Page 9 of A Summer Romance (The Starlings of Starling Hall #2)

Theo admitted he had been far too quick to believe the worst of Breana. His long-held belief that she was infatuated with his brother had made him jump to the wrong conclusion.

She was going to London to stay with a friend, and he had insulted her by believing she would do something so silly as run away with Francis. Now she looked at him as if she found him… Well, he wasn’t sure what she was thinking, but at least it wasn’t that he was repulsive and uninteresting.

Theo should be concentrating on the task at hand. He had to decide how best to approach the bank, how he would lay out his plans and persuade them to listen to him. To make them believe he was capable of what he was promising to do.

But was it already too late, as his father had said? He sincerely hoped not. He knew with every fibre of his being that he could make a success of the estate. It would be painful indeed if he wasn’t even allowed to try. Mostly because it was his own fault for not forcing the issue sooner.

Breana’s quiet voice interrupted his thoughts. “I would be very sorry if you lost Barton Manor.”

Somehow, that was enough to draw the words out of him. “There is so much I want to do, if only they will let me. I want to make Barton Manor more like Starling Hall. A working farm, a profitable concern, instead of a place that sits idle as it has done for years.”

“My brother works very hard,” Breana admitted, as if just realising it herself. “Would that mean you would have to stay in Barton Lacey year round?”

“It would. The London house has been sold.”

She looked startled at this news, and then sad. Theo wondered if he should have told her all of this earlier, and whether it might have made a difference. Not that he wanted her pity, but it was nice to have her empathy.

Her big blue eyes gazed into his. “I’m sure Will will help you, if you ask,” she said. Then, with a smile, added, “He is very proud of everything he has achieved so far. All you need are a few words of flattery and he won’t be able to stop telling you about it.”

Theo gave a huff. “Justifiably proud. But thank you, Miss Starling. Let us see what happens first.”

Breana glanced at Maybelle but she was dutifully not paying attention to the conversation, so she carried on.

“I don’t believe the bank will refuse to let you make Barton Manor a profitable concern.

If they see you are firm in your resolve to save your home and your family, and more than capable of doing so, then they should at least give you a chance.

Who would buy Barton Manor, anyway? It is rather…

” She seemed to be seeking a word that wasn’t insulting, and he decided to put her out of her misery.

“In need of repair? Yes. Things have been let go for years. My mother makes sure the ballroom and supper room are sparkling, but as for the rest of the house… The ceiling in one of the bedrooms leaks and I am worried it is going to fall down, and the garden has become a wilderness, even the formal part.”

He stopped himself. She did not want to hear this, but for some reason he wanted to tell her. Theo did not share his problems often, but it was easy to share with her, and her responsiveness encouraged it.

“At least Barton Manor is so big you can always find another bedroom,” she said. “Starling Hall is so full we have to share rooms. My sister Christine sleeps in my room with me.”

“Is that so bad?” he asked.

She sighed. “I suppose not. Will is building onto the hall, to give him and Molly some privacy. It would be rather awkward being a newlywed and having to share with someone else, don’t you think?”

“Very awkward,” he agreed. “I hope whomever I marry enjoys the challenges I am facing. Probably there are not many ladies who will jump at that idea!”

It was meant to make her laugh. Instead, she looked thoughtful.

He decided it was time to change the subject. “Who is this friend you are going to stay with, Miss Starling?”

Breana’s expression brightened and she began to tell him about Chloe Bennett, the old school friend who now lived in London, and how much she looked forward to seeing her.

She seemed a little self-conscious at times, as if her happiness was something she should hide because of his circumstances, but he urged her to talk.

He found he liked to hear her voice and see her animated expression.

She was a very vivacious girl, and just being with her had the effect of raising his spirits.

She is what you need in your life.

That might be true, but was this the moment to be considering his romantic future, if he had one?

If he lost the house and land, he would have to return to London and his job, and it was unlikely he would ever see her again.

