Her ‘cousin’ examined her closely. ‘Lily, I am a very observant person, have I told you that?’
‘Not that I’ve observed.’ Lily smiled to defuse the serious tone Minerva had adopted.
‘Ha. Well, I observed something interesting last night.’
‘A sudden gust of wind?’ asked Lily facetiously.
‘No.’ Her friend’s brow furrowed. ‘Whatever do you mean?’
‘Nothing. Is this a game? Let me guess again. You observed … the immense number of prawns devoured by the bishop during the intermission?’
‘Well, I did notice that. Shocking, wasn’t it? I’d wager that he’s not feeling quite the thing today.’ The stern finger appeared again. ‘But that was not what I meant. I observed Mr Alden and he was watching you very closely last night.’
‘Probably because we quarrelled and I got the best of him,’ Lily said sourly.
Minerva drew back, surprised. ‘You bested him in an argument? Well, I dare say that was a first for him. No wonder he looked so torn.’
‘Torn?’
‘Definitely torn. I swear, he alternately looked as he meant to devour you, or perhaps to bash you over the head.’
‘No doubt he would prefer the latter.’ She sighed, then got to her feet and wandered over to gaze out of the window.
Minerva pursed her lips. She sat back, levelling a stare in Lily’s direction and drumming her fingers on the arm of her chair. ‘Lily,’ she began at last, ‘you know that I only want what is best for you.’
Lily had to suppress an ironic chuckle. Minerva could have no notion how many times she’d heard that particular phrase in her life.
‘Jack Alden is a very handsome man, in an intense and yet disarmingly rumpled way.’
‘I know,’ agreed Lily. ‘Don’t you have to stop yourself from straightening his cravat and smoothing out the line of his coat every time you meet him?’
Her friend stared at her. ‘Well, no. But it is rather speaking that you do, my dear.’ A gentle smile belied the slight crease in her brow. ‘Just be careful,’ she pleaded, her tone low and serious. ‘Some men are amenable to having their neckcloths straightened and some are in no way ready to contemplate such a thing.’
‘I understand what you are saying, Minerva, and I appreciate your concern beyond words.’ Lily focused on the traffic outside in the street for a long moment. ‘He’s hiding,’ she said abruptly.
Minerva heaved a great sigh. ‘Yes, I know.’
‘You do?’ She spun around in surprise.
The corner of her friend’s mouth twitched. ‘I recognised the symptoms from personal experience.’ She raised a questioning brow. ‘As do you, I assume.’
Lily nodded.
‘Well, then we both know that you cannot force him to stop. He will battle his own demons in his own time—just as everyone else must, sooner or later.’
Lily met her friend’s gaze squarely. ‘Would you consider me insane if I told you that I have been wondering … if perhaps I am meant to help Mr Alden?’
‘No,’ Minerva replied promptly. ‘I would consider you the most generous girl with the grandest heart in all of England. But I would also warn you that Jack Alden is a man grown. He can help himself. You can go on enjoying your all-too-brief stay in London—as you were meant to do.’
Lily regarded her with affection. ‘You are a very dear friend.’
‘I know,’ Minerva responded comfortably, ‘but you deserve me.’
For several long moments Lily sat, silent. Her thoughts swirled while her conscience struggled to find a balance between her wants and her needs. At last she sighed. She knew what she wanted, but she also knew what she must do.
‘Minerva,’ she said slowly, ‘we will likely be seeing much of Mr Alden over the next weeks.’ She grimaced. ‘Tomorrow, for instance, Lady Dayle and I are to accompany him on a day trip to a friend’s country villa.’ She gestured helplessly about them, at his family’s house which sheltered them. ‘But I think it is best that I keep my distance—for all of our sakes.’ Lily reached for her friend’s hand and clasped it tightly when it came. ‘Will you help me?’
‘Yes,’ Minerva responded slowly. ‘I rather think I will.’
Whistling, Jack swept a brush down the muscled flank of one of his sturdy greys. ‘Now this is a job for a one-handed man,’ he said aloud. The doctor had agreed to let him leave off with the splint, but his arm still felt a long way from fully recovered. ‘Let’s finish it up, boys!’ he called to the men polishing his brother’s landau. ‘Our ladies will be ready shortly. Let’s be sure to give them a beautiful ride!’
He could see the vehicle, shining already in the early morning sun, and the grooms scrambling over the cobbled yard of the mews. His brother’s voice rang out just then and Jack turned as Charles entered the stable.
Charles called for his mount and joined his brother, running a critical eye over the horse he laboured over. ‘Morning, Jack. Your greys look to be in fine fettle today.’
‘Perhaps not so flashy as Pettigrew’s bays,’ Jack answered, grinning, ‘but they suit me well. Thank you again,’ he added, ‘for the loan of your landau. It looks to be a good day for our drive. I’m sure Mother and Miss Beecham will prefer the open air to a carriage and none of us would be comfortable squeezing into my cabriolet.’
‘Remind me again where you are all off to?’
‘Chester House. Lord Bradington has invited a select group to view his Anglo-Saxon collection and he’s invited some scholars interested in the period to speak. I’m to read my paper on King Alfred’s system of justice.’ He shrugged. ‘I had originally declined, but the day is fine and I thought the ladies might enjoy it. Miss Beecham seems to go in for that sort of thing.’
Jack grinned as his brother gave him the same sort of once over he’d just given his horse.
‘You do seem to be in remarkably good spirits,’ said Charles. ‘I don’t think I’ve seen you looking so relaxed in weeks.’
‘Remarkable what a good night’s sleep will do for a man,’ said Jack, continuing on with his brushing. He was in good spirits. In fact, he was vastly relieved and gloriously happy. ‘It’s all due to a grand bit of news, Charles. Do you recall Benjamin Racci, the fellow who had the apartments next to me at All Souls?’
He watched Charles grimace and search his memory. ‘Vaguely. His area of interest had something to do with Muslims, yes?’
‘Oh, you are good,’ Jack said admiringly. ‘No wonder you do so well in the Lords. Yes, in any case, Racci’s obsession is Muslim influence on Western development. He’s currently in Gibraltar, going over Moorish structures and mosques.’ He paused, leaned on the back of his grey and smirked at his brother. ‘And guess what
