Chapter 23 A Stripling’s Advisement
A Stripling's Advisement
THE NEXT day, Alwyn was back at Hertford Street, and was pleased to see that Mr Caspar needed only a little assistance as he ambulated around the townhouse. The man’s ability to ascend and descend the staircase remained a point of concern, but overall, he was remarkably improved.
As Alwyn sat in the study, writing out his notes of observation, Mr Caspar was nearby, humming a tune as he set up the chessboard for the game he had been promised.
Mrs Caspar was on the settee with an open book, though Alwyn doubted she had read a single page as she had spent the morning watching her husband’s every move.
In regards to Miss Everson, he had not had a glimpse of her. By the time he had moved his bishop to seize a rook, Alwyn wondered if she was hiding herself away because of what had happened with her embroidery hoop the day before.
How does one encourage another not to feel shame over something? He took a pawn. Merely saying so implies that the person ought to feel shame.
“Ah…” Mr Caspar intoned, his eyes twinkling. “Checkmate!”
He pushed the black queen diagonally across the board, knocking the white king onto the carpet with a thud.
Chuckling, Alwyn wanted to play a second round, hoping Miss Everson might make an appearance after all, but another patient over on Hemmings Row was expecting him.
“Well,” he said, rising from his seat. “Now that I’ve been soundly trounced, I’ll bid you both adieu.”
This drew a chortle out of Mr Caspar, and a delicate smile from his wife.
“But first, shall I help you up the stairs to your room, sir?”
“Yes, I think I have the vim for that…and I would like to…lie down upon my bed.”
Ten minutes later, as he was coming back down the staircase, Alwyn was quietly delighted when the front door opened, and Miss Everson stepped inside. Focused on removing her gloves, she did not see him at first.
“Good morning,” he said, stepping down fully onto the floor.
Though a little startled, she quickly regained her composure. “Good day, Mr Alwyn. How do you find my uncle this morning?”
“Very well, I’m pleased to say.”
His breath caught as she stepped closer to ask in a whisper, “So my aunt is not imagining his improvement? She assured me of it when the Hartleys invited me out for a drive, as I was reluctant to go.”
He lowered his voice to match hers. “Your aunt is quite right. He is better every day. These friends, did you become acquainted with them here in town?”
And is there a young man amongst them? he kept himself from asking as she untied and removed her bonnet.
“Yes, we met at Green Park, when I returned Miss Hartley to her mother.”
“I beg your pardon — you returned her?”
Smiling ruefully, Miss Everson replied, “Miss Hartley is severely myopic, so when I saw her standing alone, looking as if she had been separated from her party, I offered to help her find them. She is a jolly girl, in spite of her impairment — I’d even call her adventurous.
I cannot help but admire her,” she said, then added precisely, “which is good as I may soon serve as her companion.”
Alwyn felt his smile drop away.
“What can you mean?”
“Well, my reason in coming to town at all was to find employment, and as if by Providence, I met with the Hartleys — a lovely family.” Seeming more loquacious than usual, Miss Everson went on, “And just in time, too, as Mr Hartley intends to take them all home soon. Of course, I could not leave my aunt and uncle quite yet — although you say he is well on the mend…”
“And where do these Hartleys live when they are not in town?” Alwyn asked, abandoning his attempts at breezy discourse.
“Somewhere in the north.” She stared at the floor in thought. “Is it…Lancashire?”
Lancashire! He gripped his satchel’s handle a little tighter.
“A beautiful part of the country, I’ve heard.” Miss Everson gave a breathy laugh. “I’ve always wanted to see it. But as you can see, no plans are set in stone just yet. The Hartleys have invited me to go with them to the Adelphi tomorrow evening, so perhaps we’ll discuss the terms then.”
How could I possibly court her if she were in Lancashire? That’s a three-day ride from here, at the very least!
Must I propose to her this very moment?
Alwyn stood, pressing his lips together, then said, “Miss Everson, I have a…that is, I would like to offer you an alternative — though I don’t mean to encroach upon your current opportunity, if it is what you want…is it what you want?”
Or do you want to marry me instead? The question tickled at his tongue as his eyes bore into hers.
Her gaze flitted away. “’Want’ is rarely a factor for women as they plot their lives, Mr Alwyn.”
“Yes, of course,” he murmured, feeling foolish at this bold truth.
Yet surely every woman wants a viscount.
Though the thought burned brightly, it flared out at once. Never before had he leveraged his birthright.
