The tea is still perhaps a bit too hot to drink, so John fiddles with the cup in his hands instead, hoping he doesn't do anything drastic like spill it on himself. Would that hurt, in a place like this? He doesn't really understand the logistics just yet.
"Well..." He bites his lip, knowing that he is being uncharacteristically hesitant in his response, but then again. Clare does not know what she is asking of him. Yet he does owe her an explanation and the longer he lets this go on with telling her...
"You and your husband had gone back to Scotland, on a matter of family business," he explains, after a long moment. "But your--" He flicks a glance up to her, hoping she will for give him for any spoilers to her life she hear along the line of this story. "Your grandson had fallen ill, and you returned first to Philadelphia to treat him. You came to me then, in need of a particular item needed to create that ether of yours, when you had learned that I had purchased the only supply in the city."
John realizes that this is perhaps more of the story than she really needs to know, but it helps him calm himself in the telling. And it does provide context, leading up to the rest of the explanation.
"We struck a bargain. I would give you the vitriol and pay for any other supplies you might need if you would agree to operate on my nephew as well." He flicks her a smile. "Both, of course, a resounding success."
His face falls slightly, his eyes landing back on the teacup in his hands.
"It was about then that we learned your husband's ship had sunk on its way back across the sea towards America. Captain Richardson -- a truly despicable man -- came to me then with news he planned to use your moment of weakness to strike and arrest you for the espionage he suspected you of and, so." He glances back up at her, a very careful expression written across his face as he explains, "I offered to marry you. And give you the protection of my name."
no subject
"Well..." He bites his lip, knowing that he is being uncharacteristically hesitant in his response, but then again. Clare does not know what she is asking of him. Yet he does owe her an explanation and the longer he lets this go on with telling her...
"You and your husband had gone back to Scotland, on a matter of family business," he explains, after a long moment. "But your--" He flicks a glance up to her, hoping she will for give him for any spoilers to her life she hear along the line of this story. "Your grandson had fallen ill, and you returned first to Philadelphia to treat him. You came to me then, in need of a particular item needed to create that ether of yours, when you had learned that I had purchased the only supply in the city."
John realizes that this is perhaps more of the story than she really needs to know, but it helps him calm himself in the telling. And it does provide context, leading up to the rest of the explanation.
"We struck a bargain. I would give you the vitriol and pay for any other supplies you might need if you would agree to operate on my nephew as well." He flicks her a smile. "Both, of course, a resounding success."
His face falls slightly, his eyes landing back on the teacup in his hands.
"It was about then that we learned your husband's ship had sunk on its way back across the sea towards America. Captain Richardson -- a truly despicable man -- came to me then with news he planned to use your moment of weakness to strike and arrest you for the espionage he suspected you of and, so." He glances back up at her, a very careful expression written across his face as he explains, "I offered to marry you. And give you the protection of my name."