Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

" I still think you should apologize," George said lazily, as if he was only half listening to his own words.

"And I still think that you should drop it."

"And I still do not care what you think."

"And I still wish that you would keep your mouth shut, regardless of what you think."

"And I still?—"

"Oh, will you just be quiet!" Frederick snapped at his best friend. "When I invited you in for a drink, I did not think you would spend the entire time pestering me."

"Is that what I am doing?"

"Annoying me. Frustrating me. Driving me insane! Pick one."

George frowned and considered as he took a sip of brandy. Smacked his lips. Took another sip. "So, that's a no on the apology?"

Frederick groaned and ran a hand through his hair. George might have been the only person in the world who would risk arguing with and annoying him like this, knowing that he could do and say pretty much what he wanted without risking Frederick's wrath, but even he was pushing it.

The man had turned up unannounced just thirty minutes ago, perfect timing as Frederick had just returned from London with Isabella. After the incident three days previously, he wished to show that he was sorry by giving her a day out—a day which she appreciated greatly.

Oh, how Frederick had appreciated it also. Although he did not tell her that he knew her secret, he was happy that she was willing to forget how he had yelled at her and let him treat her as her father again. They laughed all day. Enjoyed one another's company in ways that reminded him of how things used to be. Shopping. Treats. Long walks through the park. It was a day well spent.

Deep down, Frederick had also hoped that she might finally open up to him and tell him the truth as she had Miss Dowding. He was her father, after all, so surely, she would want to do such a thing. Sadly, she had chosen not to, a fact which stung his pride a little more than he was willing to admit—especially seeing as she had told Miss Dowding without pause.

But he had lifted his punishment from her nonetheless, and when they returned home, he was happy to let her take a book outside and read without needing to be watched. That was when George arrived which saw the two men move to the drawing room for said drink.

It should have been a pleasant enough soiree, for he had not seen George in days, but George being George meant that such a thing was not possible. Not even close.

"And how does it feel?" George asked casually as he lounged on the couch, one arm spread over the back, his leg folded casually before him.

"How does what feel?" Frederick braced himself.

"Having to sneak around your own home like a mouse being chased by a persistent cat. It must be tiring."

"I am sure I have no idea to what you are referring."

George chuckled. "Oh? So you have not spent the last three days in hiding, then? My mistake."

"Who have you been talking to?" he asked with narrowed eyes.

"The easy way to solve this dilemma is to do what you should have days ago," he continued as if Frederick hadn't asked him a question. "Apologize and be done with it."

"I will not apologize," he growled in anger.

"Then extend an apologetic hand. You don't need to say the words, just make it obvious that you are sorry."

"But I am not sorry. Nor should I be."

He snorted and took another sip of his brandy. "Is that what you think? You really do not understand women, do you?"

Frederick groaned. "Why on this God's green earth do you even care, George? Tell me that."

George shrugged. "Maybe it is you who I care about; did you think of that."

"Doubtful."

"You are clearly in a mood, more so than usual. And from what I can gather, this is the reason why."

"The same reason you came to visit me, I am now beginning to wonder."

"Well, it certainly wasn't to bask in the warmth of your company."

Frederick had wondered why George had appeared unannounced as he had. Because they were friends, perhaps, and he wished to see him? Because it had been a few days, and he missed his company? Because he was out of liquor and knew Frederick would have some handy? All possible options but far from the truth.

No, the reason he was here was becoming plainly obvious, and it had Frederick's grandmother written all over it.

Oh, she was meddling as was her want. For some reason, his grandmother had gotten it into her head that he and Miss Dowding might make a perfect pairing, and despite recent events, she was doing everything she could to see it come to fruition. Frederick had thought his little outburst three days ago might have nipped her romantic idealism in the bud, but from the looks of things, it had simply kicked it into a new gear.

"You've been speaking with my grandmother, haven't you?" he asked as he fixed his friend in a glare.

"I will never tell," George said with a cheeky grin.

"Well, if the two of you should happen to cross paths in the near future, feel free to pass on a message for me, will you?"

"I suppose I could."

Frederick opened his mouth to speak only for the sound of the front door opening to catch his attention. This was followed by his grandmother screaming at the top of her lungs, "We are home!"

"Ah, perfect timing," George chuckled. "I wonder with whom she is with."

If only it was so easy as George made it out to be. If it was that, Frederick might have done so already, simply to dispel the tension that hung in this household. It was intangible, growing worse each day, hovering over him like a cloud wherever he went.

Alas, it was not so simple. Apologize to Miss Dowding? Grovel to her? And for what? Because he had correctly chastised her for doing something which she did not even claim at the time to have not done? Oh sure, if she had told him then that he was mistaken, he might have said he was wrong and left it at that, but she had not, and so it could not be.

Further to that point, and even George did not know this, but the reason Frederick was avoiding Miss Dowding had nothing to do with an apology. Perhaps that was a small part of it, certainly it was likely why she thought he was avoiding her, but it was half the reason. Less than that.

He simply could not risk being alone with her. He could not take the chance that seeing her and speaking without anyone else about would present. Even if he tried to apologize, she would likely rebuke him, he would grow angry, they would argue, and…

God, how he wanted to, though. God how he craved it. Even now, picturing her walking back inside his house, Frederick could see in his mind's eye what might happen if he was to go to her… if they were to speak alone… if they were to pick up where they left off and?—

No. He could not risk it. To do that would be to give her false ideas. It would lend credence to his grandmother's pestering. It would force him down a track he did not wish to go because the last time he did that… it had ended in death and misery.

"So, this is what you have become?" George sighed. "A scared little mouse in his own home."

"I am warning you, George…"

He scoffed. "You do not scare me, perhaps the only man who you do not. And for that reason, I will say one last thing and leave it at that." He pushed himself up and fixed Frederick with a stern gaze. "Hide from her if you wish. Pretend that you are not—lie to yourself. But do you know who you cannot lie to?"

"Who?"

"Your daughter," he said simply. "You know as well as anyone how she admires Miss Dowding, and if you truly wish to grow closer to her, your daughter that is, this is the way to do it. Right now, she assumes the two of you hate one another—as she should, based on how you treated her. But if the two of you were to grow friendly again…" He shrugged and took a final sip. "I imagine that might go a long way."

Those words were exactly what Frederick needed to hear. He didn't want to hear them, but he needed to.

"Sometimes, George, I really do hate you."

"I know," he chuckled. "Now go, before you lose your bravery, as fragile a thing as it is."

Frederick groaned and stood up. "You best be gone when I come back."

A wink. "If you come back."

To that, Frederick stiffened as his pulse increased as his heart began to thump. This was not about that, he told himself. He would seek Miss Dowding out. He would be nice. They would move on from their little quarrel, and then he would leave her before anything else might happen. He had to.

That was the plan, anyway…