Chapter 30

CHAPTER 30

" I will stay longer if you wish it." Rob made an effort to keep his tone calm in spite of the hope Jo's words had raised.

Her face reddened, and she looked away, as if embarrassed by what she had said. "I'm sorry. That was rather… abrupt."

"I am yours to command." He gave her a little bow from his chair, hoping she did not think he was making fun of her. His resolve to leave her time to settle to her new circumstances was fast disappearing.

"I… It will be good to have a friend to talk to, without…" She took a deep breath. "Without the vile Alfred and his horrible family around."

"A very mild description."

She smiled at that, but shook her head. "I was such a fool. Before I met Alfred, several young men had courted me, but it was apparent that my chief attraction was Papa's money. I thought Alfred was different, but I was mistaken."

Could she really think she was not attractive in herself? He had never felt such a strong need to reach out and touch someone as he did now—a touch to comfort her. He did, resting his hand on her arm for a brief moment, but they were in full view of the rest of the party and he could do no more. That might be just as well—she had already been mauled once today. "You will find someone who suits you, Jo, and who wants you for your own sake, not your father's money."

He'd meant it as a compliment, but rather than looking pleased she made a brief pout and looked away. Could it be that she was disappointed? That she'd wanted more from him?

Say something now—at least you'll know if it will be possible. And if you make a total fool of yourself, you can leave this evening.

"I suppose I just need to meet more men." She was still not looking at him. "And to know them for long enough to be sure we will suit. Longer than the week I was acquainted with Alfred."

"That sounds sensible." But to hell with sensible—not if it meant she might find someone else. He should wish only for her happiness, he knew, but he wanted to be the one who could provide that.

He drew a deep breath, releasing it slowly. "Jo, would someone you have known for over a year do, even if you have only met him a few times in person?"

She met his gaze, a smile growing, then she looked beyond him. He turned to see Mrs Stretton and Lady Yelden looking in their direction. If this conversation went as he hoped, he didn't wish to be in full view of Jo's relatives.

"Will you walk with me, Jo?" They could be partially out of sight in the dappled shade of the trees without risking impropriety.

She nodded and stood. He offered his arm even though his current halting gait made walking close to her rather awkward, but she didn't seem to mind.

Jo's heart was racing far too fast for the gentle pace of their walk, and didn't ease when they stopped a few yards inside the stand of trees. "Yes." Flustered, she wondered if he would take that as an answer to his last question, not to the important one. "Yes, such a man might do. Might do very well indeed."

Rob leaned his stick against a tree and took her hands; neither of them wore gloves, and his skin felt warm on hers. A warmth that spread through her.

"Jo, I do not know what lies in my future, how I will earn a living. But in the few times we have been together since my return I have come to realise that I want you to be part of my life."

Was that a proposal? She looked into his eyes and his expression removed any doubts about his meaning. Her gaze fell to his lips; would he kiss her?

But he did not, to her disappointment. He gave a gentle squeeze to her hands, then released them. "I think it is too soon for you to give me a definite answer. I have had you in my thoughts even before we met in person, but you have only just released yourself from your betrothal. But may I speak to your father? I wish to do this in proper form, and his consent means we can spend more time together until you are sure of your feelings."

"Certainly! I am sure he will allow it." She would not accept ‘no' from Papa on this matter.

"Thank you." Simple words, but he put a wealth of feeling in them.

"Shall we walk to the rose garden? There are benches there where we can sit for a while." Nicely out of sight of Mama and away from possible interruptions from the children.

Rob reached for his stick and they walked out onto the sunlit lawn. Jo led the way, and they found a bench in the shade, surrounded by the colours and scents of the blooms. He stretched his bad leg out in front of him, and must have noticed her looking at it. "It will mend, Jo, if I do not walk on it too much for the next few days. I fear I will never show to advantage in a dance, though."

"Do you mind?"

He shrugged, although there was some regret in his voice when he answered. "I was never much of a dancer anyway, so it is but a small loss." He turned his gaze to the rose beds. "This is a lovely place to sit. Peaceful, too. I missed such things in Verdun."

"Are there no gardens there?"

"There were some areas with grass and trees, but it is a walled city, so everything is close together. Madame's house did not have a garden, and there was always noise from the streets. Similar to many English cities, I suppose."

"Would you not want to live in a city, then?" Once the words were out, she wished she had not said them. It reminded her too much of one of her unsatisfactory conversations with Alfred about where they would live.

His smile banished any such thoughts. "I have been sent to various places at His Majesty's whim for more than ten years; it will make a pleasant change to have some choice in the matter. And one can always ride out to the countryside, which was not the case in Verdun. Which do you prefer?"

"Both." That wasn't a very informative answer, but she was distracted; conscious of his closeness, even though they were not touching. "I enjoy the theatre and concerts when we are in Town, and bookshops. I suppose you have not had much opportunity for those things in recent years?"

His lips quirked upwards. "The last play I recall was a production of Romeo and Juliet , while we were in winter quarters in Portugal." He half-turned on the bench so he faced her, and smiled in amusement. It deepened the creases at the corners of his eyes. Rich, brown eyes. "With the youngest ensign in the battalion wearing a gown," he went on, "and declaring his love for Romeo in a falsetto squeak."

