Mr. Washam's look was knowing. Not disappointed, exactly, but as if he had been waiting for the question.
It made Elmore's cheeks burn, and he turned away.
"Aurora will be helping, yes. I wouldn't dream of excluding her from this, when she was so enthusiastic to tell me all about this plan of hers."
Good. He was glad to know that Aurora was accompanying them, if only because it meant he could see herwithoutforming some terrible excuse. Perhaps, if they worked together, he would have the opportunity to convince her that he was worth her time.
"Now," Mr. Washam announced, as he climbed to his feet. "How about lunch? Aurora is running errands in town, but I would love for us to discuss this over a warm meal."
Elmore was never one to turn down such a generous offer. Besides, he didn't want to return to his hollow, quiet London home just yet. It was a beautiful place, but lonely with only the barest of staff skittering through the halls.
As if sensing his change in mood, Mr. Washam let out a sympathetic sigh. His hand fell onto Elmore's shoulder and squeezed gently.
"I think I understand why you're so eager," he said softly, "this isn't related to your father's passing, is it?"
No,was Elmore's immediate response.I want to learn, and spend time with my old mentor. And Aurora, if she'll let me.
Yet that wasn't the only reason he had jumped to help, nor was it the reason that he had accepted the invite to the yearly meeting, despite turning it down the year before.
Father had never approved of his interests. He had never approved of much at all, even when Elmore had tried to be the man Father wanted him to be. He had been a quiet man, subdued — yet even when he had spent entire days locked inside his study, he had still beenthere.
Without Father, Elmore was the only one left. Could he really be blamed for wanting a distraction from the all-consuming quiet of his home?
He didn't say any of that, of course, because it wasn't fair to put that on Mr. Washam. Instead, he offered the watered-down version of the truth. "My father and I rarely got on, but everything feels different without him. Perhaps now, I can focus on what I've always wanted to do, rather than focus on my grief."
It must have been a suitable answer, because Mr. Washam's features softened. "We all cope in different ways," he agreed, "I confess that I wasn't so strong when my wife, Alicia, died."
Mr. Washam rarely spoke about his wife. In fact, Elmore couldn't remember the last time he had heard her name. It brought a smile to his face, knowing that Mr. Washam sympathized enough to talk about her, however briefly.
"You lost a wife you loved dearly," he replied, "I lost a father who hardly spoke to me. It's different."
"You said yourself, he was still family."
Elmore smiled sadly as he stood. His trousers had wrinkled, so he brushed them straight.
"Maybe," he agreed, "but that's enough talk of sad things. Perhaps we should go inside for that meal you spoke of? I have some ideas for the greenhouse that I'd like to discuss."
With that, the discussion was over, and they returned to talk of more comfortable things.
Chapter 10
Aurora Washam
They had already decided to create the greenhouse. To breed the plants. Why was Father hesitating now? Aurora watched him from across the study, her stomach twisting with each impatient tap of his pen.
"You can't back out now," she insisted stubbornly. "You promised."
Across the study, settled by the window seat, Lord Winters said nothing. Head bowed, blond hair spilling across his forehead, he appeared to be deep in concentration as he sketched the window scene.
Not much help, was he? He was apparently so interested in her, yet hadn't once voiced his own opinion on the matter.
"I can't do this alone, Father. At least help me to see through the greenhouse building process."
Father shook his head, grey hair falling into his eyes. "I will help where I can, but my own work must take priority right now. This was your idea from the beginning, you should be the one in charge."
"But-"
"And you won't be alone. Elmore is much more knowledgeable on these plants, and he will be there to help the entire time."