“That’s her name,” Tyb said, just as teasing in return. He needn’t be defensive about it; she was only joking, and although she might be surprised by the friendship - to be fair, it wasn’t the most usual - he doubted there was anything more in her reaction.
Still, as she settled in beside him, Tybalt did half wish they were doing something other than discussing Caroline Delaney. He would have kissed her if he didn’t think even leaning that far in would reawaken the pain in his shoulder, so he settled - a little disgruntled - for curling his hand around her arm, glad she was staying.
And less glad she wanted that story. Not that he didn’t mind fashioning funny stories out of making a fool of himself, but the memory of meeting Miss Delaney was tinged, at the edges, with a context he didn’t much like going back to - back then he’d never have thought Elsie would ever be here again. There was also the fact that he hadn’t mentioned Miss Delaney to her before, and the fact that he had told her - well, told her about them, though he hadn’t brought Elsie’s name into it. But they had kept this so secret for so long... and he’d gone and blabbed to a girl he’d hardly known. If Elsie didn’t think he was stupid already, that might do it.
And never mind what they’d already discussed today during the match together. He winced at the thought. “Nah, I can’t, it’s too ridiculous even for me,” Tyb implored with a groan, backtracking as Elsie looked at him so expectantly. “We’re good friends now. And it was ages ago, and she’s probably forgotten it, so.” Well, that was a lie; Miss Delaney would not let him live it down. But Elsie too?
Still, as she settled in beside him, Tybalt did half wish they were doing something other than discussing Caroline Delaney. He would have kissed her if he didn’t think even leaning that far in would reawaken the pain in his shoulder, so he settled - a little disgruntled - for curling his hand around her arm, glad she was staying.
And less glad she wanted that story. Not that he didn’t mind fashioning funny stories out of making a fool of himself, but the memory of meeting Miss Delaney was tinged, at the edges, with a context he didn’t much like going back to - back then he’d never have thought Elsie would ever be here again. There was also the fact that he hadn’t mentioned Miss Delaney to her before, and the fact that he had told her - well, told her about them, though he hadn’t brought Elsie’s name into it. But they had kept this so secret for so long... and he’d gone and blabbed to a girl he’d hardly known. If Elsie didn’t think he was stupid already, that might do it.
And never mind what they’d already discussed today during the match together. He winced at the thought. “Nah, I can’t, it’s too ridiculous even for me,” Tyb implored with a groan, backtracking as Elsie looked at him so expectantly. “We’re good friends now. And it was ages ago, and she’s probably forgotten it, so.” Well, that was a lie; Miss Delaney would not let him live it down. But Elsie too?
