He had meant to do exactly that. Had spotted her heading for the stairwell and had known by the set of her shoulders, the determined jut of her jaw, she was in search of Lonsdale. So Wolfstan had followed. He had shamelessly pressed his ear up against the door and eavesdropped.
He stared at Lonsdale.
They had been friends ever since he could remember. And ever since he could remember, they’d had each other’s backs. He understood, in a way, that Lonsdale only wanted what was best for his sister. His methods, on the other hand, lacked finesse. His friend had crossed the line.
“You should have told me,” Wolfstan said.
“I did not believe you would appreciate my candor.”
“Because I never expressed my feelings for your sister?”
“Amongst other things.”
“I had my reasons,” Wolfstan said. “But I suspect youtheorizedas much since you used my cousin to manipulate me. Superbly done, Lonsdale.”
Lonsdale sighed. “I blundered, I admit. But dammit, you are supposed to court a woman and then ask for her hand.”
“Let us not talk abouthowthings are supposed to be done,” Wolfstan drawled with annoyance. He might have mucked about less had he not been so unbelievably panicked. Deuced desperate. For that, he wanted to throttle Lonsdale.
However, Wolfstan could not deny Lonsdale had done him a mighty favor. He had prompted Wolfstan into action.
“Well?” Lonsdale spoke up, crossing his hands across his chest.
“Well, what?”
“Do you not have something to ask me?”
“Nothing comes to mind, no.”
Lonsdale arched a brow. “You haven’t formally asked for my permission to court my sister.”
“Since you have made your sister more wary than she’d already been, I am not in the mood to formally ask you for anything.”
“I suppose I deserve that,” Lonsdale muttered.
“Do not give up,” Caroline echoed. “Rebecca will come around. Give her time to process your proposal.”
Wolfstan was not so sure that Rebecca would ever come around. Truth be told, he was not sure of anything anymore.
It would be like wedding my brother.
Her words had been teeth-grinding, but not because she thought of him as her brother. Wolfstan suddenly did not believe that any more than he believed the sky green. Neither did she, he was sure. He had not mistaken the underlining note in her statement—one he couldn’t quite decipher—but a note that held no supreme conviction.
The revelation did not give as much hope as it gave him pause. Could it be that her reservations were about something else? Langley? Just how deep did her infatuation run?
“Caroline is right, Wicke. Give Rebecca time. She feels betrayed at present. Let her sleep on it.”
“Forgive me if I do not share your optimism.”
But as he was unsure how to proceed, and loathe as he was to take Lonsdale’s advice after what his friend had done, giving Rebecca space seemed the best course of action for the time being.
She had refused him outright, yes, but she’d been in shock. She had also fled. Not promising. Stepping back and allowing her room to breathe was the last thing he wanted to do. His instinct was to crowd her, not allow for one minute where she might dwell on Langley.
But that had been his problem since he arrived at Westbridge Park. He had not acted intentionally. He’d reacted. It occurred to him that he might do with some space as well. Rethink his actions. Adjust his efforts.
Wolfstan sighed, his glance sweeping over Lonsdale and Caroline. They stared at him expectantly.
Right.
