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Miss May.

He may not be able to tell her about her father’s depravity, but August could sure as heaven be a true friend to her. And he would not allow the woman to be tricked into something she didn’t wish to do.

So he would produce his own plan. And if she just so happened to wish to leave the Mount simply to be free of her despicable father’s presence, then so be it. But it would be her choice—and her choice alone.

August would make sure of it.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“It isn't what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.”

Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen

Sunny Saturdays were a novelty on the Mount—especially in April. Especially, especially when the tide cooperated.

As such, whenever all three occurred, it seemed that every one of the Mount’s three hundred residents would come out to feel the warmth of the sun on their shoulders and relish in the weather that did not require frequent dress-changes and shoe removals due to being sloshing wet with rain.

Yes, sunny Saturdays were what many islanders dreamt of.

But to Livvy, sunny Saturdays were the stuff of nightmares. While she loved the feel of the sunshine on her face—such weather was number four on her list—she found it extremely difficult to enjoy it when there were just so many people around.

As such, whenever the fateful day occurred that the stars aligned and the sun shone at the end of the week, Livvy hunkered down in her room with a book and enjoyed the sunshine by sitting near the window and feeling the warmth that filtered in through her yellow-flowered curtains. From there, hidden behind said curtains, she was safe from prying eyes and probing questions. And she was safe to partake in another favorite pastime of hers—people-watching.

Here was yet another way in which Livvy was a complete contradiction. She couldn’t speak in large groups, yet she loved observing large groups. She didn’t like to receive much attention from others, yet she loved watching them and the things they did.

She knew this was what made other people think she was odd, but she’d assumed this strange, hermit habit a few years past, and she was perfectly fine to resume it again that morning. That is, until Father discovered her and demanded she go outside and enjoy the sunshine, even if she read while doing it.

“And don’t ye dare think o’ travelin’ to Marazion to ’ide away where’er ye may,” he’d said, having long suspected her secret spot.

As if she would dream of going to Marazion now. If sunny Saturdays were busy on St. Michael’s Mount, they would be absolutely heaving on the mainland.

As such, Livvy begrudgingly put on her bonnet, tucked her book beneath her arm, then, sulking, left her house.

She attempted a few different locations. One near the Giant’s Well halfway up the Mount, but that had been teeming with servants all fighting to complete the task of gathering water in the pleasant weather. Then she’d attempted the cliffsides, but wherever she tried to plunk down in the grass, a new group of young men and women would sit nearby and chatter and flirt and giggle until Livvy was nauseous.

Finally, of all the places she found to suit her needs, she humorously settled on one of the busiest places—the harbor. If she’d learned anything in her years of people-watching, however, it was that those near the harbor were the busiest of all, and busy people very rarely noticed Livvy.

Snagging an empty bench on the far southwest side of the harbor, just a stone’s throw from her house, Livvy positioned herself in the middle of the seat so the chances of someone sitting next to her became less likely. Then she pulled out her book—she’d finally started The Mysteries of Udolpho today—and settled in for what she figured would be a mere thirty-minute reading stint, a time that would surely satisfy Father before she snuck back to her room.

Just as Livvy had witnessed from her window, the harbor teemed with individuals. Built in the shape of a U with two arms jutting forth and nearly joining together at the top, the harbor was typically home to hundreds of boats—sometimes so full, kids could be seen jumping from boat to boat until they moved from one end of the harbor to the next.

Right now, however, on that special sunny Saturday, the harbor was nearly free of every single boat, as everyone wished to take advantage of the fine weather and warm sea waves.

Despite the harbor being free of vessels, the water within was full and calm, boasting of colors that could rival the dazzling sapphires Sir John had no doubt purchased for his mistress.

Livvy couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty of the water that changed from day to day, depending on the weather. She could see the harbor better with the view from her room upstairs, but she couldn’t deny how fine it felt to be out of doors.

Typically, she would duck her head as people walked by, avoiding any chance of conversation. But that afternoon, oddly enough, she didn’t mind smiling in greeting to others. She still lowered her head to allow her bonnet to cut off her view more often than not, but she found herself enjoying people-watching even more than reading.

Blasphemy.

Very well, not more than reading. But she was not so prideful to admit that the happenings around her were far more appealing to her at the present moment.

There was just something special about the joy and childlike behavior that sunshine brought out in people. Something contagious and lovely.

Snippets of conversations reached her ears as the crowds continued to migrate to and fro on the harbor.

“Lord Steere’s heir married beneath ’im, ye know. That baron ’tain’t at all content with ’is choice.”