Evander was belatedly realising that it might have been better if Alfred hadn’t come. The thought that it was his brother’s turn to be blindsided was dampened somewhat by the fact that Alfred hadn’t the tact to catch on fast enough. (Evander having more tact than anyone else was something of a miracle.) Miss Lloyd, she had said, after all, and surely Alfred recalled who Evelina had married? Did he think all this a mere coincidence?
(At least the little girl seemed polite. Small mercies.)
“She’s your niece,” Evander hissed in Alfred’s ear, and was tempted to elbow him in the side to knock some sense into him, just in case Charity explaining it directly took a minute too long to sink in. Our niece, he ought to have said, only that would make it sound more as though they were in the same boat, and if Evander had resolved to do anything with his life, it was never to be in the same boat as his brother.
But some things could not be helped, and unfortunately family was one of them.
“Our sister, in fact,” Evander corrected - more kindly - speaking for young Miss Lloyd’s benefit now. “Alfred’s your uncle, too. But he’s been, er, away. For many years,” he explained helplessly. “Exploring,” he finished, with an imploring gaze at the child that read so forgive him his stupidity.
He cleared his throat uncomfortably, tossing a glance at his brother in advance warning of the hint he was trying to drop. “We’re very sorry to hear about your father.” He said, pitying the child greatly - but also hoping this meeting was a mere formality about the will, and that the solicitor had missed a clause somewhere, with a convenient someone else in it.
(At least the little girl seemed polite. Small mercies.)
“She’s your niece,” Evander hissed in Alfred’s ear, and was tempted to elbow him in the side to knock some sense into him, just in case Charity explaining it directly took a minute too long to sink in. Our niece, he ought to have said, only that would make it sound more as though they were in the same boat, and if Evander had resolved to do anything with his life, it was never to be in the same boat as his brother.
But some things could not be helped, and unfortunately family was one of them.
“Our sister, in fact,” Evander corrected - more kindly - speaking for young Miss Lloyd’s benefit now. “Alfred’s your uncle, too. But he’s been, er, away. For many years,” he explained helplessly. “Exploring,” he finished, with an imploring gaze at the child that read so forgive him his stupidity.
He cleared his throat uncomfortably, tossing a glance at his brother in advance warning of the hint he was trying to drop. “We’re very sorry to hear about your father.” He said, pitying the child greatly - but also hoping this meeting was a mere formality about the will, and that the solicitor had missed a clause somewhere, with a convenient someone else in it.
The following 4 users Like Evander Darrow's post:
Aldous Crouch, Charity Lloyd, Melody Crouch, Ophelia Devine
Aldous Crouch, Charity Lloyd, Melody Crouch, Ophelia Devine
