've had could be easily swept away with a wave a open friendliness.
So, seeing that the compliment hadn't quite done the trick, I turned to teasing instead and frowned in mock offense, "Now Ms. Ainsworth, don't tell me you forgot my name again. Not after the sisters you have."
She gave me a fleeting smile but still looked as if she'd rather bolt down the street in the opposite direction.
"I'm sorry to have interrupted you," I tried again, "Might I accompany you to your next destination as way of apology? I have yet to wait for my cousin's return."
"Oh," she flashed another quick smile, fiddled with her dress, and then looked up again, "I--"
"I can do that, thank you," a deeper voice said. I looked up to see a young man with copper hair and blue eyes. He was shorter than me and generally less imposing but the hint of sternness in his voice was enough to catch me off guard.
"Hodges," Ms. Ainsworth greeted, obviously relieved, "Where's Ms. Murray?"
"She needed to be home to help her mother," he said curtly, hardly taking his gaze from me, "I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting you, sir."
Despite my annoyance at the interuption, I grinned and tipped my hat, "Mr. Samuelson. I've only just moved into town. Pleased to make your acquaintence."
I extended a hand which he warily shook.
"What's your business in town?"
The man was obviously a good friend of this young lady; I felt as if I was being interrogated by a civil officer. Yet, as usual, I only put on a new mask--from a polite gentleman to a confident businessman, "I'm looking into purchasing the Granville estate."
His eyes slightly widened and I hid a smile. Whether I really had the resources to back it up or not, the phrase was indulgently satisfying to say. And the reaction I recieved always topped it off perfectly.
"What draws your ambitions?"
I pursed my lips and leaned on my decorative cane in thought for a moment before answering, "The people mainly. I thought it would be a shame for the home of such an accomplished man to go to waste just because of his lack of heir. Of course," I added, "If it doesn't work out there are several others of similar status throughout London I have my eye on. But if I can be of service, I'd rather."
Suddenly this Mr. Hodges seemed to realize why he'd come over in the first place and changed the direction of the conversation, "I wish you luck in such an endevour, Mr. Samuelson. I take it you've already been introduced to Ms. Ainsworth?"
"Of course," I met her eyes with a cheerful smile, trying my best to extinguish any last skepticism that might be in them, "My circle of aquaintences wouldn't be fullfilled if I hadn't."
Finally Ms. Ainwsworth herself spoke up, "Thank you, Mr. Samuelson. It was nice visiting with you but I'm afraid I need to finish some errands."
"G'day," I tipped my hat, realizing I'd likely lost this battle. She nodded her head in return and then walked past me. She stopped only to look over her shoulder at Mr. Hodges to follow.
"I'll catch up," he assured her.
With an uneasy shrug, she turned and scurried off. She'd barely gone out of earshot before his attentions locked on me.
"I wasn't aware the Samuelsons had another son."
Charles and I had already decided on this cover-story, "I've spent most of my childhood in education. I'm afraid my parents don't mention me much in court. That's why I've decided to come out here: to make a name for myself."
He nodded, somewhat satisfied, "And Mr. Lettington is a cousin?"
"Yes. A second-cousin to be exact," I promptly replied. Then, noticing that he was trying to act casual, I decided to play along with his charade in order to change the subject from my pretend past, "But enough about myself, Mr. Hodges. You seem a man of great integrity. What is your occupation?"
"I...I'm becoming a clergyman."
"Ah," I nodded approvingly, "The world needs more men like you. I have all confidence of your abilities in the field."
"Thank you, Mr. Samuelson."
Just then, Charles came rushing back out, a few parcels under his arm and a pair of laced gloves in his mouth as he fiddled with his wallet.
"Mm!" he exclaimed, gloves still in his mouth. He quickly took them out and extended a hand, "Mr. Hodges, how are you?"
"I'm fine, thank you," he smiled politely, "But I'm afraid I must be off."
"Oh. G'day to you then," Charles grinned.
"Yes," I said, "Good luck with your future, Mr. Hodges."
As soon as he was gone I blew out my breath and tugged at my jacket collar. I wasn't sure whether I had convinced either of them but no matter the circumstance, the man was definetly someone I didn't want to run into--especially when around Ms. Ainsworth.
"Oh," I smiled and stepped back politely, "Pardon me, Ms. Ainsworth."
"Oh no," she said, a little flustered, "It was my fault."
We stood there awkwardly for a moment, neither of us knowing where to go next. I expected Charles to make the first move but rather, he seemed oblivious to it all.
"I nearly forgot! There's something my wife wanted me to pick up in that shop across the way," he muttered to me, "I'll be back."
I incredulously turned my head and watched him cross the street. My first instinct was to call out to him and remind him of our actual errand but that would only draw unwanted attention. It seemed he'd grown dependent on my taking over of the social half of our plan.