It seemed his fate was in the hands of the bank, and wishing alone would not change things for the better.

Maybelle had fallen asleep. He had not wanted to take her to London with him, but in hindsight it was a brilliant move.

Without the maid as chaperone, Breana would not have been allowed to accompany him in the coach, and he would have been very sorry to miss out on her company.

They may have started off badly, but now it felt as if they could be friends.

He looked across at Breana, discretely observing her pensive expression.

What was she thinking about? Not Francis, of course.

He wouldn’t make that mistake again. He had thought her in love with his brother and tried, in his awkward way, to save her.

But she hadn’t needed saving. Despite some of the situations she had gotten herself into and her flights of fancy, she was no nitwit.

But she was young. Perhaps what she needed was a steadying influence.

He rolled his eyes. And he could be that influence? It seemed Breana was not the only one prone to whimsey. He was sure she would not be agreeable to that.

Once he had made his proposal to the bank, he would know how his future lay. Even if he lost the house and land, he still had that connection, so perhaps he could try to keep in touch with Breana. Friends was better than nothing.

But in his heart, he wanted more. So much more.

***

Breana found herself thinking deep thoughts, the sort she rarely allowed herself to ponder.

She had begun to realise that, although a little bit boring, her life was stable and settled, and she was so very lucky.

She never went without and did not worry about her future.

Will had made certain his family—including his large number of siblings—were safe from the sort of domestic and financial chaos the Norris family were now experiencing.

How had she been so blind? She’d believed she could live a life of leisure with Francis, when in fact it would have been a life of debt and despair?

She had wanted a fairytale rather than appreciating what was around her at Starling Hall.

Looking outward rather than inward at the bountiful joys she already had.

Surely that was where true happiness was found.

Breana hadn’t always been like that, but she was beginning to think that she had been a very silly girl of late.

On the occasions when she glanced up, she saw Theo’s dark eyes watching her, as if he wanted to read her thoughts. She was very glad he couldn’t.

Breana resolved to be better in the future.

A better daughter and sister, and a better friend.

Things would change when Molly and Will married.

They could not expect poor Abby to do everything, which often seemed to be the case.

She had not appreciated her elder sister nearly as much as she should, had never thought a great deal about what her life must be like.

Abby carried considerable weight upon her shoulders, and endured it without complaint.

It was time for Breana to step up and do her part.

“You are quiet,” Theo said softly, with a glance at the sleeping Maybelle.

“Am I?” she said with a sigh. “I suppose I am indulging in some self reflection, Mr. Norris.”

“Ah. I do rather a lot of that myself.”

She smiled. Was that what all of those frowns were about? “Will I see you while you are in London?” she asked before she could stop herself.

He looked surprised. “You mean after the bank business? Do you want to see me?”

Breana’s cheeks heated as she met his gaze. “Yes, of course. I want to know what happens. I will be worrying otherwise.”

“Ah.” He looked away, and she wondered if he might be blushing too. “Then I shall of course call on you. Can you give me your friend’s direction?”

She did so, and he jotted it down in a notebook which he returned to his jacket pocket. “I will call when I can. Although you will no doubt be busy enjoying yourself,” he said, a little disheartened. Then, as if embarrassed by his words, he added, “You should enjoy yourself. You are young.”

She wondered how old he thought she was. “I am nineteen,” she said. “How old are you, Mr. Norris?”

“Twenty-five, though at the moment I feel decades older,” he added, meaning it as a joke, but it only made her wish she could make everything better for him.

“I feel a little older myself after all that has happened, Mr. Norris.”

“Do you think you could call me Theo?” he asked abruptly. “We know each other well enough now, and you already call my brother Francis.”

She smiled and saw that he was smiling back. “I would like that. If you will call me Breana.”

He raised one of his eyebrows, and she found she did not hate it as much as she used to. “Thank you,” he said. “Breana.”