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Chapter 4
Margaret gazed out the window of her room. John had already fled. She watched him leave. It pained her that her father confined her to her room thus. It was always the case when he began his drinking early that he would find a reason to be cross with her, and thus, he would confine her to her chambers. With any luck, Jane would be coming up shortly, for Margaret desperately needed someone to talk to.
Sure enough, there was a familiar knock upon Margaret’s door, and she called out for Jane to enter.
“Where have you been all this while?” Jane asked.
“Father told me to remain here. I informed him at breakfast that John would be joining us for the picnic, and he complied. But, then, it seemed to make him angry.”
Jane exhaled mournfully. “I’m sorry, Margaret.”
She shrugged. “I am accustomed to it. I can never predict his moods. I was merely grateful that he allowed the interaction to take place, and then, I was not surprised when he rescinded.”
Jane seated herself upon Margaret’s bed. “The situation is most trying.”
“Oh, Jane. How am I to marry Lord Darkmoor? I could never love him. But father insists that it is the only way, and he’s arranging for a supper with Lord Darkmoor so that they might discuss the matter. I feel like a pawn in a chess game. I am a puppet and nothing more.”
“That is not true, Margaret. Who knows? Maybe you can learn to like Lord Darkmoor.”
Margaret was utterly baffled by this. Did Jane not know her at all? Like Lord Darkmoor? Well, she had to admit that she barely knew the man, but from what she heard, there was nothing savory about him.
Instead of pursuing this matter any further, Margaret said, “Your brother is a very agreeable man.”
There was trepidation in Jane’s gaze. “Do not fill your head with the notions that I think you are filling your head with.”
Margaret’s jaw dropped open. “What do you mean?”
“My brother is a poor choice.”
To this, Margaret had to laugh. “You are disparaging your own brother? I did not wish to offend. I was only making an observation!”
“Observe something else.”
“Jane, what is the matter? I do feel as though I have offended.”
Jane sighed. “John expressed a similar sentiment in regards to you, and I warned him on the situation.”
Margaret felt her cheeks color. “He expressed the same?”
“Margaret, my brother is a wanderer. He even admitted to it! It has always been in his character to be unsteady.”
Margaret had to consider this. To her, John Harrington didn’t seem unsteady at all. On the contrary, he seemed intrepid and free! These were all qualities that Margaret deeply admired. Oh, but it would be too difficult to tell Jane that she thought John to be one of the most handsome men she had ever seen. There was something about his shiny blonde hair and blue eyes. The way that he gazed at her gave Margaret chills.
But how silly to even consider any of this when Margaret was meant to marry another! Still, if she were to be honest with herself, John was always the kind of man that Margaret saw herself marrying. He was noble and good, strong, and kind. These were all qualities that moved Margaret considerably.
“You are seated before me daydreaming about my brother,” Jane said, folding her arms in front of her chest.
“No! Oh, I should not have said anything. Clearly, you are viewing this matter in the wrong light.”
It was a wee bit of a fib. Margaret had been daydreaming about John at that moment. But who could blame her?
“John has ventured into Farthington to secure a room. He said that he shall return tomorrow.”
“I do hope that he finds a vacancy.” Margaret couldn’t help but giggle to herself. “Do you not think that it’s humorous that he slept under this roof last night? I still cannot believe it.”
Finally, Jane’s lips broke open into a smile. “That is rather amusing. And so very like my brother to undertake such a challenge.” Jane reached over and placed her hand atop Margaret’s. “But know, Margaret. John can appear just as quickly as he flees. Were he to never return to Pelham Downs, I would not be in the least bit surprised.”
To Margaret, it seemed as though Jane had a horrible opinion of her brother, but was that merely because she was being protective?
