“No,” she said flatly.
His brows furrowed.“But Virginia said—”
“You should go with her,” Gloria said firmly.“I’ll keep my feet on dry land, if you please.”
“And your head tilted toward the stars,” Virginia added.“Take care not to focus so much on the sky that you fail to live your life on earth.”
Mr.Pringle cocked his head.“Is that an Icarus reference?”
“It’s a Gloria reference,” Virginia said.“She forgets that water is life.”
Gloria crossed her arms.Water was not life.Water was death.
“I love the water,” Mr.Pringle agreed.“Have you been to the canals of Venice?”
Gloria made a mental note to unpack her trunk the moment she returned home.She had to stop picking places that reminded her of him.
Virginia raised her brows with interest.“Is there anywhere you haven’t been?”
His gaze sparkled.“I dream of visiting India.”
Gloria’s stomach roiled at the thought.
“How coincidental.”Virginia’s eyes widened.“Gloria—”
“—has nothing to do with India,” Gloria finished firmly.
The men she was interested in… Now, that was another story.She’d comesoclose to happy ever after before it had slipped away.All because of India.
“The beautiful colors, the gorgeous weather, the scent of the spice bazaars…” Mr.Pringle was saying.“It must be paradise.”
Indeed.Gloria’s one and only suitor had set off for the subcontinent as an officer in the East India Company.He was to make his fortune, then come back for Gloria, and they would live happily ever after.
By his third letter home, it was obvious he likedtherebetter thanhere.Before long, the letters stopped coming altogether.
A shared future with her had paled next to the promise of adventure.
“Have you any ties to the East India Company?”Virginia asked Mr.Pringle.
Gloria sent her a bloodcurdling scowl.
“No, thank heavens.”He laughed.“I needn’t worry about only going where the Company sends me.I can stay as long as I please.”
Exactly the problem.Gloria swallowed.She hoped his dream of India remained just that—a dream.Once he sailed off, he would never be back.Either because he chose not to return…
Or because the ocean wouldn’t allow it.
Chapter 6
The following day, Christopher regretted taking his nuncheon with his brother and soon-to-be sister-in-law.Their only interest was in the matchmaking process.Penelope’s insights were relentlessly scientific.And Nick’s comments were relentlessly… Nick.
“Maybe youshouldmarry Virginia,” he said without bothering to hide his amusement.“You’re an odd duck, she likes birds… Match made in heaven.”
“It’s too bad he can’t marry all the women,” Penelope mused.
Christopher and his brother sent her twin stares of disbelief.
“What did you just say?”Nick asked.
