Alexander hadn’t allowed it.
Blackbrook had proved persistent, not letting him alone at Eton, always insisting they be partners and teammates. And then when they went to Oxford together, they’d been inseparable. They should have still been inseparable, but the vagaries of the world had worn on both of them.
His father’s death had been grim. His descent into madness complete.
And the hopes of an untroubled future had been stolen away from Alexander with his father’s bad business and sudden death.
But now they would be inseparable again. Of that, he was certain. He wanted Blackbrook’s friendship, and he wanted to make sure that Blackbrook was happy because all those years ago, his friend had taken care of him.
And now it was his turn to take care of Blackbrook.
Blackbrook squinted. “You will stay away from her.”
“I will stay away from her,” he said, the lie tasting like ash. He would stay away from her in public. That’s what he would do. It would be the best thing for all of them. And somehow he’d be able to bring everything to good, as he always did.
“But if I’m invited to your house for dinner, for instance, I certainly must go near her.” He forced a wink. “Don’t you think?”
Blackbrook rolled his eyes. “Of course, if you are invited to family gatherings, you don’t have to avoid her. You are our neighbor and a lifelong friend. But you will not be alone with her. Do you understand me?”
Alexander brandished the pistol lightly, not at him, but at the target, as if he was envisioning James’s head twenty paces away.
“I promise,” he said, his chest hollow. Who was he becoming, making false promises to his friend? But he had already promised Jack. How could he explain not agreeing to Alexander’s request without revealing his arrangement with her? Alexander would never understand his meeting Jack in the privacy of his chambers, alone, unchaperoned, at night.
“Good.” Blackbrook clapped him on the shoulder. “Then we understand each other.”
“I hope this doesn’t surprise you, old boy,” he said firmly, savoring the sun finally coming out over the park. “I want your sister to be as happy as much as I wish you to be happy.”
“I’m glad to hear it. And now that I have this promise from you,” Blackbrook said, “I shall tell you I’m going down to Cornwall.”
“Cornwall?” he barked, astonished.
Blackbrook grimaced as the wind tossed his long coat behind him. “Yes. I’m going to see if there’s anything to be done at the mines, to see if there’s something that we can use there to pull ourselves out of this financial hole that we’re in. Perhaps I can go to the Fairweathers with some asset. At least not debts.”
The last comment struck James, and he felt a wave of relief that his friend was considering the young lady in truth.
“You called upon her this morning then?” James asked, delighted by his friend’s comment.
“Miss Fairweather and I went on a curricle drive. She is…remarkable.”
“Good,” he proclaimed. “I think you two are very well suited, and I’m sure the Fairweathers would be most pleased to have their daughter marry into your family.”
Though he didn’t believe his friend needed to make such a trip to Cornwall, James found himself rather glad that Blackbrook might not be in London, watching for any sign of indiscretion. After all, if he was still going to help Jack, hehadto be alone with her.
He expected her this very night.
Blackbrook arched a brow. “You look rather pleased all of a sudden. And guilty. Though you say I don’t have to go, your countenance suggests something different.”
“You are overly suspicious,” he drawled, stunned he had allowed himself to be so transparent.
“I am never overly suspicious. I am absolutely, perfectly cynical,” Blackbrook countered. “You’ve been a good friend to me. Don’t make me regret that.”
James clapped Alexander on the back in turn, hoping the gesture would put his friend at ease.
He glanced out to the sprawling green fields and the oak trees that stretched out before him on the outskirts of London. He looked past the targets affixed to downed trunks.
They had raced through landscapes like this as boys. And he prayed that they would continue to be in each other’s company decades from now.
If madness didn’t take him first.