Page 14 of A Summer Romance
She is what you need in your life.
That might be true, but was this the moment to be considering his romantic future, if he had one?If he lost the house and land, he would have to return to London and his job, and it was unlikely he would ever see her again.It seemed his fate was in the hands of the bank, and wishing alone would not change things for the better.
Maybelle had fallen asleep.He had not wanted to take her to London with him, but in hindsight it was a brilliant move.Without the maid as chaperone, Breana would not have been allowed to accompany him in the coach, and he would have been very sorry to miss out on her company.They may have started off badly, but now it felt as if they could be friends.
He looked across at Breana, discretely observing her pensive expression.What was she thinking about?Not Francis, of course.He wouldn’t make that mistake again.He had thought her in love with his brother and tried, in his awkward way, to save her.But she hadn’t needed saving.Despite some of the situations she had gotten herself into and her flights of fancy, she was no nitwit.But shewasyoung.Perhaps what she needed was a steadying influence.
He rolled his eyes.Andhecould be that influence?It seemed Breana was not the only one prone to whimsey.He was sure she would not be agreeable to that.
Once he had made his proposal to the bank, he would know how his future lay.Even if he lost the house and land, he still had that connection, so perhaps he could try to keep in touch with Breana.Friends was better than nothing.
But in his heart, he wanted more.So much more.
***
Breana found herself thinking deep thoughts, the sort she rarely allowed herself to ponder.She had begun to realise that, although a little bit boring, her life was stable and settled, and she was so very lucky.She never went without and did not worry about her future.Will had made certain his family—including his large number of siblings—were safe from the sort of domestic and financial chaos the Norris family were now experiencing.
How had she been so blind?She’d believed she could live a life of leisure with Francis, when in fact it would have been a life of debt and despair?She had wanted a fairytale rather than appreciating what was around her at Starling Hall.Looking outward rather than inward at the bountiful joys she already had.Surely that was where true happiness was found.
Breana hadn’t always been like that, but she was beginning to think that she had been a very silly girl of late.
On the occasions when she glanced up, she saw Theo’s dark eyes watching her, as if he wanted to read her thoughts.She was very glad he couldn’t.
Breana resolved to be better in the future.A better daughter and sister, and a better friend.Things would change when Molly and Will married.They could not expect poor Abby to do everything, which often seemed to be the case.She had not appreciated her elder sister nearly as much as she should, had never thought a great deal about what her life must be like.Abby carried considerable weight upon her shoulders, and endured it without complaint.
It was time for Breana to step up and do her part.
“You are quiet,” Theo said softly, with a glance at the sleeping Maybelle.
“Am I?”she said with a sigh.“I suppose I am indulging in some self reflection, Mr.Norris.”
“Ah.I do rather a lot of that myself.”
She smiled.Was that what all of those frowns were about?“Will I see you while you are in London?”she asked before she could stop herself.
He looked surprised.“You mean after the bank business?Do you want to see me?”
Breana’s cheeks heated as she met his gaze.“Yes, of course.I want to know what happens.I will be worrying otherwise.”
“Ah.”He looked away, and she wondered if he might be blushing too.“Then I shall of course call on you.Can you give me your friend’s direction?”
She did so, and he jotted it down in a notebook which he returned to his jacket pocket.“I will call when I can.Although you will no doubt be busy enjoying yourself,” he said, a little disheartened.Then, as if embarrassed by his words, he added, “Youshouldenjoy yourself.You are young.”
She wondered how old he thought she was.“I am nineteen,” she said.“How old are you, Mr.Norris?”
“Twenty-five, though at the moment I feel decades older,” he added, meaning it as a joke, but it only made her wish she could make everything better for him.
“I feel a little older myself after all that has happened, Mr.Norris.”
“Do you think you could call me Theo?”he asked abruptly.“We know each other well enough now, and you already call my brother Francis.”
She smiled and saw that he was smiling back.“I would like that.If you will call me Breana.”
He raised one of his eyebrows, and she found she did not hate it as much as she used to.“Thank you,” he said.“Breana.”
Chapter eight
EIGHT
