“It didn’t feel like it,” she said.
“I am aware.”
Silence again.
“You gave your word,” she said at last.
“To you,” he said. “And to myself. I said if I could not find you a man worth the word husband, I would be that man. I failed at the first task. I am not going to fail at the second.”
“And in the meantime, you thought the kindest thing was to behave as if we lived in opposite ends of a ledger,” she said.
“In the meantime,” he said, “I thought the kindest thing was to leave you enough room to breathe before I took up space in your days.”
She looked down at his coat around her shoulders.
“You took up space in my days by not being in them.”
“I am learning that,” he said, “I am not quick where feelings are concerned, Maria. I am quick with problems. I know how to shovel snow. I do not know how to tidy weather.”
“You could have started with basic weather reports,” she said. “I am cross.I am managing.I am not all right.I would have taken any of those over a schedule.”
He looked at her without flinching.
“I am cross,” he said. “I am managing. I am not all right.”
She blinked, surprised into a laugh that was more breath than sound.
“There. Was it so hard?”
“Yes,” he said honestly. “It offends several rules I have been carrying around.”
“Then put them down,” she said.
“I am putting one or two down,” he said. “At a time, so I can recognize the floor when I see it.”
She pulled the coat tighter and studied him.
“So,” she said, “Mr. Rondell.”
“Yes.”
“If he writes to me,” she said, “I will burn it.”
“If he writes to you,” Stephen said, “you will give it to me andIwill burn it.”
“You do not get to manage my correspondence,” she said.
“I do if the letter is a match,” he said.
She narrowed her eyes.
“I prefer you when you speak to me instead of at me.”
“I hear the distinction,” he said.
“Good,” she said. “Now. The money. You made a great show of not caring.”
“I do not care,” he said. “Spend what is needed. I will sign.”