Her aunt nodded distractedly, as if she had something important on her mind. “Shall we walk?”
What could Eunice be thinking of? Her late husband? Perhaps, Mary thought, she should not have mentioned him. “Unless you’d rather take the gig?”
“Not at all.” Eunice rose quickly. “Give me a moment to change my shoes and I’ll meet you in the hall.”
After Eunice left, Mary called for her hat, cloak, and gloves. A brisk walk would do them both some good.
A half hour later they reached the edge of the market town. Mary waved at one of the ladies strolling on the other side of the street. If it weren’t for her deception, she would have been happy to call Rose Hill and Rosebury home. The town was lovely and the people welcoming. This had also been the first time in two years that she’d been free from her cousin’s harassment. Being able to walk and ride without fear of being abducted by Gawain had been a blessing. Still, she was sure he would eventually find her as he always had before.
A carriage carrying the squire’s wife, Lady Brownly, her eldest daughter, Diana, and another lady, whom Mary was unable to see clearly, pulled alongside her and Eunice.
Lady Brownly smiled warmly. “If we had known you were also coming to Rosebury, I would have been happy to fetch you.”
Mary returned the smile. The lady and her daughter had been the first ones to welcome her to the area. “Thank you, but it has been a while since I’ve had a good walk, and I needed it.”
“My lady, I must tell you my news!” Diana Brownly practically bounced on the seat as she spoke. “My godmamma—actually she is Mama’s godmother, but she seems like mine—is sponsoring me for a London Season.”
“Not if you act like a jack-in-the-box I won’t.” The caustic voice belonged to the unseen lady.
Diana immediately settled down, but none of the joy left her face.
Mary laughed. “She is right. You must not act like a hoyden in Town.”
Before she could be introduced to the other lady in the carriage, the rector of the local church, Mr. Doust, strolled up to them and said, “My ladies.” He bowed. “Lady Eunice, may I ask your opinions on a pressing matter?”
Eunice glanced over at him. When she answered, her tone was light and somehow joyful. “We would be delighted, Mr. Doust.” Sheturned to Lady Brownly. “I am very sorry, but I must excuse myself. Please, come for tea before you leave for London.”
“I’m afraid it will just be me.” Lady Brownly glanced fondly at her daughter. “Diana departs tomorrow. There is a veritable orgy of shopping in which she must partake before the Season begins.”
“Then we shall have a comfortable coze,” Mary responded as her aunt spoke with the rector. It was probably better that way. Thus far, she had been extremely fortunate that no one had questioned her living here, and that no one in the area actually knew Mr. Featherton.
The Brownlys’ coach moved on, and when Mary glanced at Eunice she saw that her aunt had a cat-in-the-cream expression on her face. Could she be interested in Mr. Doust? Admittedly, he was quite good looking, but for the life of her, Mary could not see her fun-loving aunt as a clergyman’s wife.
Still, it was very sweet and made her yearn to look at some gentleman that way and have him return her gaze. Not even all the aggravation her cousin had caused her could make her cease to wish to be courted by a man she loved. In fact, it made her more determined than ever to pick her own husband. She would not allow Gawain to destroy her life.
Eunice and the rector disappeared into the church, and Mary ambled around the small garden. When all this business with Gawain had begun, she would never have imagined that her kind, scholarly uncle would have insisted she wed his son. Not only that, but he wouldn’t even speak to her brother about the matter. All communication was done via letters and through solicitors. Something about this whole thing did not make sense. If only she could figure out what it was.
After an early dinner, Almeria, Lady Bellamny, sat in the drawing room of the Brownlys’ modest manor house. Thank the Lord that rector had interrupted before introductions had to be made. Mary would surely have recognized her name immediately and possibly panicked. She was almost surprised the girl hadn’t recognized her voice, although she had tried to disguise it by lowering it a bit. Still, she should have cried off the trip to the town. It had been a stupid risk.
Almeria took the cup her goddaughter Phillice handed her. “Tell me, my dear, who is Lady Mary?”
“Why, she is Mr. Featherton’s wife to be sure. Perhaps I should not talk of it, but . . .”
Ah yes, where there was good gossip there was always a “but.” Almeria waited for Phillice to overcome her scruples.
“I believe there is some sort of estrangement. He has never been here, or at least not for many years and certainly not since her arrival. Thank goodness she has her aunt to keep her company. In any event, I do not remember meeting him, though I suppose Sir Howard might have. I must say, I do not think much of a man who would abandon his wife in such a manner, although Lady Mary is too well-bred to mention it. One would think she didn’t care, except that the few times Mr. Featherton’s name has been mentioned she quickly changes the subject, and once I thought I saw her flinch.”
Almeria stirred three lumps of sugar into her tea. On orders of her doctor, a most superior man, she’d been on a reducing diet. Still, one must have sugar in one’s tea. “How does Lady Mary get on here?”
Phillice’s expression perked up. “Very well. Indeed, I do not know what we did before she arrived. We all love her. She has done so much for Rose Hill and the town. I do not know how she managed it, but she is paying for the roof of the church to be repaired and replaced. If her husband does appear, he’ll find it necessary to prove himself.”
Almeria nodded. “Excellent. Perhaps I shall put a flea in Mr. Featherton’s ear. He really should not leave his wife alone.”
Her goddaughter frowned. “We would not wish to lose her, or cause her any trouble.”
Almeria raised her brows in an expression of surprise. “Of course not. I would never do anything to harm the poor lady.”
After she’d ascertained that Diana was packed and ready to leave early the next day, Almeria repaired to the writing desk in her chamber.
