What would he do if someone could not pay their rent on the rooms? What if the Garrises fell on hard times? They had four children. Would he evict them? What was the legal process of eviction? Maybe he would not evict them since he did not necessarily need the income from every tenant, but what if the other tenants learned he had not charged the Garrises rent? They would find that unfair, and they would be right.
He would need to pay taxes on the building every year. And pay for regular maintenance. How much would that cost?
“I know you are excited about this,” Hazel said. “But we must discuss some factors before we agree.”
“Which factors?” Duncan asked. Twelve, thirteen, fourteen, turn. He thought better when he was moving. He wished Catherine were there to help him sort out the details, then realized Hazel could help him like she had in the garden. He felt much better. She spoke again.
“Living together was never part of our plan and—”
“Prior to the inheritances, I had never planned to own a building,” Duncan pointed out. “And you never imagined you could own your own school and teach your own curriculum.”
“You are not the least bit concerned about us living in the same house for one year?”
“I am not excited to live in a house—I like my rooms—but I think it an exciting prospect to live with you.”
“You do?”
“Certainly.” Turn, one, two, three . . . It was good to talk about his feelings with Hazel; it helped clarify them in his own mind. “I have only ever lived with my father and Catherine, and Elizabeth, of course, but she is not the same as the relationship between us is very simple and she cannot talk. I enjoyed Da and Catherine’s company and found it comfortable to live with them the majority of the time. I find your company equally enjoyable, and you possess a high intellect, which will likely contribute to more engaging conversation. You also seem, to the best of my knowledge, to not have a penchant for excessive drinking, which was my only complaint against my former roommates.”
Duncan imagined coming home from work—as both a landlord and a clerk—to discuss with Hazel Humphry Davy’s new understanding of elemental interactions. There were only a few people in Duncan’s life with whom he could have such discussions, but Hazel would be living in the same house, which would make it convenient for him. What fun this would be! It would be more fun in his own rooms, of course.
What would the new house look like? Would there be a window he could adjust to allow Elizabeth the freedom she’d come to appreciate in the Burrow Building? How would it smell? Would it be damp?
“I am glad to hear you have such high expectations of my company, Duncan, but just how far do you expect this accord to develop between us?”
“As far as we are both comfortable.”
“And how far is that?”
“I may want to go to sleep either before or after you, which would bring any conversation to an end as a discussion would require both of us. We may need to take turns sitting at the head of the table if we both like that particular place. I may be more tolerant of cold temperatures indoors than yourself since I am used to coming home to a cold apartment, so we may have to make adjustments. I think we should create a schedule of discussions for the evenings, so that it is fair between us and we both have an opportunity to introduce the topic.”
He took the fourteenth step and turned.
“Duncan,” Hazel said.
He could never pace fourteen steps in his apartment; the rooms were too small. The most he could manage was eleven, and that necessitated the eleventh step be half as long as the others. Perhaps the new house would accommodate enough space for pacing; that would be a positive improvement. Catherine had taught him to focus on the positive aspects of life, and he had made it a daily practice. Mr. Ludwig, Mr. Southey, and dogs were among the things that were not improved by optimism, however.
“Duncan,” Hazel said again, alerting him to the fact that he was not properly focused on their conversation.
“Yes.”
“Are you expecting marital relations between us?”
“Certainly.”
He continued pacing, thinking of the books he ought to have her read so they would both be in possession of the same basic knowledge on a topic before a discussion ensued. It would be uncomfortable, for instance, if he introduced Davy’s theories and Hazel was not familiar with them. Certainly Dr. Randall would let Duncan borrow from his extensive library so that Hazel could study. She was well-skilled in mathematics and had read at least the first four volumes of Euclid’s Elements, but not the fifth, sixth, or seventh. Perhaps he would use his rental profits to purchase his own set of the Elements!
“I am talking about . . . intimacy,” she said.
“I know.”
“Physical intimacy,” she said. “Sexual relations. Do you know what I am talking about?”
He stopped pacing so as to better appreciate the lovely pink shading of her face and further consider the words she was saying in such a pointed way. “You are speaking of lovemaking.”
The color in her cheeks darkened, which was not quite as becoming as the pink shade had been on her olive skin but still quite flattering. “I like it when you blush. It is very pretty.”
“Um, thank you, but, are you expecting . . . that between us?”
“Lovemaking?”
“Yes,” she said.
He nodded. “I understand it to be both enjoyable and expected between husbands and wives.”
“Except that our arrangement is based on the security of our individual inheritances, not procreation or physical attraction.”
“I find you very physically attractive.”
Her eyebrows jumped up her forehead, which he found humorous as it made her eyes go very wide. “You do?”
“Certainly,” he said. “Your features are highly symmetrical, though your left ear is slightly lower than your right and your left eyebrow extends nearly a quarter of an inch further than the other. The chestnut color of your hair is well-balanced with your hazel eyes and dark brows, and you have an engaging smile and fine teeth, though you do not smile excessively. Your figure is feminine, but strong as I believe your deformity has required you to develop your upper-body strength more than a typical woman of your age and class, but I find it emphasizes the narrowness of your waist in a way that is very becoming. Additionally, you do not tease me or slight me in any way, which puts me at ease and increases my desire to be in your company.” He looked at her a moment. “Are you crying?”
She blinked quickly and looked away. He hoped he had not said something out of place.
“Thank you for that, Duncan.”