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Chapter 14
Mary leaned back in her chair, trying to get comfortable as she attempted to read her book. Miss Anne was sitting beside her, knitting and seemingly lost to her own thoughts.
It was a moment when Mary wished that she might be ought and enjoying herself rather than sitting here, trying to remain distracted when there were too many things going on in her mind.
But Mary could not focus on the book. Although she wished to read more before she happened upon Lord Hanbrooke again, she found herself utterly caught up by the fact that she had heard Charlotte and Lady Rachel speaking of him earlier and how he had appeared rather fond of Charlotte at the tea party.
It broke Mary’s heart to think that, perhaps, she had missed her chance with him. Now that he had spent some time with Charlotte, maybe he would care nothing at all for Mary.
Lady Rachel had suggested that Charlotte be ready at any day. She said that it was quite likely that Lord Hanbrooke would come by soon and that he would propose within the week.
The idea of it made Mary feel sick. Was it possible that Lady Rachel’s plan had worked? Had her attempts to keep Mary away from Lord Hanbrooke led to him pursuing Charlotte instead?
And if so, what did that mean for the future? Would Mary have to spend the rest of her days watching her stepsister enjoy a marriage to the man Mary cared for so deeply?
It was entirely unfair, and Mary didn’t want to see that happen. She wished that she had at least been allowed to say goodbye to him at the end of the picnic, but by the end of her two hours locked in the library, Mary had come to find that no one was left.
Lord Hanbrooke and all the others had already departed the estate and there was nothing she could do about it.
Mary sighed and Miss Anne looked up at her. “Are you quite all right?”
“Oh, yes. Forgive me,” Mary replied.
“No, I can see that there is something working in your mind. You are bothered or upset. Surely you know that you may tell me, whatever it is,” Miss Anne said.
“I know, but I think it would be imprudent for me to go on about something that is truly not my business,” Mary said.
“And if it is your business?” Miss Anne asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that maybe you think something is not your business because it involved your stepsister and her mother. But that does not mean that it will not affect you and I think you should recognise that you have a right to know what may or may not be happening in light of that,” Miss Anne said, rather wisely.
Mary had not thought of it that way and she was grateful that Miss Anne had considered that. At last, it felt as if she might be understood. Miss Anne was always reminding Mary that she was not alone.
But Mary didn’t need to say anything more. Miss Anne, always wise, prompted her.
“Mary, dear, you must tell me more about that kindly gentleman, the one we saw when we were out riding. Your stepmother has spoken of him and the possibility of a future with Charlotte.
I do expect that this is merely some of her nonsense?” Miss Anne would have been in terrible trouble for speaking of Lady Rachel in that way and Mary knew that it was shocking.
But she was quite relieved by it, thankful that she had Miss Anne by her side.
“Indeed, my stepmother wishes for Charlotte and Lord Hanbrooke to be a match,” she said, leaving it at that.
“And how does that make you feel?” Miss Anne asked, pushing the subject.
“I think it is none of my business, as I have already said,” Mary replied.
“And I think it is your business, given that Lord Hanbrooke clearly cares for you, and he would rather court you from everything I have seen,” Miss Anne said.
“But you have not seen any interaction between him and Charlotte. You have only seen how he is with me,” Mary said.
“And that is all I have to see. He clearly likes you. I would be grieved if you thought that you could not enjoy a future with him purely because your stepsister insists that she wants him more,” Miss Anne said, clearly irritated.
She had never been fond of Charlotte, and it always gave Mary an opportunity to explore her own feelings about her stepsister.
“Well, I appreciate that you think he does, but I am not so sure about it,” Mary said.
