Page 41 of Appointment in Bath

“It’s all right. I daresay I do seem odd to someone like you—and to everyone else in Maidenbridge. I’ve never seen the point in wasting time on the past. We’ve too much to accomplish to be distracted with trivialities.” Raising her hand to his lips, he pressed a swift kiss to her gloved knuckles. “Speaking of which…”

“Yes?” she asked breathlessly.

“When do you suppose it would be best for me to call on your father?”

Her pulse surged. “You wish to visit Letchford Hall?”

“I must do,” he said. “My business can’t proceed until I speak with Sir Frederick about the platform halt.”

The railway. Of course.

For a moment, Meg had thought…

But no. Naturally he wouldn’t be calling at the Hall out of personal inclinations. She’d known him only a few weeks. And he’d promised her friendship, nothing more.

Yet, he’d kissed her hand just now.

That wasn’t friendly, was it? That was something else.

“I daresay tomorrow is out of the question,” he said. “No one wants to discuss business on Sunday. And he may still be peevish about our having dined together at the vicarage.”

Peevish was one way of putting it.

“Very probably,” Meg acknowledged. A pit formed in her stomach at the reminder of what awaited her at the Hall when she returned from her ride.

“What about Monday?” he asked. “I could come after luncheon, if you think he’d be fit for company.”

“You’re n-not afraid of him?”

“Afraid of Sir Frederick?” A flicker of amusement crossed Ivo’s face. “I’m not afraid of anyone, Meg.”

She blinked. How was that possible? Surely everyone was afraid of someone. “But he m-might say things. He m-might lose his t-temper.”

“So what if he does. His words can’t harm me.” Ivo gave a reassuring press to her fingers. “Anyway, I’m not applying to him for a bank loan. All I want are his opinions on the railway. Once I have them, I’ll know best how to proceed.”

Her hand was warm in his grasp. She felt the energy of him—the confidence and ambition—all the way through the fine kid leather of her glove. If it was possible to derive courage from another person, Meg derived it from him in that moment.

“Shall I ask him?” she inquired.

Ivo’s brows elevated. “On my behalf? I should think not.”

“Not on your b-behalf, no,” she said. “I wouldn’t presume. But I c-could find out his thoughts. It m-might help you decide how b-best to approach him.”

The idea seemed to grow on him by degrees. “Yes. That would be helpful, indeed. But you needn’t feel obliged—”

“I don’t.”

“And you needn’t put yourself at risk—”

“What risk?”

He searched her face. “I thought you might be afraid of him.”

Meg took a deep breath. “I’m n-not,” she said at last. “N-Not anymore.”

Chapter Eleven

When Meg returned to Letchford Hall, she went straight up to her bedroom where she washed and changed into a plain wool dress. She was just finishing repairing her hair when Mrs. Church poked her head in the door.