Page 56 of The Muse of Maiden Lane

“Rather the opposite, it seems.” Stella’s words held an unmistakable note of reproach.

The squire’s estate, Castaway Green, was fewer than five miles from the vicarage. He’d lived there for as long as Stella could remember, both while married to his late wife and during his subsequent years as a widower. But it had been only recently that Daniel had begun inviting the man to dine with them—an occurrence that had directly coincided with Stella’s return from her first failed season in London. It promised to be worse now that she had another failed season to her name. She was dreading the prospect.

“May I remind you that the man is nearly sixty?” she said. “He has three grown daughters older than me.”

Daniel’s lips flattened with displeasure. “You’ve no business being so particular. After all the time and money that’s been wasted these two years in your efforts to obtain a husband, the least you can do is show a pleasing face to the one remaining man who’ll have you.”

Stella’s chest tightened with anger and—she loathed to admit to herself—no little hurt. She wasn’t an antidote, for goodness’ sake. Teddy had called her beautiful. A shining star. And Stella had the sketch that proved the truth of his words. She wouldn’t allow her brother, or anyone, to diminish her.

“That’s unfair,” she said. “As well as being unkind.”

“Is it unkind to encourage you to face your future? The sooner you—”

“I’m exhausted, Daniel. Let’s not quarrel.” She sank down in the worn chintz chair across from his. “All I desire is a cup of tea and my bed.”

Daniel resumed his seat. “Of course, all this tiresomeness could have been avoided if you’d only had the sense to remain in London with me for Christmas. Instead, you must traverse the country, putting coachmen and servants to as great an inconvenience as you put myself and Miss Trent.”

At last, Stella thought. The estimable Miss Trent. The true reason for her brother’s uncommon irritation.

“If you’d had the generosity of spirit to remain in town, Miss Trent and her mother might have stayed with us,” he said. “We could have shared all our meals together, and spent companionable hours discussing my treatise.”

In short, they would have spent all their time together—morning, noon, and evening. It would have been a sure recipe for romance between Daniel and Miss Trent.

Stella didn’t regret her role in preventing such intimacy. Better that Miss Trent and her mother had returned to Exeter for Christmas than that they’d remained in town to engineer an engagement.

“A great pity, yes,” Stella said. “But I promised Lady Anne I would attend Lord March’s house party. And thank heaven I was there. Lady Anne and Mr. Hartford became engaged on the first night. It was a great cause for celebration.”

Daniel’s brows elevated with evident skepticism. He didn’t approve of Stella’s friends. “Lady Anne is engaged to be married?”

“She and Mr. Hartford plan to wed at St. George’s in the spring. I’ve said I’ll attend.”

“You were foolish to tell her so. We’ve only just returned from town. I’ll not be traveling back again for any reason.”

“But the circumstances are exceptional, you must agree. I’m to be a bridesmaid.”

He shook his head. “Impossible. I’ve already overburdened my curate once too often. He’s a capable fellow, but he didn’t come to Fostonbury to take over the entirety of my parish duties. He’s depending on me to resume my work with no more interruptions. I can’t be escorting you to town at your every whim.”

“I shall go alone, then,” Stella said. “I shall take the train.”

It was a bluff. She’d never traveled alone in her life.

Daniel snorted. “And make yourself infamous in the process? You’ll do nothing of the sort. Miss Trent has already remarked unfavorably on your propensity for flitting about the country with your questionable female friends. I’ll not have her sensibilities outraged any further. You bring both your name and mine into disrepute.”

Stella stifled a caustic reply. Would the specter of Miss Trent never cease plaguing her? “Even if that was true, I don’t see what it has to do with Miss Trent. She isn’t any relation of mine. She is nothing to me.”

Daniel’s face darkened. “She is the most estimable young lady of my acquaintance! You will show her the respect she deserves.”

A sinking suspicion took root in Stella’s heart. “Did you see her in London while I was gone?”

“I did.”

“I thought she and her mother were returning home?”

“They had planned it so, but when it came to the point, Mrs. Trent found herself unequal to the journey. She took rooms for herself and her daughter at the Bell and Crown. Less convivial surroundings at Christmas cannot be imagined.”

Stella began to anticipate the worst. “You called on them there?”

“Daily,” he said. “And dined with them. Indeed, we were blessed to share Christmas dinner in one of the inn’s private parlors. It was there I made the discovery that your absence wasn’t as much a detriment as I’d anticipated. On the contrary, according to Miss Trent, your presence has so far constrained her.”