“Sir Edward happened upon us and sent him off like a mewling baby,” she smiled at the memory of how her Edward had handled the blackguard.”
Vern beamed. “Good sort, Sir Edward, but I still mean to run the blackguard through.” He frowned at her, “What did he want with you?”
“He wanted me to know he knew it had been me at the Mermaid and not some male relative.”
“Drat the night I sent you there and may I forever rot in hell for putting you through this.” Vern was once again attacking his head.
“Stop that,” she said pulling his hand away and kissing his fingers. “Never mind all that now. This is not the time for recriminations and regrets. What is done is done. We must move forward and muddle through,” she admonished her brother in severe accents.
“Yes, yes, of course, you are quite right, younger and so much wiser sister,” he managed a smile. “Tell me all of it, don’t leave anything out.”
She had to leave a great deal out and felt the blush creep into her cheeks, “There isn’t much more. He wants something from you, and I don’t think he means to stop till he gets it, even though I could see that Sir Edward had put some fear into him.”
“Star, I can’t have you hurt in this. I may have to give him what he wants,” her brother said gloomily.
“Oh no you don’t! For if you do, he will never give up until you end up in a gaol or worse.” She wagged a finger at him. “I don’t know what it is you are hiding from me, but you shan’t deal with Farley even one more time.”
“Yes, but Star…”
“What then—shall we buckle like cowards to a common thief? No, he is more horrible than a thief, for he has no soul. Farley is the worst of his kind. You and I shall manage. We won’t give in to this scoundrel and eventually he will move on to greener pastures,” she told him.
“Star? What about Georgie?”
“Whatever do you mean?” She eyed him. “I didn’t tell her anything about all this, though she nearly ran me through,” Star said and giggled.
“She accepted?”
“I told her it wasn’t my story to divulge.”
He grinned, “I mean to marry her, you know.”
“She won’t have you. There, I have said it plainly so that you must heed me. Georgie loves you like a brother. She won’t marry you.” She eyed him and saw from his thoughtful frown that he wasn’t at all hurt. “I take it your affection for Georgie is not the passionate sort?”
He laughed, “What do you know of passion?”
“I know you haven’t a passion for Georgie. It is the same for you both. You love her like a sister. She loves you like a brother. Marriage would be absurd.” She laughed and added, “Probably even a bit incestuous.”
“Star!” he returned in shocked accents.
She laughed and then sighed. “You knew that right? That you didn’t stand a chance with Georgie?”
“Aye, I suppose in my heart I knew…but, it would solve so many problems.”
“And create new ones. We shall figure out a way, Vern…we must,” Star said.
“I still think I should make a push to have Georgie.”
“Vern!” Star said in exasperation. “She wants someone else!”
“Does she, by God? Who? Who, Star?”
“I can’t tell you,” Star said and laughed at his expression. “I don’t know why it is I have to go around holding everyone’s secrets in my head. It is most uncomfortable. What I need…what we need, is some afternoon tea and cakes.”
“Deuced good idea and then you can tell me who Georgie wants instead of me.” He put his hand to his heart, “I shall never get over the pain of losing her.”
She laughed at him, “Vern, you can’t lose what you never had.”
Chapter Seventeen