Jo realised she hadn't heard a word he'd said.

"Is there something on your mind, Jo?" His expression was quizzical.

You.

This would never do. They were spending time together, as he had suggested, but she didn't think he'd wanted her to just gawp at him like some bird-witted ninny. "I… um… have you had any more thoughts about what you want to do? An occupation, I mean." She must make an effort to listen this time.

"That would depend on what you decide. And what occupation you want if you do accept my hand. What you wish to do with your time, I mean. "

She had never thought of it in precisely those terms. Women of her class did not have occupations beyond running a home.

"That is," he went on, looking rather uncertain now, "I assumed you would wish to continue your investment activities. You said you enjoyed seeing if the money invested could help to improve a business."

"Did I? I mean, I do enjoy that, but I don't recall saying it."

"It was in one of your early letters."

She shouldn't be surprised that he remembered her words from so long ago; she knew many of his letters by heart. And how refreshing—he didn't intend to merely allow her to continue with her interests, he was encouraging her to do so. She looked away, trying to concentrate on something other than his closeness. "Papa often relies on others to report on his various investments now, particularly since Mama became ill. And even before then, she did not care to travel and Papa did not want to take me without her. I would like to visit some of the factories Papa has shares in."

"Or even investigate potentially fraudulent investment proposals yourself?"

Jo glanced at him sharply, wondering if he was mocking her—for not even Papa would have suggested that. But he wasn't—of course he wasn't. He never would. She had long wished to take a more active part in Papa's affairs, and now she would be able to.

Until they had a family… She felt her face flaming as she imagined what would come before that family.

Rob stood abruptly, and reached for his stick. If she were going to look at him in that way, he'd be hard put to keep his hands off her.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

Far from it—that look had held a great deal of promise for the future. "I think I should see your father, Jo. In case he has any objections."

"I don't think he will." She smiled, with a hint of mischief. "He will have a fight on his hands if he does! "

"Hmm. You could find yourself living in a farmhouse with only enough money for the occasional trip to London."

"It won't come to that. But if it did, I'd soon have the farm running far more efficiently."

"You would indeed!" He bowed and set off for the house before he changed his mind. He looked back as he approached the building; Jo still sat where he had left her, gazing out over the roses. A beautiful scene—because she was part of it.

Mr Stretton was still in the library, sitting in the same chair as he had been earlier—except that now he had a book in his hand and a glass of claret by his side.

"Captain." He inclined his head in greeting, placed a marker in his book, and set it on the table. "Help yourself to a drink—Yelden keeps an excellent cellar."

"No, thank you, sir." He sat down, and wondered where to start. Through the window, the sun brightened the colours of the rose garden.

Ah—Mr Stretton probably already knew what he wanted.

"Have you decided whether you can stay for a while?" Mr Stretton asked.

"That depends on you, sir." His mouth felt dry. Jo's father had allowed her to correspond with him—surely he could have no great objection to his courtship, at least? "I would like your permission to pay my addresses to your daughter."

"It looked to me as if you had already started, Captain." He appeared amused, not disapproving—to Rob's relief, although he didn't think it was a laughing matter.

"I was going to take my leave for a while, to give Jo a chance to forget about this morning's unpleasantness, but she asked me to stay."

"Did she, indeed! Tell me about your financial situation, Captain."

It was better than Bengrove's, but that was little help. "I have some land left to me by my father. A tenant farms it at the moment."

"That does not sound as if it would bring in sufficient income to support a family in the manner to which my daughter is accustomed."

"No, sir, it does not. Nor do I yet have a career that will allow me to do so." He should probably have discussed this with Jo first; but she knew his situation, probably far better than her father did.

"You wish to live on my daughter's dowry, in effect."

Rob kept his resentment concealed. It was a reasonable question, especially from someone who had narrowly escaped becoming the source of funds for the entire Bengrove family. "No, sir, I do not wish to. But nor do I wish to deprive Jo—Miss Stretton—of the chance to choose what she wishes to do. Whatever settlement you proposed to Bengrove will be perfectly acceptable to me."

Mr Stretton regarded him thoughtfully. "Are you sure you want to marry my daughter, Captain? It is not long since you first met her."

"It is a year since we started to correspond," Rob countered. " I am sure. I cannot answer for Jo, which is why I have not asked her to give me an answer now."

Mr Stretton finally nodded. "Very well, Captain, you have my permission to court her. I wish to be sure that she has chosen well before going any further." He smiled. "I am not anticipating that I will refuse, but you will understand my caution, I am sure."

Rob finally relaxed. "Yes, sir."

"Do get yourself a glass of something, Captain. I'm interested to hear more details about how you went about investigating that canal scheme. When I said that you and Lieutenant Chadwick could be useful to me, those were not empty words."

This time Rob accepted the invitation and poured himself a glass of wine. Then he tried to put Jo out of his mind and concentrate on a discussion that might help him to contribute to their future together.