Mr. Preston looked at his knife and rubbed his finger along the dull edge. Mother cleared her throat, and David’s hand hadn’t left his neck. Miss Tate must not have known we would be forced to leave in two short weeks, but by the way she dropped her eyes, she must have known she had said something wrong.
“It was very kind of the Prestons to take us in,” I said. “And with absolutely no notice. We’ll be staying here only until the end of the month though. Mama and I are looking forward to finding a place of our own.”
“Yes, it will be nice to be settled,” Mama said. I looked at her out of the corner of my eye. As much as I didn’t love the despondent attitude of our first two days here, this confidence disarmed me. Where was it coming from? Had she made a plan without informing me? If so, there was no telling what it could be.
“Have you been looking for a different place to stay in Breckenridge?” David asked.
“We have no other acquaintances here but the Prestons,” Mama replied. “My guess is we will be going back to Derbyshire.”
I narrowed my eyes at Mama. Derbyshire was one county I would rather never return to. Mr. Green had too much influence there. Mama couldn’t mean for us to return to Silverfork, could she? After all I’d done to remove us from that situation?
I set my spoon down next to the bowl. I’d been starving when we arrived, but the food wasn’t sitting well. “Why do you think we will be returning to Derbyshire, Mama?” I tried to keep my voice neutral.
Mama met my eyes. “It’s our home, Anna.”
“Mama.” My voice was hard. The small noises that so often accompanied dinner stopped. Not a fork or a glass moved. All eyes turned to the two of us. “Mama, you didn’t.”
Mother glanced nervously at the men and women around her. She couldn’t tell them what terrible straits we were in, but I could tell she wanted to. Perhaps this jury could exonerate her.
“Mama ...”
“We can talk about it later, Anna. For now, let’s enjoy our dinner.”
Mr. and Mrs. Preston seemed to understand Mama’s meaning and pointedly returned to the food on their plates, but David’s eyes remained on us until the butler entered the room and whispered something in Mr. Preston’s ear. Mr. Preston’s face pulled back in surprise before he finally whispered something back to the butler.
After the butler left, Mr. Preston turned to Mama. “It seems we are to have another guest at dinner. A friend of yours, Mrs. and Miss Atwood.”
“A friend of ours?” An icy fear twisted at my heart. I clamped a fistful of my dress into my hand and turned toward Mama. She wouldn’t look me in the eye. She fiddled with her napkin in her lap, then started straightening her perfectly placed fork and knife.
“What have you done?” What little soup I’d eaten seemed to rise in my throat. I had a sudden desire to run out of the room, but even that desire was overshadowed by the stabbing pain of deceit. How could my own mother have done this?
She didn’t respond.
Two servants hurriedly placed another set of dishes in front of a vacant chair. I concentrated on my breathing. I could be wrong.Please let me be wrong.
“Mr. Green,” the Butler announced, and I crunched the napkin in my lap into a small ball. What could have possessed her?
“Mother!” I whispered harshly under my breath.
She leaned over and placed her mouth near my ear. “I didn’t think he would come so soon. I only wrote to him yesterday. I told him to wait another week, when we would be desperate.” She sighed heavily. “But be reasonable. What would one more week have gotten us? We have nowhere else to go.”
My mouth opened to form a sharp retort, but nothing came.
Had I actually thought I could find us a place to live rent-free for a year and a half? Or that I would be able to find a governess position that would allow Mama to live in the family’s home with me? I’d gained some confidence in my plans when Mama’s mood had improved, but that had not been because she’d trusted in my abilities; it had been because she’d written to Mr. Green.
Mr. Green walked into the room with an air of owning it, his head held high and proud despite the lack of hair on top of it. His mustard-brown eyes found mine, and he immediately walked in my direction, not bothering to introduce himself to the hosts.
“Miss Atwood.” He bowed low from behind my chair, and I instinctively pushed my torso into the table to get as far away from him as possible. “It is so wonderful to see you again.”
I barely managed a nod while keeping my face turned away from him. I couldn’t look at him. Not yet. Not knowing that this time, if I gave him any encouragement at all, he would become my husband.
“Mr. Green?” Mr. Preston asked politely, standing from his chair.
Mr. Green took one step away from me and toward the head of the table. “Ah, you must be Mr. Preston. What a pleasure. Thank you for allowing me to join you for dinner at such late notice.”
“Yes, well, I was quite surprised at your arrival, but of course, we couldn’t allow you to wait in the drawing room while we ate.”
Mr. Green grinned. “I believe before the night is over, I will have repaid your hospitality with some exciting news.” He bowed in my direction.
