always the best of guides. “Promise you will not abandon me today,” she demanded
Walter sighed loudly, his arm tensing beneath hers. “I’ve already promised you my full attention for the duration of the outing. What more do you want from me?”
She tightened her grip further and leaned toward him. “Leaving me alone with Sir Peter so often this week is a sign of absolute neglect for my reputation.”
“Are you still annoyed over that?” Walter patted her hand. “He seems to have the making of a devoted secretary. Where’s the impropriety in the business arrangement we struck?”
Imogen snorted. “Business arrangements are not conducted in that fashion.”
“There is all kinds of business. At least he’s been honest.” Walter chuckled. “He wanted to court you publicly, but you’ve refused him every opportunity to be a gentlemen and escort you about. Don’t deny it. I have ears, too. However, as I recall, you don’t really approve of proper gentlemen as suitors. Forgive me if I place little weight on your complaints. To make you both happy the rules must be bent in the short term.”
She snorted again. “Bent? How about completely broken?”
Walter paused. “Then you’d better marry him this time and be done with your protests that a closer association won’t work between you. It’s apparent to even a blind man you are not indifferent to his attentions. And from what I can see, he is equally smitten with you.”
And there was the rub. She wasn’t suitable to be his wife, but Peter was unbelievably good company. “I do like him.”
“Then marry the man and put him out of his misery before some other woman gets between you.”
That didn’t appeal to her but still… “It’s not that simple, Walter.”
“Sure it is,” he said immediately, amusement lightening his tone. “He asks. You accept. You move next door and live happily ever after. That’s what you’ve written in your books many times. Are you claiming the rules of attraction don’t apply to you?”
Imogen crossed her cane before them and tapped him on the shins with it. “How would you like me to ask when you are going to marry?”
Her brother spluttered. “Never.”
“Why not? Are you afraid?”
“Damn right I am afraid. Every woman I’ve ever met wants nothing more than to change a man into her personal lapdog. That’s not the life for me. I’d rather die an old bachelor than have to bend to fit the mold a woman expected.”
Imogen bit her lip. “If you think women always try to change men then why are you suggesting I marry your friend?”
“You and Peter are an exception. You’re alike in many ways. Stubborn. Bookish. Always have been.” He bumped into her side. “I kept an eye on you both at work yesterday. Each time I poked my head through the door you had Peter’s complete attention. I know he didn’t see me because he didn’t pause in kissing you.”
“I didn’t hear you on the stairs.”
A deep laugh sounded beside her. “Miss Radley is not the only one who attempts to sneak around you. He makes you happy, sister. You may not have figured affection or even love into your decision to marry him last year, but I think he has your heart now. Why fight against it?”
Imogen considered that as Walter led her on in silence. To her right the relentless roar of the sea muted the growing murmur of many voices. Walter stopped frequently, pausing to speak with mutual acquaintances and the odd stranger’s voice Imogen couldn’t place. As usual, Walter neglected to introduce her to some, but she didn’t mind so much today. She had a lot to think on. Had she underestimated Peter badly? He said she should have given him a chance last year. In truth, Imogen had been afraid he’d not return and leave her dangling so she’d acted first to save herself from the eventual disappointment. She’d never dreamed he’d come back.
“I say, what a peculiar day to see Miss George out in the sunshine.” The
Walter sighed loudly, his arm tensing beneath hers. “I’ve already promised you my full attention for the duration of the outing. What more do you want from me?”
She tightened her grip further and leaned toward him. “Leaving me alone with Sir Peter so often this week is a sign of absolute neglect for my reputation.”
“Are you still annoyed over that?” Walter patted her hand. “He seems to have the making of a devoted secretary. Where’s the impropriety in the business arrangement we struck?”
Imogen snorted. “Business arrangements are not conducted in that fashion.”
“There is all kinds of business. At least he’s been honest.” Walter chuckled. “He wanted to court you publicly, but you’ve refused him every opportunity to be a gentlemen and escort you about. Don’t deny it. I have ears, too. However, as I recall, you don’t really approve of proper gentlemen as suitors. Forgive me if I place little weight on your complaints. To make you both happy the rules must be bent in the short term.”
She snorted again. “Bent? How about completely broken?”
Walter paused. “Then you’d better marry him this time and be done with your protests that a closer association won’t work between you. It’s apparent to even a blind man you are not indifferent to his attentions. And from what I can see, he is equally smitten with you.”
And there was the rub. She wasn’t suitable to be his wife, but Peter was unbelievably good company. “I do like him.”
“Then marry the man and put him out of his misery before some other woman gets between you.”
That didn’t appeal to her but still… “It’s not that simple, Walter.”
“Sure it is,” he said immediately, amusement lightening his tone. “He asks. You accept. You move next door and live happily ever after. That’s what you’ve written in your books many times. Are you claiming the rules of attraction don’t apply to you?”
Imogen crossed her cane before them and tapped him on the shins with it. “How would you like me to ask when you are going to marry?”
Her brother spluttered. “Never.”
“Why not? Are you afraid?”
“Damn right I am afraid. Every woman I’ve ever met wants nothing more than to change a man into her personal lapdog. That’s not the life for me. I’d rather die an old bachelor than have to bend to fit the mold a woman expected.”
Imogen bit her lip. “If you think women always try to change men then why are you suggesting I marry your friend?”
“You and Peter are an exception. You’re alike in many ways. Stubborn. Bookish. Always have been.” He bumped into her side. “I kept an eye on you both at work yesterday. Each time I poked my head through the door you had Peter’s complete attention. I know he didn’t see me because he didn’t pause in kissing you.”
“I didn’t hear you on the stairs.”
A deep laugh sounded beside her. “Miss Radley is not the only one who attempts to sneak around you. He makes you happy, sister. You may not have figured affection or even love into your decision to marry him last year, but I think he has your heart now. Why fight against it?”
Imogen considered that as Walter led her on in silence. To her right the relentless roar of the sea muted the growing murmur of many voices. Walter stopped frequently, pausing to speak with mutual acquaintances and the odd stranger’s voice Imogen couldn’t place. As usual, Walter neglected to introduce her to some, but she didn’t mind so much today. She had a lot to think on. Had she underestimated Peter badly? He said she should have given him a chance last year. In truth, Imogen had been afraid he’d not return and leave her dangling so she’d acted first to save herself from the eventual disappointment. She’d never dreamed he’d come back.
“I say, what a peculiar day to see Miss George out in the sunshine.” The
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