Make that three people she would rather not interact with in Fenswallow.
She should have claimed a headache and stayed home, but she would have felt terrible for Mrs. Tucker, who would have stayed home with her. Though she hadn’t complained, after days on end of remaining in Mr. Bennion’s home while Lucy made deliveries with Mr. Harrison, Mrs. Tucker was more than ready for social interaction.
As soon as Mr. Victor finished his sermon, Mr. Miner stood and walked directly to where Lucy sat. She thought she’d deterred him with her talk of a mother-in-law, but the gleam in his eyes seemed anything but deterred. “Miss Shroud, would you introduce me to your lovely companion?”
Her lovely companion? Mrs. Tucker? Lucy turned her head and glanced at Mrs. Tucker. Shewaslovely, with her tightly curled hair only just starting to turn gray, and her energetic hands that never stayed still. Lucy had enjoyed their evenings together, discussing their families and making small meals together. But she was nearly a generation older than Lucy, and while that made her a much more appropriate age for Mr. Miner, the shift in interest did feel rather bold.
Still, Lucy smiled. Mrs. Tucker had been feeling isolated, and Mr. Miner had been pleasant enough to Lucy before he’d decided to show interest in her. “Mr. Miner, this is Mrs. Tucker. She is staying with me in Mr. Bennion’s home for the next few weeks.” Lucy turned to Mrs. Tucker. “Mr. Miner owns a soapmaking shop in town. His soaps are sold all over the county.”
Mrs. Tucker brightened. “Are you the one who made my new lavender soap? The scent is delightful.”
Mr. Miner glanced between the two of them, then raised his brow. “Ah, so you are the discerning mother-in-law? I hope my soap passed muster.”
Mrs. Tucker blinked and looked at Lucy, an obvious question in her eyes. Blast, sheshouldhave saved that soap for Lady Bridgewater, even if giving it to Mrs. Tucker had seemed like a kind gesture at the time. “Aye.” Lucy’s voice came out high and almost unrecognizable. Mrs. Tucker frowned, and dash it all, they were in church. “Or, rather, she isn’t, but…”
“But you gave her the soap,” Mr. Miner said. “The soap you said was for your mother-in-law.”
“Aye, I did say that, but…” Lucy floundered. She couldn’t tell Mr. Miner she’d only told him it was for her mother-in-law to make certain he lost interest in her, but she also didn’t know what else she could say.
“Oh, Miss,” Mrs. Tucker piped up, a spark of knowing in her eye. “You haven’t been pining after my boy, Sam, have you? You know he isn’t right for you.”
Lucy lifted an eyebrow. Mrs. Tucker’s son, Sam, was seventeen-years old and currently apprenticing as a blacksmith. Mrs. Tucker had an identical look to Helena’s when she and Lucy were about to cause trouble. She was a wise woman who knew exactly what Lucy had done.
Well, notexactly, since Lucydidhave a future mother-in-law. She hadn’t used Mrs. Tucker as an excuse on purpose, but the end result was the same. “Sam is such a fine man,” Lucy said with a hand over her heart. And according to his mother, he certainly was.
“On that, I won’t disagree,” Mrs. Tucker said. “He takes after his father.” Then Mrs. Tucker did something Lucy would spend the rest of her life being grateful for. She looked Mr. Miner directly in the eye and said, “May he rest in peace.”
Mr. Miner’s face took on a strange quality. He stared at Mrs. Tucker as though the whole church and everyone in it faded from view at her announcement. He squared his shoulders and put a hand to his neck to straighten his cravat. “Soyouare the one with discerning taste?”
Mrs. Tucker nodded solemnly. “Especially when it comes to soap.”
Mr. Miner's eyes brightened. “You should come into the shop. I could show you some of the new formulas I’ve been working on.” He held out his arm and offered to escort Mrs. Tucker out of the church. She took it willingly and Lucy followed behind them, certain to keep an eye out for Miss Creighton. Hopefully she was already on her way home.
She passed the row Mr. Harrison had been seated in, but he was gone. Which meant this would be the first day since arriving in Fenswallow that the two of them didn’t speak. Would he even notice?
She held back a smirk. If he did, it would probably be a relief for him. He could spend the whole day without speaking to a soul.
Mr. Victor stood just outside the church doors, shaking hands and accepting compliments on his sermon with his head held high. When he saw Lucy, he excused himself from the family he’d been speaking with.
It took him only three steps to reach them. “Ah, Miss Shroud, I’m very happy to see you at church today. And with your companion, I assume?”
He seemed equally happy to see she actually had a companion than he did to see her at church. “Aye, Mr. Victor. This is Mrs. Tucker.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Tucker. I hope you enjoyed the sermon?”
“You were very enthralling, Mr. Victor. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and I’m very much looking forward to hearing from you again next week.” Mrs. Tucker smiled at him, and Mr. Victor brightened at her words. Lucy should have brought Mrs. Tucker with her into town sooner. The woman was a charmer.
Mr. Victor’s eyes flashed to Lucy’s as if he were waiting for her to voice her opinion. She smiled at him. “‘Twas a wonderful sermon, Mr. Victor. I thank ye.” She’d never felt the need to be entertained while at church, but after watching him preach, she hadn’t minded it.
Mr. Victor seemed to grow an inch at their praise. “Yes, well.” He touched his collar and cleared his throat. “I’ve made a concerted effort to keep my sermons lively.” He turned back to Mrs. Tucker. “I hope you have found life in Fenswallow accommodating, Mrs. Tucker. If you have any concerns, please feel free to reach out to me. We like to keep watch over our own here.” Mr. Victor smiled at Lucy. “And while you two are in my parish, I would like to consider you my own.”
Mr. Miner cleared his throat, and Mr. Victor glanced at him. Then, realizing exactly what he’d said, the vicar’s face paled. “I mean,” Mr. Victor choked, “that the two of you are part of our parish. And I do consider it my duty to look out for those in my parish.”
“Especially Miss Shroud,” Mr. Miner said, his voice low but discernible to all in their group.
Mr. Victor lifted his chin. “Miss Shroud is in a precarious situation, Mr. Miner. Of course I see it as my duty to look after her.”
“Well,” Mr. Miner said gruffly, “I tried tolook afterMiss Shroud here myself, but learned she’s set her cap at Mrs. Tucker’s son. So you are aware.”
