“I appreciate your support.”
“I don’t call you an honorary Storme lightly.” The captain squeezed his shoulder. “I have a feeling you’ll do more for my cousin in a month than anyone has in years.”
“That is my hope.” But was he strong enough—good enough—for that?
“We all deserve the shame of that when it’s proven correct. We’ve wronged her and should grovel at her feet.”
“I rather doubt she’d allow that.” But he chuckled just the same. “It will be a huge change for both of us.” Was he up to that challenge? When he glanced at her and their gazes met, she offered him that same sweet smile and her dimple flashed. He couldn’t help a grin. A blush raged in her cheeks and shortly after that, she fled the room. His heart skipped a beat. “Caroline only needs someone to believe in her. I’ll merely be along to see what happens.”
Brand harrumphed. “You’re not in love with her.”
“No.” He looked at his best friend and shrugged. “Neither were you when you sought out Elizabeth. That turned out rather well, don’t you think?” Is that what he wanted, then? A real marriage down the line with Caroline?
He didn’t know at this time.
“Sometimes a man knows where his future lies.” A flush rose above Brand’s collar. “What of your father?”
“What of him? He has no hold on my life or what I do with him. However, I’ll try and see him before Caroline and I leave London.” For the first time, doubts assailed him. Would he live up to her unspoken expectations? “Before that happens, I’ll need to shop for a ring, perhaps other jewelry, apply for a license, as well as secure a clergyman.” The magnitude of what he’d done crashed into him, and it must have shown on his face, for Brand laughed.
“I think first you need a drink.” The captain propelled him over the floor. “And have a chat with the doctor. He can give you insight into what you might expect from a woman of Caroline’s affliction.”
“Right.” In a handful of days, he’d wed a woman he barely knew but held immense respect for.
Please let me have wisdom enough to help her and the strength to survive her if she takes exception to this new shift in her life.The Storme family was well-named, and he’d already glimpsed rage at the backs of Caroline’s eyes.
Sooner or later, she would snap. He didn’t want to meet that storm head on without having laid down a strong foundation.