Chapter 13 #2
“You have saved him,” she gasped, out of breath. She held out her arms, and the child went into them without hesitation. “You gave us a scare, young man.” She smiled at him as the father arrived at their sides.
“Thank you,” he said to Felix, his breath also coming fast. “We had thought him playing with his bigger cousin and were not paying attention as we ought. We are much obliged to you.”
“You have Lady Sophia to thank,” he said, smiling at her. “She was the one who saw the danger and began running.”
“Much obliged to you, my lady,” the father said, as she handed the boy over to him.
Felix glanced at Lady Sophia as they both turned to face the other guests, some of whom had seen what had happened. Camilla and Marie were walking toward them, and Lady Sophia gave Felix a grateful smile that blinded him for a moment.
“I am amazed that you saw the danger, too, Mr. Harwood. I thought I was the only one who did and that I would not reach him in time.”
“I was watching you,” he said before he could check his words. “It was your expression of alarm that alerted me.”
“You—”
Then Lady Camilla and Marie were upon them, and she was not able to finish her sentence.
Her tone held a question. Felix’s chest pounded, for he had revealed his interest in that one sentence.
In a way, he was glad she was not forced to return a response right away.
He did not want her to be pressured into returning his feelings, although he hoped that someday she would.
The picnic soon drew to a close, and they were given no further chance for a private exchange.
But as they mingled with the other guests, he saw her looking his way more than once.
It almost didn’t matter that Robert insisted on leading her down the hill again; the picnic had given him something to hold on to.
It led him to hope that perhaps she was not indifferent to him.
Felix was at home the next day when a servant knocked and handed him three letters. With no plans to attend Parliament that afternoon, he sat to look through them. The first was a letter from his father.
Dear Felix,
I am required, as the executor of Mr. Thurlow’s estate, to come to London and prove the will to the PCC at Doctor’s Commons.
I have taken a house on Searle Street and Margaret will accompany me on the journey.
It will be a pleasure to have her company, and I think she might amuse herself with you in London.
Mrs. Macklesby has assured me she is perfectly capable of caring for Elizabeth, Susan, and Anabelle while we are gone.
It will do our Margaret good to have her first grand adventure and perhaps give her some of the confidence that disappeared when we lost your mother.
I hope you will be able to spare some time from your parliamentary duties to entertain your sister—and perhaps, for the sake of your old father, you might even consent to dine. You may expect us on Tuesday next.
Your father,
T. Harwood
Felix was touched by his father’s letter and did not miss the affection that read through his words. Then he cocked his head, grinning, as he imagined Margaret in London. She would be petrified by the crowds, unable to utter a single word. He would have fun drawing them out of her.
A new thought entered the realm of possibilities. Perhaps he might introduce her to Lady Sophia. They were alike in some ways, and his sister would certainly benefit from meeting someone who was higher in Society but also struggled with shyness.
He sat down with the letter in his hand, then folded it back up, absently stirring the air with it.
One such opportunity might be the picnic he had invited Lady Matilda to go on.
What if he were able to arrange it so that it occurred while his sister was here?
It would give him more reason to ensure Lady Sophia was a member of the party.
He spent a moment imagining this pleasant outcome before looking at the rest of his mail.
A second letter came from his solicitor proposing three possible houses on the market that might be of interest to him should he decide against the one in Bloomsbury.
As for the one he had visited, so far no offers had come, but one gentleman was extremely interested and was applying to his father to assist him in making the purchase.
Felix was also still weighing his decision, for although he was very tempted, his father’s caution weighed with him and he was loath to rush in with an offer to purchase.
He decided to think the matter over a little longer.
The other letter waiting for him brought no pleasure.
It was from Lord Chawleigh, requesting he come to Grosvenor Square, and Felix had an inkling of what the interview would be about.
The baron was likely going to ask him if he had made any headway with the admiral about getting his son the position he desired.
It occurred to him then that Robert had never approached him directly about the favor.
Did he know about it and not care? Or did he assume Felix would carry out his father’s request without raising a fuss?
Well, there was nothing for it but to face the meeting and get it over with.
At 20 Grosvenor Square, the footman opened the door and admitted him into the drawing room, where Robert was waiting for him.
“You came. I was thinking to go and visit you myself and would have done this afternoon if James had not informed me of your arrival.”
The words sounded agreeable enough, but Robert did not look happy, and Felix grew uneasy.
His mood likely sprang from one of two things.
It either had to do with Lady Sophia, or the matter his father had called him to discuss.
No, it could not be that, for that would not make him look thunderous.
It must concern Lady Sophia. Well, Felix would delay the confrontation if he could.
“Your father sent me a letter, requesting that I come, and here you have me, all obedience.” Felix strove for a light tone.
Robert stood and went over to where a side table held a decanter of brandy. “Care for a glass?”
Felix was not in the mood for it, but he thought it would be more polite to say yes. “Thank you.”
Robert poured the drinks, handed one to Felix, and sat across from him.
He drank, his eyes not straying from him.
Felix leaned back, refusing to cower under such scrutiny.
He had done nothing wrong. Besides, he’d learned at an early age that he had to stay strong with Robert, or with their social disparity, he would become nothing more than his lackey.
“It seems you are growing cozy with Lady Sophia.”
Felix set his glass down carefully. He would not deny it; nor would he offer anything more than was needed. “Lady Sophia is an admirable woman.”
