£7.99 each, which meant sheâd have to give him back £4.02. He would detest all that carry-on with coins. Heâd feel like a shop worker himself. The difficult point was she might not show the anger and contempt at his meanness until after she had paid the assistant. These complications really troubled him.
But, no, Manse spotted nothing to tell him heâd disappointed her, not before she paid nor after. She acted like someone absolutely used to paying her own way, used to acting independent. Did that hint she had no husband or partner at present? You could tell she was the sort who would have her personal ideas about The Light of the World , though many thought it great.
Manse bought a Millais and a D.G. Rossetti poster himself, Ophelia and Beata Beatrix , using the twenty. He needed to strengthen the idea that he and Naomi had similarities, were a natural pair, but he wouldnât overdo it by buying exactly the same, like naff couples who wore clothes that matched. Obviously, heâd never frame and hang cheapo prints in his residential property. This wasnât the purpose. He wanted Naomi and himself to leave the shop together, each with rolled posters under their arm. In Manseâs opinion, this made a kind of bond.
He put the prints under the left arm, keeping his gun hand free. But, as Joan Fenton had said, he was probably safe enough in London, hidden among the crowds. Clearly, it did not matter which arm Naomi carried her posters under. Manse didnât think the bond would be weakened suppose she placed them under her right arm. Exact resemblance wasnât vital. If any trouble did come, heâd be able to defend her because his posters would not stop him getting fast to his shoulder holster. He considered he had a responsibility for her, even though she didnât know the chief sort of work he earned from and the kind of enemies he might have. Did that Hackney family at the funeral really believe Denzil saw himself off, a two-pistol suicide? He hadnât told Joan Fenton about those people.
In fact, it was because Naomi didnât know the chief sort of dealing he earned from, and the kind of enemies he might have, that he felt so much responsibility for her. She seemed willing to accept him as he was, and Manse believed she deserved gratitude and protection for this. Manse always thought of himself and his firm as here today, gone tomorrow, or even gone later today: no genuine solidity. He was bound to feel thankful to anyone who seemed to regard him as more than this â as more worthwhile than this. Perhaps it was a type of protection when he spoke to Geoff in that way. He hoped they didnât see the sod now with rolled-up posters under his arm, like their-selves. Plainly, this would weaken the special, even unique, understanding Manse hoped existed between Naomi and him. Geoff would look like he was a part of it, too, although with that fucking leather waistcoat on.
If Naomi ever did come to his home, the one-time St Jamesâs rectory, it was sure to be well on in their relationship, involving travel from London and a stop-over. By then, he thought heâd be able to make a kind of joke about not hanging the posters. Sheâd understand, anyway, when seeing the many originals there, in the rooms and large hallway. He thought he might tell her the situation before she actually came to the property, sort of prepare her for the surprise of finding not posters on his walls but actual paintings. He wouldnât do that now, though, because it would seem arrogant and pushy.
Arrogance and pushiness Manse despised. Lately, heâd come across a word that described spot-on how he felt about arrogance and pushiness. âAverse.â He was averse to arrogance and pushiness, no question, and to crude boasts of wealth. Besides, she might have more than he did â even though she bought prints â and would find it ridiculous if he started big-mouthing about his
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