“What a question!”

“Do you?” he pressed.

She looked at him, her smile fading. “What’s brought this on?”

“Mr. Archer—Alex—seems a good sort of fellow. I did wonder—”

“You may cease your wondering. Alex Archer hasn’t a grain of interest in me. Not in that regard.”

“He does. The way he looked at you at dinner… I think he must be half in love with you.”

Laura stared at her brother. The very idea of Alex being in love with her—half or otherwise—was enough to make her heart turn over.

She wondered what Teddy would say if she told him that she’d proposed to the man. Proposed, and been unceremoniously rejected. No doubt her brother would expire from mortification—just as Laura had felt like doing the entire walk home from the pond.

“He most certainly isn’t,” she said. “Of that, I can positively assure you.”

“Why else would he help Aunt Charlotte? Why else would he help me?”

“Because he likes you. And who wouldn’t? You’re the most intelligent, talented person I know. Anyone would be lucky to make your acquaintance.”

Teddy turned red about the collar. “I don’t know about that. But I do like him, Laura. And so does Magpie. He doesn’t allow just anyone to pet him.”

Laura glanced at her brother’s bed. Magpie was in his usual spot, stretched out asleep after a night of hunting. “How well I know it.”

“He never liked George.”

“No indeed.” She hadn’t thought much of it at the time. Now, however, it struck her that cats could be uncanny judges of character. “It seems Mr. Archer has a way of getting around animals, as well as people.”

“Is he coming back to visit?”

“I believe he is. And not only that…” She told Teddy all about the proposed trip to Margate, unable to keep the excitement out of her voice. “Won’t it be marvelous?”

“And he’s going to spend the entire two days helping me?” Teddy looked doubtful. “Surely he’ll want to bathe.”

“Oh no. He doesn’t care for the sea. He says he’ll be quite content to stay with you—if you can tolerate his company, that is. Besides, you’ll have Yardley to look after you. It isn’t as if Alex will have to do everything.”

“Still…it sounds a big to-do. I don’t know if I…”

“What?” she asked softly.

“I don’t know if I have the strength. I haven’t done anything—gone anywhere—since the fever. What if—”