At least, Christopher presumed she saidGloria.He couldn’t hear himself think over the mind-splitting cacophony.
“Fine,” he shouted.“I’m going.But this racket isn’t convincing me she should be anywhere near my telescope.”
His brother and Penelope stared back at him without comprehending a word.
Christopher beat a hasty exit before his head could explode.
The next thing he knew, he was at Miss Godwin’s front door.But he left his telescope tucked safely in his carriage.
Madge beckoned him in without a word.
He wasn’t certain whether he was meant to see himself to the parlor or follow her down the corridor.He did not wish to be left behind, so he chose to follow the maid.
Miss Godwin was just inside the kitchen, touching her fingertips to a heavy round cloth hanging from a sturdy hook.Presumably, the fragrant ball was the concoction one hoped would result in an edible pudding.
God help them all.
“Since you’re here,” she said, “I deduce you did not fall in love with Virginia.”
“I am not in love with Virginia,” he agreed.“My apologies.Am I impossible to work with?”
“Everyone is fussy when it comes to love.”She lifted a shoulder.“Sometimes love doesn’t care and sticks you with whoever Cupid fancies.Other times, we can help things in the right direction.”
“I like right directions.”He inched closer to the drying pudding and touched his fingertips to the cloth as Miss Godwin had done.
Her eyes took on a strange sheen and she glanced away.
“If I’m to drive you into the arms of your beloved, I need a little more guidance.If we discount ‘passion for travel’ and ‘love of facts’ for the moment, where should we focus our attentions?”
An extremely fair question whose answer Christopher was becoming less certain of by the day.
“I could content myself with someone… sensible,” he said at last.
Miss Godwin scrutinized him.“You prize rationality above all else?”
That wasn’t wrong, but it also wasn’t exactly right.He thought back to his parents’ unhappy marriage.“I just… want someone who can be counted on.”
Her warm brown eyes filled with a surprising amount of empathy.As if she understood all too well how deeply misplaced trust could wound.
Who had hurt her?A strange anger simmered inside Christopher’s chest, as if he would find the villain and do him violence.
She broke their gaze.
“To clarify,” she said, then cleared her throat.“You’ve never met Miss Olive Harper?”
He shook his head.He was good with names.Miss Harper’s was not one he recognized.
“Perfect.”She glanced over her shoulder.“Grab your scarf, Madge.There’s a chill in the air today.”
Christopher followed them to the door.
At first, it had seemed almost silly that a matchmaker should ensure a chaperone’s constant attendance.Lately, he had become particularly glad for the maid’s presence.It kept him focused on finding the right match.
Noton Miss Godwin.
As they all piled into the carriage, he turned to face her.“Where to?”
“The same road as the le Duc residence.”She pointed up ahead.“The Harper land is on the outskirts of town.”
