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Chapter 25
Aweek had passed since the ball, Papa had still not returned from London, and Mabel had healed more with each day. She now suffered more from boredom than any unruly leg ailments and deemed today to be the day she would venture to finally leave her bedchamber. Charles had told her of their plans to travel to Camden Cove and was determined not to go without her. She had put him off for days now, hoping he would change his mind. But alas, he was undeterred.
She had the sense that Charles was not quite happy with their current situation. But he would not speak when she pressed him, so she ceased her attempts to discover what bothered him. Perhaps at some point during the day she would get to the bottom of it.
Payne finished pinning Mabel’s hair up and stepped back, allowing her to survey her appearance in the mirror. She gave her maid a nod of approval and the woman began cleaning up discarded night clothes and unused hairpins.
Sliding her bonnet over her head, Mabel picked up her gloves and headed downstairs, leaning heavily against the bannister as she tested her leg—but it held up against the strain of descending the stairs. The extra few days of rest had been exactly what she’d needed.
Carriage wheels and horse hooves sounded on the gravel outside as the Sheffields’ guests filed out to fill the carriage. Giulia stood near the door helping Pippa tie her bonnet strings, and Gram sat on the chair situated beside the wall.
“You are coming with us?” Mabel asked Gram, delighted.
“No, but I wanted to see you.”
Gram started to rise, so Mabel put a hand under her elbow to assist her. Her beady, wrinkled eyes bore into Mabel’s. “I have missed you this last week. I don’t wish to be parted from you again in that way.”
“You will not,” Mabel said. It hadn’t occurred to her that by avoiding their guests, she was also avoiding her grandmother. But Gram’s resolution was jarring. What had kept her from visiting Mabel’s room? “I would have welcomed you any time, Gram. I was well—I just needed to refrain from using my leg. It was vastly boring.”
Gram’s eyes flicked behind Mabel, a frown marring her face, and Mabel turned.
Miss Pemberton stood in the open doorway, Giulia and Pippa stepping outside behind her. The blonde woman tilted her head. “Ah, Mabel, I am so glad to see you recovered.” She crossed the room, a tight smile stretching her lips flat. “I am certain Gram is just as grateful for your presence.”
Gram? The woman had taken to using a family name? That lifted Mabel’s eyebrows and she tried to temper her surprise. “Is everyone waiting in the carriages? I fear I have been awfully slow this morning.”
Miss Pemberton nodded. “Nearly everyone. We only were waiting on—”
“Here!” Mr. Wright called, coming down the stairs at a fast clip. “Forgive me, I was writing a letter and lost track of the time.” He came to a quick stop before the woman and bowed, his smile revealing crooked, white teeth. “Might I escort you outside?”
“That would be lovely, sir,” Miss Pemberton said, taking one proffered arm.
Mr. Wright looked at Mabel expectantly, but she stepped back. “I will be out momentarily.”
He accepted this with a nod but watched her a moment longer before leading Miss Pemberton away.
“Gram,” Mabel said, taking her grandmother’s hand in both of hers and raising her voice to be heard. “Please come with us. I am certain there is a comfortable seat available, and the sea air will be mightily refreshing.”
“Not today, dear.” Gram patted her hand before extricating herself from Mabel’s grip. “But I will not refuse your company this evening.”
“You will have it,” Mabel promised.
Gram turned away, her cane clicking on the marble floor as she made her way toward the drawing room. How had Mabel ever thought she could take her grandmother with her if she married and moved away? This woman refused an easy ride’s journey to the restorative coast. She would never remove to an estate in Warwickshire.
Mabel tugged on her sleeves, pulling them down over her gloves. Her pulse sped as she left the safety of her house—of Gram’s house—and stepped down onto the gravel drive. Mac stood at the head of the first carriage, rubbing the horse’s neck as he spoke to the driver. It had been a week since Mabel had caught sight of him, and her heart jumped up and lodged in her throat. His smile was easy, effortless, crinkling the edges of his eyes. His bottle green jacket was molded to his torso as though it had been sewn directly onto him, revealing the curve of his back and thickness of his arms. A life of labor for the past six years had changed Mac, and it was hard to look away.
Amelia’s advice to avoid Mac had been sound, and Mabel had cowardly done so all week by remaining within the safety of her bedchamber. But now, how was she supposed to keep away from him in a party such as this? Her first act, of course, could be ensuring that they did not ride in the same carriage.
“Mabel!” Pippa called, bouncing toward her. “I am so impatient to be going! Are you ready? I have been ready for an age.”
“Yes, dear Pippa. I am ready to be off. Where are you sitting? Shall I come sit beside you?”
Her little nose wrinkled. “I’m afraid that will be impossible.” Her eyes widened. “But you may sit across from me!”
“Very well.” She allowed Pippa to take her hand and pull her toward the second carriage, away from Mac and the Pemberton family and Charles. Mr. Wright caught Mabel’s eye just before she slipped inside her carriage. If he was hoping for a private moment with her, he was bound to be disappointed.
Climbing into the carriage and settling into the seat opposite her sister, Mabel swallowed the guilt that nipped at her. She had promised her father she would give Mr. Wright a fair chance—to see if any sort of amicable relationship could form between herself and the man. But she hadn’t done any such thing. Instead, she’d thwarted his efforts to spend time with her, and disappeared from his presence whenever given the opportunity. The poor man had spent significantly more time with the Pemberton sisters than the woman he had come here to marry.
Marry. The word itself sent a volley of shivers down Mabel’s spine.
