Chapter 22 #3
While he didn’t need to explain himself to her, Miss Casburn’s smug tone caused Miles to pause.
Did she know something about Sylvie and Mr. Kinsey that Miles didn’t?
“I already declared my feelings for her in a letter I wrote during my journey. At the very least, I’m certain she would be kind enough to have written in response and refused me if she intended to accept someone else so quickly. ”
Arching an eyebrow, Miss Casburn twisted her lips into a smirk. “We’ll see if you’re correct. The news of your...unsavory past is no longer your little secret. Even if you could convince Miss Bryce, her parents would be another matter entirely.”
A terrible urgency came over Miles as she sauntered away with the other ladies, whispering together.
She was up to something, as she had been the entire summer.
And who knew what Sylvie’s parents had heard about his past from her.
He needed to clear this up right away so he could get to Sylvie before Miss Casburn did any more damage.
He didn’t want any more sneaking around, hiding in shadows, or keeping secrets.
So instead of continuing to the ballroom, he returned to the foyer and stopped to ask Mr. Moreau, “Where would I find the other gentlemen? Particularly Mr. Thomas Bryce. I have some business with him.”
Sure enough, he directed Miles to the smoking room, where the older men tended to spend most of their time at events such as this.
Giving his thanks, Miles headed in that direction.
He would admit to his past and get approval from Sylvie’s father first, permission to court her.
Then he would be free to say whatever felt appropriate when he saw her without anything standing in their way.
Entering the smoking room, Miles found a dozen or so of the richest men in Ohio lounging in leather chairs or speaking in small groups.
Dark paneled walls and sturdy, matching wood trim reminded Miles of his father’s study back home.
Swallowing hard against a sudden feeling of not belonging, Miles forced himself to enter the space.
A few of the men nearest the door glanced his way, but Miles mustered false confidence as he made his way straight for Mr. Bryce, who stood at the far side of the room with two other men.
Begging God for courage and to grant him favor, Miles approached the group and cleared his throat, causing all three men to look at him in expectation. Mr. Bryce’s eyes widened, but Miles didn’t bother with small talk. “Good evening, gentlemen. Mr. Bryce, might I have a word with you?”
Mr. Bryce pursed his lips, but he nodded and withdrew to a more private corner of the room with Miles following.
Miles swallowed again before launching into a speech he wished he’d had more time to plan out.
“Sir, I intended to spend the summer completely focused on my research at the laboratory. But your daughter has captivated me. She is kind, beautiful, amusing, intelligent, and so courageous. I’ve fallen quite in love with her. ”
He paused, expecting distaste in the older man’s expression. Instead, Mr. Bryce listened intently. “My wife has concerns about you, young man. Well-founded ones, in my opinion.”
Aware of time passing, Miles didn’t shy away from it. “I would like to explain the entire situation to you as soon as there’s an opportunity. For now, please believe that I was innocent and exonerated by the court. It was all hearsay, even if public opinion didn’t accept that.”
Another pause to observe Mr. Bryce’s reaction.
He didn’t stop Miles, so he continued. “Now that I’ve concluded my business in England, I would be honored if you would permit me to ask Sylvie to be my wife.
Or at the very least, to call on her and work toward that goal.
I can gain your trust, sir, even if I don’t fully have it now.
I love your daughter and respect her too much to do anything that would jeopardize her future.
I only want the opportunity to prove myself. ”
With narrowed eyes, Mr. Bryce regarded Miles for a long moment. Then he nodded. “I believe you. I’ll do what I can to smooth things over with my wife. But you’ll be facing some competition. Jonathan Kinsey has been spending a great deal of time with Sylvie since you left.”
Cold spread over Miles, starting with his heart before overtaking the rest of him. “Has he already spoken with you too?”
With a chagrined shrug, Mr. Bryce raised one eyebrow. “I believe most people in Cleveland society know whose opinion matters in this sort of thing. My wife has championed him and very likely has given him her own permission to do as he sees fit.”
A sliver of relief cut through the chill. She wasn’t engaged. Miles still had time. “Thank you, sir. I’ll take the very best care of her.”
He didn’t stay to hear any response, hurrying instead back out to the staircase, too anxious to see Sylvie for himself and work out the truth behind her silence. Had she turned her attention to Jonathan Kinsey, the same as her mother? Had her heart been swayed by him in Miles’s absence?
The only way to know for certain was to find Sylvie. Miles’s steps quickened as he headed toward the ballroom.