And I won’t start now — especially with her!
He took a breath. “Well, as I was saying, I have another…idea for you to consider.”
She looked at him again, clearly puzzled.
“Forgive me for not speaking plainly of it now,” he said. “But I must sort out its details first. Will you grant me a couple of days to do so, and hold off on settling matters with the Hartleys?”
Miss Everson’s mouth opened, then closed, then opened again.
“Very well,” she conceded.
The two regarded one another for a moment longer – then Alwyn turned and went out of the front door. He had walked all the way to Clarges Street before realizing he had not even said goodbye.
Why did I bother asking her for two days’ time when I won’t hold my licence for another two weeks? And what are these ‘details’ I told her I needed to sort out? He slowed his pace a little. Well, at least I’ve given myself some time to think.
And think he did — he ruminated on the matter all the way to Hemmings Row where he lanced a boil on a cabinetmaker’s left buttock.
He pondered it further as he stood in the operating theatre, barely craning his neck to watch a hernial repair.
By the early evening, he was sitting in the Grey Bull’s taproom, thinking still.
What if the Hartleys are as eager to settle things with her as I myself am? A wisp of reason chimed in, Well, even if they did coax her into some sort of agreement, it would not be so permanent as marriage.
But she’d be in Lancashire!
“May I join you?” a voice asked.
Drawn back to the moment, Alwyn saw Sliger was standing beside him.
“Yes, of course,” he said, resituating things on the table to make room as the boy sat down. Then, realizing he had no stomach for the meat pie that had been brought to him ten minutes earlier, he pushed the plate across the table, offering, “Steak and kidney?”
Sliger eyed the wedge’ filling warily. “I thank you, but we studied necrotic organs in Morbid Anatomy just this morning. The crust looks alright, though.” Pulling off a golden flake, he popped it into his mouth. “You look worried, Alwyn. Are you afraid you won’t pass your examination?”
“No, not at all,” Alwyn replied, then hoped his honest answer didn’t sound arrogant.
“Then what is troubling you?”
Fixing his gaze on the few scraggly hairs sprouting from Sliger’s upper lip, Alwyn wondered, Shall I unburden my heart to this stripling?
Sick to surfeit at being alone with his dilemma, he decided that he would — at least, in part.
“There is a very admirable young lady who…well, I am not yet at liberty to speak with her as I would like to, and I’ve just learned there is a family that would like to employ her.”
“Can you mean, Miss Everson?”
Sitting straight up in his chair, Alwyn marveled, How can he know? Didn’t he see me with her just the once? Is my regard for her so blatant?
Oh…he’s probably suspected all along that I was just jealous when I scolded him for flirting.
He studied Sliger’s face, finding neither guile nor mischief there, and replied, “Prudence will keep me mum on that.”
“Of course, sorry.” Sliger pulled the plate closer. “But why can you not address the matter with her now?” He forked a bit of pie into his mouth.
Because the Royal College must first attest that I actually am a worthy practitioner, and not a bored grandee who thought to amuse himself by masquerading as a doctor’s apprentice!
Stifling this, and the sigh that accompanied it, Alwyn said instead, “Because I would seem foolish and presumptuous if I made her an offer before obtaining my degree.”
Sliger speared another bite. “But you’ll have it very soon, so your present lack of money needn’t keep you silent.”
Even if Alwyn had wanted to correct this supposition, he wouldn’t have had time as the boy then promptly asked, “Are you quite sure your aunt would like her?”
“My aunt?” Alwyn was taken completely off-guard. “Well, of course. Why wouldn’t she?”
Swallowing, Sliger raised his eyebrows knowingly. “Some elderly women are quite finicky about the company they keep.”
“I’ve no worries whatsoever on that point.”
“Well then, if you truly believe that Miss Ever—erm, this particular young lady is exceptionally well-suited for the r?le you have in mind for her, then you ought to speak with her immediately, before this other family secures her for employment.”
Alwyn stared at the young soothsayer’s crumb-speckled lips.
It’s true that holding my tongue thus far has only run me aground. Why not out with it? All of it?
Or at least part of it?
Blast! I’ve dithered enough for a lifetime! Certainly I can trust Miss Everson with the truth — and if she says she cannot love me after learning of it, I’ll be no worse off than I am now.
Getting to his feet, he mashed his hat onto his head and threw a couple of coins on the table. As he strode out of the door, Sliger called after him, “Godspeed!”
Alwyn hurried off towards Mayfair just as evening fell.