Straw in the Wind by Janet Woods Page A

called Emmy.’
    â€˜Don’t forget Edgar Wyvern wants to talk to you. He’s coming over for dinner tonight.’
    â€˜I haven’t forgotten. I won’t be leaving until the morning, anyway.’
    They exchanged a smile, both of them with the same thought, that it was slightly strange that their mother’s swain should seek the blessing of her son, who was less than half his age.
    But Adam’s interview with Edgar Wyvern turned out to be more illuminating than that.
    After dinner the older man, who was a distinguished barrister of fifty years, retired to the front room with Adam. Sipping at his brandy he said, ‘You know that I hold your mother in great affection and esteem, Adam.’
    â€˜Indeed I do.’
    â€˜Then you wouldn’t put any objection forward if we married?’
    â€˜Of course not, Edgar. And I speak for my sister, as well. We both want our mother to be happy.’
    â€˜I’m sure I can support your mother in a manner that she’d enjoy and appreciate. Your sister as well, if she’d care to come and live with us. She would socialise with many more people, which would give her a chance to meet a suitor, if that’s her wish.’
    Adam offered him a faint smile. ‘That will be for Celia to decide, since she is of age. But my sister enjoys a quiet life, and I think she’s reconciled herself to spinsterhood, and being useful by working and earning a living for herself.’
    â€˜I’m not advocating that we marry her off to the first man who takes an interest in her, nor abandon her need to be usefully employed. But rather, that she moves in an environment where she can meet people in a more social atmosphere. I entertain often, as you will discover.’
    Adam remembered Celia’s laugh ringing out when she’d been with Marianne Thornton. Perhaps his sister did need friends of her own age. It was not up to him to say what she did and didn’t need. It was entirely possible that she’d enjoy having a home and family to look after. He brought his mind back to what Edgar was saying.
    â€˜That would leave you free to conduct your own life in the manner a young man should, without the added responsibility of providing both moral and financial support for your sister.’
    â€˜I enjoy Celia’s company. Have you talked to my mother about this?’
    â€˜Your mother agrees with me. Much as she loves and trusts you, she would prefer to have her daughter living under her own roof. I believe she intends to talk to your sister while we’re absent.’
    â€˜I see.’ How quickly the course of a life could change through the intervention of another. The thought of going back home to an empty house every evening was suddenly uninviting. ‘Celia will do as our mother asks, of course. I’ll miss her if she leaves though; my sister is a good companion.’
    â€˜Because I’ve sprung this on you rather suddenly I do have a solution to offer you.’
    â€˜You usually do, Edgar,’ Adam said with a chuckle. ‘I’ve never met anyone so thorough, or so well prepared for a discussion. I envy you.’
    â€˜Your own skills of reasoning are to be admired.’
    â€˜Let me hear your solution then.’
    â€˜Lease your property here in Chiswick to a suitable family, and take up gentlemen’s rooms in central London, which will be more convenient for you since they’ll be serviced.’
    â€˜I suppose you already have one in mind.’
    Edgar chuckled.
    â€˜If you take up my offer, I’ll then be able to introduce you to my club. As my principal heir it wouldn’t hurt you to make the right sort of contacts, and a gentleman of your age has his own needs and liaisons to consider.’
    Adam’s liaisons in the past had been few and far between, due to the fact that his available funds were used for necessities rather than pleasure. There was also a lack of privacy to