A smile threatened, but he worked to keep his face sober. He felt giddy, and it wouldn’t do to display that when Hargrove entered. That didn’t stop him from continuing to recall the bliss of Evie’s embrace until Hargrove at last entered the chamber.

“Afternoon, Lord Gregory,” Hargrove greeted, offering his hand.

Gregory pumped the man’s arm before releasing him. “Afternoon, Hargrove. Thank you for meeting with me.”

“Happy to.” Hargrove moved to the seating area and deposited his average-sized frame into a chair. His head was bare, revealing a thinning patch of light brown hair. His gray-blue eyes were sharp, while the blunt edge of his slightly upturned nose gave him a boyish look despite the fact that he was in his early fifties. “I had great respect for your father, and I’m delighted to help his offspring, if I may. So terribly sad that he’s gone from us. Far too soon.” He lowered his gaze for a moment.

Taking a seat on the settee nearest Hargrove’s chair, Gregory angled himself toward the older man. “I appreciate your kind words,” Gregory murmured. “He would be pleased to hear them.”

Hargrove’s head snapped up as he refocused on Gregory. “Would he be pleased that you are seeking this appointment? I’d thought he was eager for you to be ordained and follow the path to becoming a bishop. Indeed, he made no secret of that.”

“I’d like to think he’d support me in whatever I choose.” Which wasn’t to say that Gregory believed he actually would. No, he feared his father would be disappointed. Gregory would have tried to explain to his father that he was doing what felt right and true to him. In the end, he hoped his father would support his choices because they were his—and he’d trusted Gregory, hadn’t he? “I find I am more drawn to the law than ecclesiastical matters. If I do not work in the government, I plan to become a barrister.”

“Ah yes, I seem to remember you were called to the bar.”

“I was. I also taught at Oxford for a year, which I enjoyed very much.”

“What did you teach?”

“History and religion.”

Hargrove inclined his head. “Well done. You didn’t care for that, or was there no opportunity for you to stay?”

“I was only filling in for the year. I might have stayed on if they’d asked me to.”

“And now you find yourself seeking a position with the government. I might wonder why you haven’t chosen to seek a seat in the Commons.”

“In truth, I considered it, but I like the member from our constituency.”

Hargrove chuckled. “That doesn’t mean you can’t run in another borough, particularly if you’ve the funds to just purchase one.”