“I’ve not had much time for walking,” he said drily.
A small silence fell, and a few carriages rumbled past before she said, “It does feel a bit peculiar, doesn’t it?”
“What?”
“That we are here, walking together. I daresay no one in the family will believe we have developed a friendship.”
“Is that what we are, friends, Ester?”
“I am not certain what we are,” she said softly. “I only know I shall not regret it.”
Edmond found himself smiling. She was such an interesting creature. They fell into another striking silence, and remarkably he was unbothered by it. Ester did not rush to fill the space with idle chatter but also seemed to enjoy the solitude of the night. The London night was empty; save for the few odd hackney and carriages that rumbled past, they remained alone. At times, she lifted her face to the sky and smiled. At other times she would hum a song beneath her breath, seemingly taking a simple joy in walking with him.
“How did you get here tonight?”
“I snuck from Lady Pennier’s ball.”
“Will you be missed?”
“Perhaps by the old dragon. She is determined to see me wed this season, and at times, watches me like a hawk. It is mildly irritating.”
The old dragon. Edmond believed Lucien had mentioned that moniker belonged to the Dowager Countess of Celdon. “You have no interest in marrying?”
She lifted a shoulder in a small shrug. “I merely own to requirements that my grandaunt discounts. When I marry, I would prefer to wed a gentleman of my own choosing, and that man ought to be someone who holds affection and respect for me and that I reciprocate. Why are you not a man who plans to marry?”
Edmond shoved his hands inside his pockets. “I am busy.”
Her eyes widened, and a startled laugh escaped her. “Truly? That is your reason?”
He smiled. “I work long hours each day. I have done so from a lad of fourteen years.”
“Why do you work so hard?”
“My family must never suffer from poverty again.” Aware of the harshness of his tone, Edmond worked to lessen his gravity. “My family’s success is important to me.”
“Will you tell me how you’ve come to own such a renowned gambling hall?”
“A lot of chance and hard work,” he said gruffly, wondering at the ease of speaking with her. “Our parents died when we were young, and my responsibility was to care for Ollie, Luc, and Vi. I…I did many menial jobs to see our family fed and ensure our survival through the winters. At fourteen, I ended up working in another establishment as a croupier. I watched and learned and took risks in gambling my wages. Those risks paid off with a windfall of almost four thousand pounds several years ago. It was the opportunity we needed, and we worked without rest to see our dream come to life.”
“Lucien got married,” she said with a curious look at Edmond.
“I plan to leave for Germany in a few weeks and then head to the Americas, where I might spend a couple of years in New York. Within these plans, I do not envision domesticity.”
Noting that she had stopped walking, Edmond glanced at her. Ester stood with her hands clasped about her middle, lips parted as she stared at him. “You are leaving?”
Everything inside Edmond stilled. Her voice was frayed…her eyes saddened.
“Yes.” He couldn’t say why it felt so damned difficult to push those words out. Inexplicably this woman made him want to say he would remain in England.Nonsensical. Edmond scrubbed a hand over his face, unable to understand the complex sensations jangling through his chest.
“Will your family leave with you? Will Ellie leave?”
Driven by a need to reassure Ester, Edmond stepped closer to her, placing a finger under her chin. Beautiful eyes that seemed oddly fierce and vulnerable met his.
“You’ll not lose your sister, Ester. I plan to travel alone.”
The relief he’d anticipated did not fill her gaze.
“Why do you go, Edmond?”