“An acquaintance from the ship?” he asked, still watching John.
“Yes. His name is John Metcalf.” Why did she feel uncomfortable answering that question? Was it her own foolish sense of loyalty to Adam? Did she feel she should not be talking to single young men?
“Did he bring a family with him?” Adam asked.
“Not yet. He plans to send for his brothers as soon as he finds property to lease.”
Adam watched John intently for a few more seconds, then escorted Madeline to the barracks.
They knocked on the Ripleys’ door, which almost immediately opened before them. Adam removed his hat and held it under his arm.
“Madeline! How wonderful to see you!” Mrs. Ripley pulled Madeline into her arms, then stepped back. “Is everything all right?”
“Of course. Mr. Coates was very kind to bring me to visit you today.”
He bowed at the waist and settled his tricorn hat back on his head. He was so gentlemanly, so courteous and elegant. And how handsome he looked in his hat.
“I shall be in the courtyard, Miss Oxley.” Then he left them.
With his departure, Madeline felt the same way she felt when she was in her garden and a cloud moved in front of the sun.
Mrs. Ripley closed the door behind him and sat down on one of the beds with Madeline. “Why did you come? Has it been difficult for you? Have you been crying? Do you want to go home?”
“I’m fine.” Madeline laughed at Mrs. Ripley’s flair for the dramatic, but at the same time, she couldn’t bear the thought of everyone thinking she was heartbroken and pining away. She needed to set them straight, even if she wasn’t being completely straight with them or herself.
“Now that I’m here and I’ve had a chance to get to know Mr. Coates, I see that we wouldn’t have been suited to each other anyway. He’s a good deal older than I am, and he’s not at all the man I remember. Honestly, I have not shed a single tear. I am glad things turned out the way they did. He and Diana are meant to be together, and he has already sent another proposal to her. In fact, it was I who encouraged him to do so.”
The older woman touched her hand. “But he’s such a handsome man. Surely it’s been at least atrifledifficult to bear, living under the same roof with him.”
“Not at all. He’s been a perfect host, more like a father figure. Really, he seems very old to me.”
A father figure? Seems very old?She was more skilled at hiding her feelings than she’d thought.
It was time to change the subject. “May I ask, Mrs. Ripley, if you’ve found suitable land yet?”
“Yes, we found a very promising spot—a farm near Amherst township. A section of the marsh is included and the ground is plowed, and a full crop of potatoes has already been planted.”
A rush of hopefulness surged through Madeline. “That’s wonderful news. Will you be moving there soon?”
“As soon as the present owner vacates the house in two weeks.”
Two weeks!Madeline tried not to sound too delighted about it. “Well…the reason I came is…I wonder if you might have need of a governess. Or even a housekeeper. Or both.”
Mrs. Ripley was quiet a moment.
Madeline shifted on the hay-filled tick. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound so anxious. You’ll need time to discuss it with Mr. Ripley, of course. Perhaps I could return for an answer tomorrow.”
She made a move to stand, but Mrs. Ripley clasped her hand.
“No need to come back, Madeline. We would be delighted to have you. We’ve been saying that ever since we met you.”
A cry of relief spilled from Madeline’s lips. “What good news.”
“We’ll come by early, two weeks from Wednesday, to pick you up.” Mrs. Ripley hugged Madeline. “I’m very happy. In a couple of weeks, we’ll all be together, and we can finally start to build a new life.”
Madeline rested her cheek on Mrs. Ripley’s shoulder. “I will be counting the days.”
A short time later, Madeline said goodbye to Mrs. Ripley and found Adam sitting on a bench in the courtyard, conversing with some local tradesmen. He immediately stood, left the men to themselves and crossed to meet her.
