“In time?” Stephen raised a brow. “And what is your plan when you find out that he is entirely the wrong man, but you are already attached to him in marriage?”
“Well, I should hope that such a thing does not happen,” she said, dreading the possibility. “Why must you sow the seed of doubt in my mind?”
“I am only trying to reason some sense into you,” Stephen replied. “It has occurred to me that you may require it in these scenarios, where you might not be able to see things clearly for yourself, Maria.”
“Huh,” her back straightened at the use of her name. She realized that it sounded quite nice when he referred to her by her name. He had never used it before, and it was a nice sound coming from him. “Well, then, to answer your question fully, I do not think that I am making any sort of mistake.”
“You do not know if you are,” he corrected. “There is a difference, and I would urge you to learn it.”
“He said his mother is fond of apricot tarts,” she said after a moment’s rummaging, feeling suddenly foolish.
“And what else?”
“And he did not say anything that I would find alarming otherwise,” she noted. “I suppose that is a good sign?”
Stephen shot her a look that could only be categorized as disappointed.
“It’s not?” she asked, feeling lost.
“Some men,” Stephen said, “learn to hide precisely what would not charm.”
“So, you believe that he is lying to me about himself?” she said, surprise coloring his tone.
“I am saying that it is not outside the realm of possibility.”
“But based on this, anything could be in the realm of possibility.” Her tone was growing frustrated now, and Stephen smiled in her direction.
“Leave this with me,” he said.
“Leave you to make the decision?” she raised an eyebrow.
“The week is not over yet,” he reminded her. “If he means well, he will continue to mean it by dinner. If he does not, he will not. And it will all be revealed in due time.”
“That is not reassuring,” she bit down on her lip. “Rather, it is quite nerve-wracking. How am I supposed to go on with all this newly found uncertainty that you have planted in my mind?”
He smiled at her again.
“I think you will go on just fine,” he said. “It is good to have some uncertainty. Otherwise, we are at risk of being too naïve.”
“Or too cynical,” she countered. “Have you considered that?”
But Stephen had already begun to take his leave now.
“I am obliged to kill birds now,” he announced. “If a gentleman who is practically a stranger asks you to walk again before I return, you will decline and ask for lemonade. If he insists, send him to me.”
“Send him to… You cannot possibly be serious,” she was shaking her head now.
“I am never more,” he said, and left her there, outraged and strangely relieved, which had become his specialty.
But somehow, as infuriating as this was, Maria did not mind it. Stephen was only looking out for her, she told herself. And she only wanted a man for her who had the right intentions.
That had to mean something, especially when he had no need to do any of this for her. It signaled good intentions on his part, even though she sometimes failed to understand them.
Stephen found himself on a hunt with Owen later in the evening. He was fond of hunting, but more so, he thought it was a good opportunity to get to know the gentleman.
A part of him had begun to grow suspicious of him. It was not a certainty yet in his mind, but a hunch was enough to make him wonder.
And Maria is far too simple for this,he thought to himself. It would infuriate him greatly if someone was to take advantage of her.