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Theo straightened, rested her hands in her lap, her feet to one side, her gaze lowered, the perfect model of submissive womanhood. “I suspected it might be him from the first moment we met. You may recall, Lady Bellingham, that you seemed inclined to ignore him and were very quick to believe a hero to look other than the man did.”
“Oh, that is most unjust! Most unkind!”
“I should rather think it unkind to believe a hero must be disposed to look a certain way. I cannot imagine such comments made it easy for him to wish to make himself known to you.”
“You blame me for this?” the squire’s wife demanded.
“I gather it was rather the idea of being forced to partake in yet another turtle dinner that he objected to.”
“He could have simply said!”
“Perhaps.” Theo studied the worn carpet.
“Goodness, I did not need to have a turtle dinner,” Lady Bellingham said plaintively. “Although I can quite understand it now, seeing as he’s apparently allergic to seafood.”
“But he always seemed to enjoy Annie’s way with salmon,” Mama said uncertainly.
“Hmph. It seems the young man is quite adept in deception and ingratiating himself with people. No doubt he would benefit from a greater degree of forthrightness,” declared Lady Bellingham.
“Perhaps. Or perhaps he just wished to deal with the grief of learning he had lost his sister.” Theo kept her voice even and calm. “I would not imagine many men, no matter how heroic they may be, would be so quick to engage in the kinds of entertainments so many seemed keen to foist on him. To wish to do so at such a time would be quite rightly labeled insensitive and ungentlemanly.”
“But my dear, that was at the start. Did you not think it behooved you to own the truth later?”
“No,” Theo said bluntly. “I did not think such people here would be offended to the degree they seemed to have been.”
Lady Bellingham gasped. “My dear girl!”
Theo’s hands trembled, so she tightly clasped her fingers on her lap. “I am sorry that you are upset, but I cannot be sorry that Rebecca was spared some of the speculation and gossip that was inevitable once the captain’s whereabouts were publicized.”
“Too many gossips,” growled the general. “Too much fuss and botheration. People never used to fuss like this back in my day.”
The color rose in Lady Bellingham’s face, and soon a long exposé of the many outrages the general had inflicted on dear Letitia began, which included the sequestering of poor Theodosia up here for so long without society, without a chance to meet a gentleman to wed.
“But Mama,” protested Frederick, “I am, I mean, I was most happy to pursue—”
“Oh, be quiet, son,” she snapped. “You and she would never have suited. As this shambles of a situation has proven.”
“You mind your tongue about my granddaughter, hear?” Grandfather said.
“Dear Elvira, please,” Mama said in a wavering tone, her handkerchief forever at the ready. “You may be sure Theodosia never intended for anyone to be hurt. Quite the contrary, in fact.”
The broken note in her mother’s voice shafted fresh pain through Theo’s heart. She clenched her hands. What wretchedness she had created for her poor Mama. “Lady Bellingham.” Theo carefully modulated her voice to avoid the inclination to quaver. “I must beg your pardon if my actions have upset you. I am sorry. Please forgive me.”
“Then let there be no more said about it then.” Lady Bellingham’s tone grew soft and sincere. “If you are prepared to ask forgiveness, then I am prepared to forgive. Now, I think it only fair to warn you that you may well expect to see something of a cold shoulder from some inhabitants in our village who are not so kindly minded as I am. And I certainly don’t think you should expect to see many visitors here tonight.”
For poor Becky’s farewell dinner. Theo’s heart clenched.
“I trust you will be able to cling to your principles from now on.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” Theo said woodenly.
“Well, if that is all, I suppose we shall make our departure,” the squire said.
They rose, just as a tap on the door preceded Mr. Siddons.
“What is it?” Grandfather barked.
“Ahem.” He glanced significantly at the guests.
