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“You had your sights set on someone else,” Mabel said.
“A failing that turned out to be.” He turned, holding her gaze. “I was only trying to help, Mabel. I was afraid you would never leave Graton, and there aren’t any men left here to choose from. When Lieutenant Wright expressed his desire to sell out, that he might find a wife and settle a family, I thought perhaps he was my answer.”
“It is not your fault—”
Papa shook his head. “The fool was only after my money. He came to see me yesterday and…” He shot her a glance and looked away, uncomfortable. “Needless to say, I didn’t know him as well as I thought. He won’t be bothering us again.”
Mabel’s mouth hung open and she closed it, turning back to face the crowd of her neighbors and friends. “What did you have to do to ensure that?”
“It matters not,” Papa said.
That could only mean one thing: he’d paid Mr. Wright off. Mabel’s stomach soured. When she had overheard Mr. Wright speaking to one of the Pemberton sisters, he’d said he had a scheme. She should have jumped from the stairwell then and demanded to learn what it was. Perhaps she could have done something about it.
“Don’t fret, Mabel,” Papa said. “All is well.”
Pippa announced the play and the group gathered near the chairs, taking their seats.
“Are you coming?” Mabel asked, indicating the seats.
“I will be along shortly. You go on,” her father said.
Mabel crossed the field, coming upon Charles standing alone at the back of the crowd, his hands resting lightly behind his back.
“Where is your Miss Pemberton?” Mabel asked, sidling up beside him as people filed into their seats. Hattie and Amelia passed them, raising their eyebrows at her—they had probably witnessed the engagement as well. She needed to choose a more private location next time she let Mac kiss her—and she glanced back at her cousin to find his hardened gaze whip away from Amelia’s retreating form.
Oh, dear.
“Miss Pemberton is gone,” Charles said, his eyebrows drawn. “She informed me just minutes before we left the house to come here that she was leaving. Miss Sophy is to marry Mr. Wright and is taking her family with her. The only member of their party they did not take with them was Mrs. Boucher.”
“Miss Pemberton is leaving because her sister is to marry Mr. Wright?” Mabel confirmed.
“Yes. She’s rejected me.” He stared ahead, eyes hard. “She hopes to return to London. Likely to find herself a better suitor.”
Mabel strung her hand around his arm. “Oh, Charles. She is such a foolish girl—”
He shook his head, laughing without mirth. “Fear not, Mabel. I only offered for her because I did not think I had another choice. I had given her expectations, and I needed to see them through. I was relieved when she refused me. She would not have made me happy.”
Mabel slid her hand around her cousin’s. “I’m sorry, Charles.”
He shot her a dry smile. “The rejection stung a little if I’m being honest. But it’s for the best for everyone involved. The Pembertons should be gone by the time we return. In fact, they are likely gone now.”
Stunned, Mabel faced the stage.
“You will be interested to know, however,” Charles continued, amusement in his tone, “that Desmond Pemberton was sorry to leave. Apparently, he’s been in a spot of trouble for some time and hoped one of his sisters would marry a rich man who could ease his burdens.” He chuckled dryly. “He was sorry it couldn’t be me. He liked me.”
“He spoke those words?” Mabel asked, laughing. “I think we must be glad to be rid of them.”
“Indeed. She never would have made a good mistress of Sheffield House anyway.”
“Perhaps not,” Mabel agreed, “but the right woman is out there, Charles.”
He made a noncommittal noise and Mabel followed his gaze to where Amelia sat on a chair beside Hattie.
Pippa called for quiet, glaring at a boy sitting in the front row. “Thank you for coming to my play. It is called Pirate Tucker’s Distress.”
Oh, heavens. Surely Pippa hadn’t created an entire play about her nemesis. Mabel shook her head.
“Will she ever become friends with that Tucker boy?” Charles asked, nodding toward Jacob Tucker in the front row. The child sat with his arms crossed, a smug smile on his face as though he was pleased the villain in Pippa’s play was named after him.
