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A loud laugh rolled out of Pippa’s chest, and she shook her head, unable to dampen the grin splitting her cheeks. “You are ridiculous.”
William’s grin mirrored her own. “Perhaps.”
He failed to argue further, and she was equal parts grateful and perturbed when Mabel approached and put an end to their private conversation. Pippa had meant to ask about Ainsworth and whether or not William had been able to adequately hide everything he needed to, but his charm had distracted her.
“I do not see your father here today,” Mabel said. “Is he planning to join us for dinner this evening?”
William’s playful ease slipped away immediately, replaced with a tight smile. “He was not feeling quite the thing this morning, and he chose to remain home and rest today in hopes of healing quickly. He was very sorry to miss church, of course. He’ll be even sorrier to miss dinner, Mrs. MacKenzie.”
“Oh, dear. I do hope it is nothing too awful.”
“A trifle, really,” William explained. “I believe he overdid himself yesterday.”
She seemed to take this well and nodded. “Come, Pip. We should be heading home.”
“I would like to walk today.”
Mabel looked as though she meant to argue. “It looks like rain. After the storm last night, the ground is—”
“I would be happy to escort Miss Sheffield home if that would put you at ease, Mrs. MacKenzie.”
Pippa glanced up sharply. A public escort like that was nothing short of an announcement in Collacott. And until she was able to have a private, honest conversation with Lily, she could do nothing of the sort.
“I suppose I ought to return with you, Mabel. We wouldn’t want to keep our dinner guests waiting.” She shot William a smile, but his expression was confused, and she didn’t blame him. He may have been clear about his feelings for her, but until she was certain of where Lily stood, there would be no future tête-à-têtes.
She slid her hands together and held them in front of her, dipping a soft curtsy to William before following Mabel toward Mac and the children. William’s gaze was heavy on her back, and she felt the strength of it skitter over her skin. She hazarded a glance over her shoulder and caught his smirk. His dark eyebrow ticked up, and Pippa immediately tore her attention away from him, but not before the damage was done and her heart had effectively vaulted in her chest.
William was a fool if he did not comprehend exactly how much Pippa was drawn to him. It frightened her how often she thought of him. She approached Lily, and guilt crawled up her limbs and wrapped around her like ivy on a stone wall. She needed to speak to her friend, and soon.
“We won’t be joining you this evening,” Lily said, pushing her bottom lip out in a slight pout. “Mother already set dinner to simmer before we left for church. She won’t waste it.”
Pippa knew a moment’s temptation to argue that they could push the meal Mrs. Burke prepared until tomorrow’s dinner, but she bit her tongue.
“You will be missed.” Pippa lowered her voice and leaned in. “Have there been any more developments regarding a certain gentleman?”
Lily looked sharply toward where William and Roger were mounting their horses. “Not since yesterday, no. And you oughtn’t speak of it so publicly. Someone could overhear.”
Unease tightened Pippa’s stomach. “If you are so certain of your feelings, why must you keep the liaison a secret?”
Lily flattened her lips. “I cannot very well announce my feelings until he’s admitted to returning them, can I?”
Oh, dear. It was just as Pippa had expected. Lily’s feelings were not returned if William spoke true, and Pippa did believe him. Worse, William had inferred he held a regard for Pippa, and the only reason Lily entertained the idea of a relationship with the man was because of Pippa’s encouragement.
She looked into Lily’s blue eyes, and bile clawed up her throat. What a mess she’d created. Taking Lily by the hand, she dragged her away from the groups of people converging and chatting in the churchyard until they were clear of all listening ears. She cared about Lily far too much to allow this to go any further.
But if William was an innocent man in all this, why had he not cleared up the misunderstanding with Lily already? Why did he allow it to continue? Pippa found him beyond the crowd sitting atop his horse, and he was watching her closely. Or was he watching Lily? She had not known the man long enough to ascertain whether he was playing a game with her heart, or if Lily was merely confused.
“I believe we have fallen for the same man.” Pippa swallowed. “And I worry that he has allowed both of us to believe that he holds us in similar regard.”
Lily’s large, blue eyes widened, and she tipped her chin down. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve not received any sort of confirmation from Mr. Blakemore himself that he has any special regard for you, correct?”
“Correct.”
“Yet he’s given you ample reason to assume that that is the case.”
Lily’s cheeks pinked, and the rock settled in the pit of Pippa’s stomach nestled further, weighing heavily. What had William done to elicit that blush in Lily? “Indeed.”
