Page 28 of A Lady's Beloved Novelist
She was finally getting to learn more about him, and he was finally seeming as though he understood her a little more. Andrea wished they could have walked on for the rest of the morning, but her mother would start asking questions if they were out too long.
Chapter 13
“What on Earth was that?” James snapped as he stepped through his front door. Cecil was smoking a pipe and lounging in one of the plush seats by the window.
“What was what?” Cecil asked, his tone much calmer than that of James.
“You know what. You were listening to my conversation with Lady Andrea,” James continued to raise his voice as he slammed the front door behind him. His skin felt hot, and he was beyond enraged.
“The girl you made me walk with was rather boring,” he said absentmindedly.“And I remembered the letter that she had sent you. I wanted to hear what you both made of it all.”
“Cecil, that was a private conversation. You had no business listening in to what I was saying to her,” James said, trying his best to keep a lid on his temper.
“She is rather pretty, is she not? Your adventurous girl,” Cecil said whilst smiling. It was as though he was trying to rile up his host on purpose.“She was much fairer than I could have imagined. You did not say that was the reason you were pursuing her.”
“It is more than that…but I do not have to explain myself to you. If you do what you did this morning again, you will be out of this house, and I do not care if that means you have nowhere else to stay.”
Cecil held up his hands mockingly in defense, acting as though James was waving a gun in his face. But he was still smiling and chuckling under his breath. James had to keep reminding himself that it was some sort of tactic to get under his skin. Though, that did not make it any easier to tolerate Cecil’s behavior.
“You really are not wanted here, you understand that, right?”James continued.“I did not want you to come here and yet you are staying here anyway. The least you can do is try to stay out of my way, and certainly out of my business.”
“That is no way to talk to a guest, James, and it is certainly no way to speak to an old friend,” Cecil was speaking in a tone that set James’ teeth on edge. He could not stay and listen to his voice anymore, he had to get out of there.“Where are you going?”
James grabbed the satchel he had ready to go. It contained a notebook and pencil where he would scribble down some new ideas for a new adventure story.
“Out,” he said simply, before opening the front door and quickly leaving.
*
“He just did not give me a good feeling,” Lily remarked whilst turning up her nose. Andrea too was now a little warier of Cecil. Lily was a good judge of character, and she really had not liked the man who had been so interested in Andrea and James’conversation.
“Did he say anything in particular?” Andrea pressed. She was confused by Lily’s comment and did not want to judge the man too quickly.
“He was just looking down his nose when he was talking to me.” Lily shrugged.“You know I hate noblemen who had that trait. They think they are better than everyone else just because they are of noble birth and have a title in front of their name. That is not the kind of person that I would like to associate myself with.”
“James made it sound as though he really does not want to be associated with Sir Cecil either,” Andrea explained.“He told me that Sir Cecil turned up the other day unannounced and has requested to stay with him for a time. They are old friends from their military days, but James told me neither of them had spoken in years before this.”
“That is odd,” Lily said whilst frowning.“I think he also knows that he is quite handsome, and there is nothing worse than a man who knows he has…advantageous looks.”
“I still think that James is more handsome,” Andrea said, smiling to herself. It was true his friend was pleasing to the eye, but James’ blue eyes and dark hair attracted her more.
“Of course you do, and I should hope so, too.” Lily chuckled.“So, what did he say about the letter? Unlike Sir Cecil, I was not going to spy on your meeting but wait for you to tell me yourself.”
“I explained a little more just how I feel about him having to see me as more than just a wife to bear his children. I was very firm with my feelings, but he said he respected that and understood it. I think in a way he could also relate to how I felt. I know he’s already been travelling and seen more of the world than you or me, but he wants to go and see more of it. It is just that his father will not let him.”
“I think it is time he has to do his duty to his family, no?” Lily asked.“Just like you.”
“Exactly, and so we both have similar emotions about it all.” Andrea smiled. Though he was not a woman and did not face the exact same restrictions, it was still the most anyone had been able to relate to how she was feeling.
Lily was clearly pleased for her cousin, and in a sudden burst of happiness, Andrea found herself leaning forward until she was embracing her in a tight hug.
“I am just so pleased he did not think my letter was silly at all,” Andrea said, smiling in relief.
“I can tell he has strong feelings for you, so I do not think it would have even been a thought for him that you were being silly. You were merely expressing your feelings,” Lily said. Her smile was still plastered onto her face.
“Thank you, I know I have not been the best company for the last few days,” Andrea admitted, feeling her cheeks turn a darker shade of pink.“But you really are the best friend that I could ask for.”
“I could not leave you to suffer from your own thoughts, that would have been cruel,” Lily responded whilst laughing to herself.
