Of Night and Dark Obscurity

Victoria excused herself leaving Charles and Caroline alone on the street.

“You don’t look well!” She said concerned. “Are you ill?”

“Not ill,” he said smiling.

“I’m sure the gambling halls now have all your allowance for this month,” she said disapprovingly.

“And then some,” he added grinning. “Let me escort you home.”

“I’m not going home. I’m going to visit my estate agent.”

“Then allow me.” He said as he hailed a cab and helped her inside.

“You know Caro. You’re lovely to look at despite your odd ideas,” he said.

“Yes. It is so odd to want people to have good, safe housing,” she rolled her eyes.

“And I can overlook much. Do you ever think of marriage?” He asked her.

“No. I don’t.”

“I don’t either but the blasted family. They want me to marry. As you are attractive and have money from your father, we would make an excellent match.”

“Would we?” Caroline asked.

Up until this time she had been ignoring his prattle as he seemed to talk about things of little value. But she knew he was probably still a little drunk from the night before so she humored him.

“Marry. We should marry.” He stated.

“Ummm, no?” She said in a question.

“We should. We should marry. Your sister was too flight and silly but you are the right kind of woman a man needs in a wife. Come now. Don’t start to think about it. Just say yes.”

The cab was pulling up in front of Mr. Davies’ building.

She smiled. “No, Charles. We wouldn’t suit.”

“Really? You think not?” He asked.

“I think not.”

“Why not?” He asked.

“We just wouldn’t.” She smiled.

She climbed out of the cab and he stuck his head out the window. “Give it some thought!” He told her.

“I thought you said not to think,” she smiled back.

“Well this one thing, yes. Think on it,” he said as the cab moved along.

“Think on what?”

Caroline turned to see Val standing in front of the building.

“What brings you here?” She asked, her heart thudding at the sight of his face.

“I came to return this to you,” he handed her a glove she realized she had dropped in the cab the night before. “I did come by your home and your grandmother said you had planned to be at your estate agent at this time.”