Mama was definitely boasting, and we both knew it.
“Still, please don’t tell anyone else. The engagement is very new.”
“Are you worried he will reconsider? If so, he should have waited longer to hear your answer.”
He should have. But it was too late now, and Agatha’s knowing would actually be helpful in convincing Mr. Green that our engagement was real. But how many others would she tell?
I prayed not many.
The hours seemed to drag along until it was nearly time for David and his sister to arrive. Mrs. Preston had instructed Mary to stay longer and to aid in dressing over the next few weeks. Apparently, being engaged meant we would need her services more often. I left Mama with Mary so they could prepare and went to my bedroom to gather what I needed by myself. I put on an extra petticoat, then reached for the coat Mr. Green had given me. David’s mention of keeping me warm was an obvious jest, but I still wouldn’t be caught shivering.
As embarrassed as I would be if Mama read his note, it had made me smirk periodically throughout the morning. Ours was a ridiculous predicament.
I worked my way up the buttons on my coat. David’s flowers and invitation to walk were an obvious reaction to what I’d said yesterday about what a true engagement should look like. He was putting forth the effort to make this engagement seem real. What were the other things I’d mentioned engaged couples would do? I’d mentioned dancing, but that was not likely to happen in winter here in the country. Anyone looking for entertainment like that would be in London for the Season. Stolen kisses? My face heated again. I needed to stop that. I was beginning to feel like a young schoolgirl.
Even so, he’d written to meandhad engaged himself to me. Perhaps a few blushes weren’t completely out of turn, even for someone as long out of the schoolroom as I was.
I left my bedroom and went down to the hall only to find Mother still in her apron. “Mama! David will be here any minute.”
“I know, but I have never enjoyed winter walks. I’m afraid my coming will only shorten your time out of doors with Mr. Tate. You have waited so long to have this time together. I don’t want to spoil it. His sister will be there, so you wouldn’t be walking alone.”
I shook my head. I barely knew David, and I didn’t know Miss Tate at all. I was not prepared to spend the whole afternoon alone with them, not yet. Sometimes, a woman needed her mother. “Oh no, I am not going on this walk with only the two of them. If it is short, so be it.”
“But ...” Mama began, then eyed Mary and waited until she walked out of earshot. Mama leaned forward. “Don’t you think your time would be better spent if I weren’t there to dampen any of Mr. Tate’s—” She checked once more to make certain Mary was still in the other room before leaning toward me. “Ardor?”
“Mama!” I said, shocked. But before I could rebuke her, there was a knock at the front door. We both jumped. “If you don’t come,” I hissed, “I’m calling off the engagement.” I was going to have to anyway. This would just expedite the plan. Mr. Green must already be on his way to Silverfork, so the engagement had accomplished its main task.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Mr. Tate is the best thing to happen to us since your father died.”
I lifted my chin. “Don’t test me. David and I haven’t seen each other for eight years, and while yesterday, he was the obvious choice over Mr. Green, today, we have to deal with the reality of reacquainting ourselves. Besides, if your goal is to allow David and me timetogether alone, that will be better accomplished by joining us. You can be there to entertain Miss Tate.”
Mama muttered something under her breath about my stubbornness coming from Papa and dashed out of the room. I followed her, and she managed to get up the stairs and into her bedroom just before Mary opened the front door.
I smiled at the thought of Mama adding her own petticoats in a rush before turning to see David and his sister striding into the small receiving area of the cottage. David wore the same coat as when he’d happened upon my embarrassing tree-climbing incident. The thickness of the wool made his lithe frame look larger, and the fur at the collar gave him a commanding air. His square jaw and high cheekbones showed an elegant strength, even though his face remained smooth and youthful.
Blast. Why did the sunlight have to shine through the doorway, lighting him up from behind as though he were some young lord dashing in to save a damsel in distress? Moonlight and sunlight—they were going to be the death of me.
Miss Tate stood slightly behind him on his right in a dark-blue coat and matching bonnet. She glanced between us, not smiling but not frowning either, simply assessing the way we greeted each other. Perhaps I should have found some way to make my approval of his appearance less obvious, but his eyes seemed to be doing the same thing to me, and weweresupposed to be engaged. Two engaged people could let their eyes roam over each other when they met, couldn’t they?
My lips lifted in a hesitant smile. He narrowed one eye and then gave me a broad and charming smile back.
Mary closed the door behind them and excused herself to help Mama.
“Good afternoon, Anna.” David’s smile curved up at the corners when he used my Christian name. If he’d been anyone else, I wouldthink it was because he was devilishly happy to have bypassed weeks of courting in order to use it. But this was David. He’d been calling me Anna ever since we’d met.
“Good afternoon, David.” His smile broadened at my use of his name, and I struggled not to express a nervous laugh. What a strange thing a pretend engagement was.
“Is your mother at home?” he asked.
I opened my mouth to tell him she would be here any moment, but before I could, Mama reached the top of the stairs. She had removed her apron and tidied a few strands of hair, but she was obviously not ready for a walk in the frigid March air.
“I just need Mary to fetch my coat,” Mama said, smiling at David as though he were her own personal rescuer. Which, in fact, he was. She descended. “I was so pleased to be invited on a walk. Some people complain of the cold in the winter, but I have always found it refreshing.”
David’s charming smile fell upon Mama, and the color in her cheeks heightened. “I’m happy to hear that. I don’t know many people who share your love of winter air, but Anna mentioned a detailed list of things she expected me to do now that we are engaged, and walking was first on it.” His eyes found mine. “I look forward to obliging her every wish.”
I was suddenly roasting in all my winter clothing. Exactly how thorough did he plan to be with that list? And when would he execute it? Was he considering kissing me because of what I’d said? I hadn’t actually asked for those things—only said they were what engaged couples would be expected to do. Mother made a noise—a half laugh and half squeal—reminiscent of a six-year-old girl opening a Christmas present. I shook my head and gave David a stern look, forcing myself not to think about what it would be like to be held in his arms again. Mama was going to be heartbroken when she found out this wasn’t real, and his teasing wasn’t helping.
Mary brought Mama’s coat, and David helped her put it on. I kept my eyes off them. I couldn’t take any more of Mama’s ecstatic looks. Instead, I smiled at Miss Tate. Her eyes were wary, but she gifted me a smile in return. Perhaps the two of us could become friends. Her words yesterday had been said to protect David, a feeling I could definitely understand. I still very much wanted to get to know her. I hoped David’s plan could somehow miraculously work.
