He sensed his gaffe as soon as the words left his mouth, and he turned to Isabel in time to see a look of displeasure on her face. She likely felt publicly snubbed since he had not rushed to do her bidding. He had not intended such a thing, of course, no matter how cold he felt toward her now. He had merely meant to get Marianne away from Lambert. Still, he saw an opportunity to mollify Isabel and achieve his objective and paused in his steps.
“Miss Prexley, I have been remiss in not asking this of you sooner, but I had thought we might return to town on foot. We shall then have time to talk more intimately than this setting allows.”
Her expression thawed, and she glanced at a frowning MacFirbis before returning her regard to James. “If you insist, I will grant your request.”
James nodded and turned forward again. He offered his arm to Marianne, a look of brotherly encouragement in his expression. She hesitated only slightly before slipping her hand around it. They turned away from Isabel and the others, and in doing so he nearly bumped into Amy.
“Miss Bridwell,” he said, his mouth going dry for some reason.
“Marianne, I was coming to fetch you. Papa wishes to set off soon.” Amy scarcely looked at him. “I have not yet asked the princess, but I must give her my company if she wishes to return on foot.”
James released Marianne and bowed to them both with a brief word of farewell and a twisted sense of agony to see reserve in Amy’s expression. He wondered where it had come from, for she had greeted him warmly enough at the start of the picnic.
But there was nothing he could do to rectify things with her until he ended things with Isabel. That must be his priority.
Chapter 16
After having taken leave of Miss Bainesworth, Morry walked toward James, leaning on his cane, a buoyant look on his face. Although James had plenty of his own problems, he could not help but smile at the sight.
“You appear more cheerful than you did when we arrived,” he observed. “Might I inquire into the reasons for that?”
“You may not,” Morry said. “But I am indeed more cheerful.”
“Good!” He slowed his pace as he accompanied Morry to the carriage. “Isabel and I will not be returning with you. We will walk, as there is something we must discuss.”
Morry halted his steps and turned to face James, his gaze searching. “I thought something was not quite right with you today. Might I inquire into the reasons for that?”
Despite the circumstances, James saw the humor in having his question thrown back at him. And Morry had become a good friend in the short time they had known each other. If this were the sort of thing men discussed, he would share it with him.
“You may not.”
They walked toward the row of carriages, which had been joined by a fourth. Mr. Batowski was assisting the princess into his carriage, and her children scrambled in after her. The Bridwells stood beside theirs, along with Miss Bainesworth, whom he surmised had come with them.
“Why do you not invite Miss Bainesworth to ride in the carriage with you, since we are not to avail ourselves of it?”
Morry sent him a look, his eyebrow cocked. “I had not thought you to play matchmaker.”
James laughed. “Far be it from me to attempt such a thing. Still, I believe I shall propose the idea before the Bridwells’ carriage departs.”
“Because I move too slowly? Thank you for throwing that in my face,” Morry called from behind.
James smiled to himself as he headed toward Miss Bainesworth and Amy. They had just bid farewell to Miss Ferrin and her parents, who were sending their carriage off to return on foot.
He stopped in front of Miss Bainesworth, for some reason unable to meet Amy’s gaze. “Miss Prexley and I have given up our seats in the carriage with Mr. Moreau. Would you care to take our place?”
Only then did he allow himself to look at Amy, but she had moved over to her family carriage and was speaking with Hannah, who was about to climb in. He turned back to Miss Bainesworth. “One carriage is nearly empty and the other full to bursting,” he coaxed with a smile.
A tiny crease appeared between her brows as Morry arrived at James’s side. “I do not wish to trouble Mr. Moreau. I can walk with the Ferrins, if it is any trouble.”
“Please do not leave me to the solitude of my thoughts,” Morry protested. “If you would be more at ease, we might ask one of the Miss Bridwells to ride with us as well.”
“Oh no, it is not that,” Miss Bainesworth said. “I am perfectly at ease in your company, and I should not like to divide their family.”
“It is settled, then,” James said, glancing over at Amy, who was now helping her father into the carriage. “I will inform the Bridwells of the change in plans.” It was only an excuse, but it allowed him to take a proper leave of Amy.
When he arrived at her side, she stopped and faced him. There was something difficult to read in her expression.
“Forgive me for interrupting,” he said. “I wished to tell you that Miss Bainesworth will be traveling in Mr. Moreau’s carriage, so you need not wait for her.”
