“I’m very well, thank you.” She grinned impishly as she turned his hat between her hands. “You did not see me when you arrived, either. I was sitting at the window, looking outside at the comings and goings of Cavendish Place.”
He took a pace towards her. His bag sat on a chair behind her. “Were you?”
Her brow creased. “I was beginning to wonder if you were coming this summer.”
“I was delayed on bank business.” He’d put off his holiday as long as he could because of the Watsons. To give them more time before his business with them wrecked their lives.
Her smile dimmed. “This bank of yours keeps you very busy.”
Many of his acquaintances thought he worked too hard and Abigail’s tone was one of deep disapproval, too. However, he enjoyed the back and forth of negotiations too much to stop now. A young woman of her age couldn’t understand what drove him. The challenge of making money for his customers brought him immense satisfaction. “One must earn a living, Miss Watson. I cannot neglect the bank’s customers. They expect me to do well for them when they give me their funds to invest.”
She moved forward. “I hoped to see you when I was in London last month. Does your bank prevent you from seeing friends, too?”
He winced. “You are speaking of your come out? I thank you for the invitation to the party. Unfortunately, the bank required me to . . .”
She waved her free hand to halt his apology. “Yes, yes. I read your letter declining to attend. A very last minute refusal after you had already accepted our invitation. I was looking forward to dancing with you now I am old enough not to look silly doing so.”
David frowned. “It wasn’t a deliberate snub, Miss Watson. I would have been very happy dancing with you, too. I had to travel north. My business partner fell ill and I had to take his place in some important negotiations at the last minute. I would much rather be among friends than terminating an account.”
David bit his tongue. That was exactly what he had come here to arrange this very night and would complete tomorrow morning should circumstances allow it. Miss Watson couldn’t know what he’d come to do or she would not be so friendly toward him. “Did you enjoy your time in London?”
Her lips turned up in a sincere smile. “I had a glorious time. London is a very exciting city to visit.”
“I think so.” Relief coursed through him. She appeared content. David assumed the trip and expense incurred for a London stay had proved fruitful. Whoever he was, he was bound to be made very happy by his marriage to Miss Watson. He cleared his throat. “So, when is the happy day to be?”
“What happy day?”
“Well, I assumed by your smiles you made many new acquaintances in London. Who is the lucky fellow? When will you be married?”
“When someone I like asks me.” She set one hand on her hip and scowled at him. “And whoever said I went to London to find a husband anyway?”
David floundered. Why wouldn’t Miss Watson be in search of a husband for herself? Every other pretty girl gone up to London ended up some man’s wife eventually. “I apologize if I have presumed too much of your intent. Given all the whispered talk of beaus last summer between the young ladies of the place, I assumed you would be keen to marry too and settle into your own home. That is why most young women go up to London, after all.”
Miss Watson stamped her foot, proving herself not quite as grown up and serene as her outward appearance made her appear at first glance. “I am at home, and don’t you dare paint me with the same brush as those grasping ninnies. I don’t need to snare myself a London husband. All the men I met there were a bunch of blathering, overdressed fools.”
David raised his hands. “Peace, Miss Watson. I didn’t mean to offend. However, I find it hard to believe there is not some poor fellow pining for the loss of your company.”
She shoved his hat at his chest. David grunted and reached for it, but Miss Watson held onto one side and kept it between them. “Don’t think you know me or anything about women, Mr. Hawke. If you had one clue, you’d already be married and better cared for. You’re thinner than last year. You’ve not taken good enough care of yourself since you’ve been gone.”
David groaned. Not her, too. Perhaps he didn’t know Miss Watson a
fter all. She hadn’t been this forthright last year. In fact, she’d been downright demure when their paths had crossed. He laughed to ease the tension brewing between them. “And who would put up with me? Which poor woman is prepared to be saddled with a boring banker for a husband?” He teased her but David believed he already knew the answer. Very few women would accept his lifestyle—the long work hours, the last minute travel. They would claim his attention as well as his money or they’d go elsewhere for the former, and spend the latter on someone else.
Miss Watson’s smile grew. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Despite years of training to master his emotions in delicate negotiations, David gaped. Had Miss Watson discovered a woman who might hold tender feelings for him? So far he’d not found a woman capable of earning his admiration to stir him from his bachelor state. However, at his age, he probably should consider the matter properly. He would like to hand his wealth to a son one day, but the opportunity to marry hadn’t presented itself. Someone nearer to his own age would make life harmonious, as well. He glanced down at the bright-eyed girl before him and ignored the way his chest tightened. “I would indeed, but I suspect you merely tease a crusty old bachelor. I doubt such a person exists.”
Her smile grew coy and then she laughed softly. “Perhaps I will tell you, but only if you promise to see out your whole holiday and not run back to London when summoned. A week is barely long enough without cutting it short by two days. We were all very disappointed to discover you’d gone so suddenly without a word last year.”
He tugged on his hat as their gazes held, amused that she resisted giving it up. Perhaps Miss Watson had become a touch stubborn in the last year, too. He couldn’t remember having such an encounter with her before. “All right, you have me intrigued. I promise not to run back to London this year if you promise in return to impart your important discovery at the end.”
“Good, you won’t regret it, Mr. Hawke. I promise.” Her smile widened to alarming proportions and David feared he had seriously underestimated Miss Watson. He’d just been bested by an eighteen-year-old girl and she’d only used her smiles to do it. He must be getting old.
Eventually, his hat slipped from her fingers. He placed it firmly on his head and tugged his gloves on. “Well, goodnight, Miss Watson. Perhaps we will run into each other again.”
“Of course we will.” Her brow rose. “You only live next door.”
And she only lived here until he evicted her and her brother from their home. The weight on his chest returned, coupled with intense dissatisfaction. He’d delayed as it was, hoping, praying, for her brother to find a way out of his financial mess. If Miss Watson had not married yet after her time in London then her chances for making one following the foreclosure decreased considerably.