“Her family is our closest connection. She is the woman I’ve had my eye on for many years. You are not ignorant of the fact,” he reminded Felix grimly.
Felix flicked his hands, forcing himself to relax. “I am aware of your interest and intentions. I was able to see it for myself. However, I am not aware of hers.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Robert shot back.
“It means,” Felix said carefully, “that I cannot say that I have detected any partiality on her side.”
“And so you mean to step in and attempt a bid for her hand, do you?” Robert was poised on the edge of his chair, looking ready to mill him down.
Felix shrugged and looked away. This was direct, more direct than he was ready to own.
It was one thing to tell Lady Sophia that he had been watching her, which was how he was able to come so quickly to her assistance.
It was another thing to admit to Robert that he was fully pursuing the lady because he could not stop thinking about her.
How humiliating it would be should she turn him down with a reminder of their difference in wealth and status, of which he was readily aware.
When Felix did not answer, Robert downed the rest of his drink. “You are far beneath her in Society. I did not think I would need to remind you of that. I hardly think her family would agree to such a match.”
Felix leveled his eyes at Robert. “And since I am not proposing a match at present, I hardly find this discussion to the point.”
Robert stood, and Felix watched him. He knew Robert well enough to know that he was extremely put out, but that he wouldn’t likely begin a physical altercation.
“Just stop interfering where you don’t belong. Since you cannot hope to win her, don’t hinder my courtship. I’ll tell my father you are here.”
He did not wait for Felix’s reply and left the drawing room.
Felix sat there for a long moment. He was glad he had not been forced to give an answer, as he did not know what to say.
The conversation sat ill with him, for it brought into light the conundrum he was facing.
His friend wished to make Lady Sophia his wife.
She did not appear to return his regard.
Felix, on the other hand, was hopelessly caught by her gentle manner and heart and would likely be the sort of husband she needed.
But he was in some doubt of being in the position to advance his cause.
He did not wish to be at odds with Robert, but nor would he simply accept Robert’s orders and ignore the direction of his own heart.
The moment of solitude went on long enough that his mind returned to his reasons for visiting.
And just as he thought he would have to go in search of Lord Chawleigh, the baron entered the room.
“I was informed that you had arrived but was meeting with my man of business. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. I believe Robert was here to entertain you for some of that time?”
“He was indeed.” Felix pointed at the two glasses. If it could be called entertaining. “I received your letter, and I have come.”
“Good, good.” The baron sat down and crossed one leg over the other.
With a sudden desire to put off the inevitable, Felix took control of the conversation. “I have just today received a letter from my father. He will be in London next week for the probate of Mr. Thurlow’s will and is traveling with my sister.”
“Is he? I was unaware Thurlow had made your father the executor of his will.” He glanced at Felix as though he could find the answer to his puzzle there. Then he relaxed his pose. “Your father must come and pay us a visit. You will let him know that I have invited him?”
Felix nodded. “I will.”
A beat of silence fell before Lord Chawleigh came to his point. “I have not brought up that matter I had written to you about concerning Robert’s future. I had hoped you might come and see me of your own accord with good news. What progress have you made on this matter?”
Felix felt ill. He should have responded right away that the request would be impossible to honor, but it had seemed too difficult a thing to do. He took a breath. “To own the truth, I have done nothing, for I don’t believe the matter will succeed.”
Lord Chawleigh looked at him strangely. Clearly it had not occurred to him that he might refuse. “Why ever not?”
“The admiral is for reform, which I think you know,” he said.
“He used his influence outside of Parliament to make sure the Commission for Naval Inquiries was founded. He can hardly go against everything he believes in and render me a favor by giving a position to Robert based on connections rather than merit.”
“It is not a favor,” Lord Chawleigh said carefully, “so much as an obligation, wouldn’t you say? After all, your family owes much to me. Your father his living. You, your start in life.”
“And I am not insensible of that, nor is my father. However, I beg you will leave my father out of this matter, for he is not in any way connected with it.” Felix attempted to think how he might convince the baron and decided on the truth.
“I know Admiral Mowbray, and he won’t go against his principles on this. ”
Lord Chawleigh stared at him for a long moment. “Then approach someone else in the Admiralty.”
Felix slowly shook his head. “I truly do not wish to disoblige you, but I know no one else. I have no connections there apart from the admiral.” He knew Mr. Edwards, but he was only the private secretary to the admiral, besides sharing the same convictions for reform.
Lord Chawleigh pressed his fingers together and took a weighted moment before replying.
“I must express how disappointed I am in this outcome. I suggest you discover if there might be some other way to make this appointment happen. I shall expect to hear a more positive response soon.” He got to his feet.
Knowing he was at an impasse, Felix stood. It was cowardly, perhaps, but he had no more opposition inside of him after his interview with Robert. There were too many obstacles to overcome, and he was unable to push back as decidedly as he should. He merely nodded, then bowed and took his leave.
“I wish you good day, my lord.”
As he left the baron’s residence, he let his mind dwell again on whether he could possibly approach the admiral with such a request. He turned the question over, but no matter how he looked at it, he knew that it was simply impossible.
One did not throw one’s principles away at the slightest pressure, and the admiral would not do it.
Felix must not either—he would have to stand firm. He just wished there was not so much at stake.