Peter started at the venom in Walter’s voice. “What has Miss Merton done?”
Walter’s face reddened. “It doesn’t matter. She’d just better stay away from my sister in the future.”
A discomforting sensation crept over Peter. “Walter. What has Miss Merton done to Imogen?”
“She didn’t have to say a word, but she’s done more harm than I care think about.” He stabbed a finger in the direction of their houses. “I blame her for my sister becoming a recluse and putting ridiculous notions in her head.”
Dread curled within him again and he forced himself to calm before he spoke. “Such as?”
“Imogen has asked me to write to Hawke. She wants him to purchase a house with her inheritance, one far away from Brighton, and then she wants me to interview female companions with the intention of hiring one to live with her. She said she didn’t want to be a burden for the rest of her life.”
Peter sucked in a sharp breath. Imogen planned to disappear completely. First from him and then from everyone else she knew. If he hadn’t returned when he had then he might never have seen her again. This had to be stopped. “What progress has Hawke made?”
“None. I’ll not allow it. The letter will not be sent.”
Peter stared out at the sea as his panic subsided. “Good.” Home had always been Brighton, but part of the allure had always been his friends. Imogen was a friend too. If she wouldn’t marry him then he could at least try to help her in other ways. She’d pushed him away to spare him the burden of her needs, constant care and attention. To him, that sounded exactly what good friends should do for one another.
But how to convince her to let him help? She’d been rather cool by the end of their discussion. Any closeness he’d imagined by their brief touch had disappeared as quickly as it had come. He nodded to himself. He would help whether Imogen wanted him or not. He would not abandon a friend. He met Walter’s gaze steadily. “I’d like your permission to call on your sister and perhaps invite her to stroll along the esplanade or take a carriage ride with me, with a suitable chaperone of course.”
Walter’s eyebrows shot up. “That will take some doing. I remind you again she doesn’t like to leave the house. She’s not had a gentleman call on her, besides Radley and Merton and the physicians, in a year. She won’t even consider discussing marriage and believe me I’ve tried. She’s always wanted a home of her own. I suppose even without a husband she’s planning for that.”
Peter gritted his teeth, but he wasn’t surprised. Imogen had a definite plan in mind for her life. Escape into obscurity. Peter would not allow it. Becoming Lady Watson might not be part of the future she wanted, but perhaps he could keep her in Brighton, and among friends, with the allure of continuing her writing. He could help. He would be honored to help her in any way he could. “It cannot hurt to try.”
Walter started to laugh. “We had a rule once, Peter. To treat each other’s sisters as if they were our own. Then Hawke and your sister married and you became engaged to my mine. Do the rules concerning dallying with sisters no longer apply?”
“I’m merely talking about bringing her into the light, nothing more.”
“Are you sure?”
Peter dug in the sand with his fingertips. “It doesn’t feel right to have abandoned her when my situation improved so drastically. It never felt right.”
“Why? Wasn’t it Imogen who set you free? She explained the break was through no fault of yours. In all honesty, we expected to read a wedding announcement in the papers that you would marry a duke’s daughter or someone of high stature, or hear whispers of your exploits among the less than proper ladies.”
Peter’s stomach flipped and his mouth grew dry. Is that what Imogen imagined too? That he’d find a replacement for her so quickly. Peter shook his head. “Not really to my tastes. I prefer a little intelligence beneath the pretty face.”
“You never bothered with a woman’s head before.” Walter’s eyes widened. “Are you in love with my sister?”
He frowned and looked away, his pulse racing. “I never said that.”
“But you must be.” Walter touched his shoulder and turned him back from the view of the sea. “Why else offer assistance to a woman who cast you aside?”
Peter squirmed. For the past year he’d experienced the sensation that he was not whole. Even in the midst of a crowded ballroom the entertainments had fallen flat of his expectations. And despite some rather obvious interest from some of the ladies he’d met, he hadn’t once been tempted strongly enough to even kiss one. It surprised him now to discover he’d remained faithful to Imogen. Even if she didn’t want him. Even if she’d sent him away with hurtful cold words. No one would understand. “It is the right thing to do.”
“Have you spoken with her?”
Peter filled the hole he’d dug and patted the sand flat. “Yes, last night. She was sitting alone in the dark on the rear steps of your home when I left Valentine’s and took a stroll around the block.”
When Walter started to splutter about impropriety and the dangers of a blind woman stumbling about in the dark, Peter quickly set his mind at rest. “We talked for a short time and I left her sitting on the steps. However, I loitered by the garden gate to be sure she safely returned indoors. She never came to any harm.”
Walter cursed. “Damn woman won’t come out of the house safely on my arm but ventures into the dark without adequate protection.”
“I must admit I was worried too at first which is why I stopped to speak with her. She may have lost her sight but not her reason. She was on the very top step. She could have easily shouted for help if it was needed.”
“If she’s so headstrong how are you going to convince her to see you? Will you ruin her reputation by cozying up to her in the dark again should your paths cross?”
Although the idea held a certain appeal, he doubted Imogen would allow that sort of thing. “Ruining her isn’t my intention. With your permission I’d like to convince her to return to writing. Since I know of her work, and her need for secrecy, I am well suited to the task of assisting her. She must miss it dreadfully.” He offered a reassuring smile he hoped would set Walter’s mind at ease. He knew what he was doing. Imogen had a talent that was going to waste and if he could help her bring new stories to life, he would gladly give an hour or more every day. “If our interactions harm her reputation you can be assured I will do the right thing. Believe me, I had honorable intentions last year. I played the respectful suitor already so have no fear that I would do anything to harm her reputation and leave her to suffer the consequences alone.”
“Did you really play the gentleman?” Walter rubbed his jaw and then his eyes widened. “No wonder she broke it off. Imogen has always said that a careful, passionless relationship is a marriage doomed to fail.”