That, of course, left just us two. I shifted my gaze from him to my shoes and back up to Ms. Ainsworth. She couldn't seem to make eye contact either, suddenly focused on the steady foot traffic in the streets.
Finally, I cleared my throat and gave the young lady another friendly smile, "You look lovely this morning, Ms. Ainsworth."
"Oh," the comment only seemed to fluster her more, "Thank you, sir."
I decided then and there that this was a grand opportunity. Here she was--the only potential obstacle in the way of my goal--caught off guard. Clearly the small amount of suspicion she might've had could be easily swept away with a wave a open friendliness.
So, seeing that the compliment hadn't quite done the trick, I turned to teasing instead and frowned in mock offense, "Now Ms. Ainsworth, don't tell me you forgot my name again. Not after the sisters you have."
She gave me a fleeting smile but still looked as if she'd rather bolt down the street in the opposite direction.
"I'm sorry to have interrupted you," I tried again, "Might I accompany you to your next destination as way of apology? I have yet to wait for my cousin's return."
"Oh," she flashed another quick smile, fiddled with her dress, and then looked up again, "I--"
"I can do that, thank you," a deeper voice said. I looked up to see a young man with copper hair and blue eyes. He was shorter than me and generally less imposing but the hint of sternness in his voice was enough to catch me off guard.
"Hodges," Ms. Ainsworth greeted, obviously relieved, "Where's Ms. Murray?"
"She needed to be home to help her mother," he said curtly, hardly taking his gaze from me, "I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting you, sir."
Despite my annoyance at the interuption, I grinned and tipped my hat, "Mr. Samuelson. I've only just moved into town. Pleased to make your acquaintence."
I extended a hand which he warily shook.
"What's your business in town?"
The man was obviously a good friend of this young lady; I felt as if I was being interrogated by a civil officer. Yet, as usual, I only put on a new mask--from a polite gentleman to a confident businessman, "I'm looking into purchasing the Granville estate."
His eyes slightly widened and I hid a smile. Whether I really had the resources to back it up or not, the phrase was indulgently satisfying to say. And the reaction I recieved always topped it off perfectly.
"What draws your ambitions?"
I pursed my lips and leaned on my decorative cane in thought for a moment before answering, "The people mainly. I thought it would be a shame for the home of such an accomplished man to go to waste just because of his lack of heir. Of course," I added, "If it doesn't work out there are several others of similar status throughout London I have my eye on. But if I can be of service, I'd rather."
Suddenly this Mr. Hodges seemed to realize why he'd come over in the first place and changed the direction of the conversation, "I wish you luck in such an endevour, Mr. Samuelson. I take it you've already been introduced to Ms. Ainsworth?"
"Of course," I met her eyes with a cheerful smile, trying my best to extinguish any last skepticism that might be in them, "My circle of aquaintences wouldn't be fullfilled if I hadn't."
Finally Ms. Ainwsworth herself spoke up, "Thank you, Mr. Samuelson. It was nice visiting with you but I'm afraid I need to finish some errands."
"G'day," I tipped my hat, realizing I'd likely lost this battle. She nodded her head in return and then walked past me. She stopped only to look over her shoulder at Mr. Hodges to follow.
"I'll catch up," he assured her.
With an uneasy shrug, she turned and scurried off. She'd barely gone out of earshot before his attentions locked on me.
"I wasn't aware the Samuelsons had another son."
Charles and I had already decided on this cover-story, "I've spent most of my childhood in education. I'm afraid my parents don't mention me much in court. That's why I've decided to come out here: to make a name for myself."
He nodded, somewhat satisfied, "And Mr. Lettington is a cousin?"
"Yes. A second-cousin to be exact," I promptly replied. Then, noticing that he was trying to act casual, I decided to play along with his charade in order to change the subject from my pretend past, "But enough about myself, Mr. Hodges. You seem a man of great integrity. What is your occupation?"
"I...I'm becoming a clergyman."
"Ah," I nodded approvingly, "The world needs more men like you. I have all confidence of your abilities in the field."
"Thank you, Mr. Samuelson."
"Mm!" he exclaimed, gloves still in his mouth. He quickly took them out and extended a hand, "Mr. Hodges, how are you?"
"I'm fine, thank you," he smiled politely, "But I'm afraid I must be off."
"Oh. G'day to you then," Charles grinned.
"Yes," I said, "Good luck with your future, Mr. Hodges."
As soon as he was gone I blew out my breath and tugged at my jacket collar. I wasn't sure whether I had convinced either of them but no matter the circumstance, the man was definetly someone I didn't want to run into--especially when around Ms. Ainsworth.
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