I do not claim to own "Crimson Peak", obviously. I am not very chatty in these author's notes, am I?
TapTap
The four of them settled at a small café, as all three of the men were concerned Edith might be getting too cold (though she was perfectly fine) and she agreed partly because she found the idea nice, and partly because she wanted to get the three of them to talk.
With this aim in mind, she started several lines of conversation while they sat there in the cosy warmth; never relinquishing Thomas' hand, and then left for a while to the ladies' room, hoping they might just speak to each other for once.
"It is a pleasant day out, but cold," Alan started, though they had already gone over the weather at great length. "I was concerned at first," Thomas replied, some of his old charm coming through, though he was a little less animated than even the somewhat stilted english gentleman he had always been, "that Edith might be getting too cold, but you know her," he smiled, "very stubborn. As for myself, I am used to far more snow and cold, and much less warmth indoors," he finished with yet another charming smile, for a second looking just like his old self.
"I was surprised to see you accompanying my daughter, Sir Thomas," Mr Cushing replied a bit more sternly than the tone the two younger men employed. "Well, I could hardly let my wife brave the cold of the day alone," the baronet replied, more on his guard, and the older man replied gruffly, "precisely".
Alan was just about to cut into the conversation to ensure it was kept civil, when Sir Thomas put his foot down all on his own. "I am well aware, sir," his voice as firm and his tone just as set as it ever was, "that I am not what you'd wish for your daughter, but there is no use in trying to torment me with it now. You will only have her end up unhappy. Do you think it an accident, her leaving us here alone, to speak with each other? And with Doctor McMichael present, to keep us civil? She suffers from your coldness, sir, so, whatever you choose to think of me, let it stay thoughts, and do not force her to worry about it any more!"
"You are the one who barely looks at her half of the time," the older man barked back, though both kept their voices down, another concession to the venue chosen by Edith for their conversation. "I am aware of that. I do not..."
Sir Thomas briefly closed his eyes, taking a breath before continuing, his eyes focused and decided now, "I have very little to give, at the moment. Between the guilt, the regret and the sheer effort of digging out the small, evil hooks my sister left all over my heart and my spirit, I do not have much left in me, but all I can muster up to give, is for Edith.
I want nothing else than her happiness, I will make her happy, and no one can regret more than I how ill equipped I am for such a quest at the moment," his eyes still blazing, he added one more thing, voice softening as he spoke. "Luckily, Edith understands my preoccupation, though she does not like it. I hope that as the spring nears, I will feel more up to giving her everything she deserves".
As Edith returned a few minutes later, she was satisfied to see the air having been cleared somewhat, and Thomas was still meeting the eyes of Alan, whom he spoke with, her father watching the two younger men with a thoughtful expression, broken by a smile as his daughter returned. Perhaps, everything would be perfect in the end, after all.