Storm and Silence(238)

At that, my face suddenly became deadly serious again. For a moment, this strange man had distracted me, but now it all came rushing back - Ella, Wilkins, the approaching proposal.

‘Did I say something wrong?’ Captain Carter enquired, obviously noticing my dark mood.

‘Not as such,’ I mumbled. ‘It’s just that I think you’re wrong.’

‘Wrong? Wrong in what way?’

‘In supposing that your friend would not marry for a long time.’

‘Why? Has he finally found a victim?’

I scowled at him. His amused, cavalier attitude made my blood boil. ‘Of course! Didn’t I just say he was courting my sister? He wants to marry her!’

‘You said he was courting her, all right,’ he agreed. ‘But the one doesn't necessarily imply the other. Not with him, anyway.’

I blinked, taken aback, the anger going out of me. ‘What the heck is that supposed to mean?’

‘That’s supposed to mean that if old Flip had married every woman he’d ever courted, he’d have a harem to rival that of King Tamba of Benares.’

‘Who?’

‘King Tamba of Benares. He was a 6th century king in India, and, according to some of the Hindu legends, he had a city of sixteen thousand women available to fulfil his every-’

Hastily, I interrupted him before he could go into any more detail. ‘I don't care about any King Tamba! Are you seriously suggesting that Sir Philip Wilkins does not intend to marry my sister, after courting her for several weeks?’

‘Certainly.’

‘But he has come to her house practically every day!’

‘A man has to spend his time in some way, doesn't he?’

‘He sent her flowers! Masses of flowers!’

‘He is a passionate botanist. Maybe you have noticed he likes flowers in general?’

‘Likes is not the word I would have chosen, Captain Carter.’

His lips twitched. Apparently, he really did know Sir Philip. At least well enough to know his interests.

‘Quite. Well, it didn’t take him long to discover that men don't tend to share his passion. He tried presenting a few men with flowers, and they either stared at him coldly or threw him out of the house. Women, on the other hand, are always delighted when he gives them flowers. Poor chap, I haven’t brought myself to disillusion him about the reason. Better let him think that England is full of botanically-interested ladies.’

I shook my head. This just couldn’t be. After all the worry, all the scheming, hope, despair… no. It just couldn’t be!

‘But he is in love with her!’ I blurted out. What was I doing? One never was supposed to be this blunt with a new acquaintance - not even I. But I couldn’t seem to stop myself. ‘He told me as much! He told me he loved her.’

‘Oh, he probably does.’ Captain Carter waved his hand airily, as if this were of no great concern. ‘He is rather fond of being in love, particularly if the lady in question has bright blue eyes. But after a week or two, he’ll meet a new lady, and fall in love again, just as he’ll find a new flower to interest him.’

My mouth popped open.

‘That’s why we - his old university friends, I mean - call him Sir Flip,’ Captain Carter added with a nostalgic smile. ‘We came up with the nickname when we were at Oxford together, and he used to turn his eyes on a different lady every five days or so. It was rather amusing to watch, though it could get a little confusing at times.’

‘That… that is horrible!’

‘No,’ the Captain disagreed, cheerfully. ‘It would be, if he were as stunningly handsome as my good self. But being such a colossal guffin, it’s not really something to worry about. I mean, can you see any lady he falls in love with actually returning the favour? Be honest.’

I threw a dubious look at Sir Philip, and cleared my throat. ‘It… it still isn’t right!’

‘Well, it’s not as if he does it on purpose, Miss Linton. I assure you, he’s perfectly convinced each time that he’s found the woman of his dreams.’ He shrugged. ‘And then he wakes up. As I said, since he’s not exactly a Don Juan, it’s not really something to worry about.’

Again, I didn’t know what to say. I stared aimlessly at the tigers on the waistcoat and thought: For nothing. All my worry has been for nothing.

Or had it? This was all so insane. It couldn’t really be true, could it?

‘Unless…’ Captain Carter’s voice was hesitant now, and not amused anymore. ‘Unless your sister really does have true affection for my friend. In that case, Miss Linton, I’m afraid that your sister will have to prepare herself…’