Josette (14 page)

He moved to the door. “If I have offended you with unwelcome words, I pray in time you will forget them entirely.” He hesitated but did not look back. “Enjoy your time in Bedfield, Miss Price.” He disappeared down the hall, his boots once more echoing through the house until he passed out into the courtyard.

She heard a horse whinny and whispers in the hall,
then
fell deaf as tears came out of nowhere to blind her. She rubbed them out even as she collapsed onto the settee, overcome.

Captain Phillip Carter had made her a real offer. She had not had to dance and flirt, or manipulate her schedule, or agonize over her unruly looks. He had simply admired her, for whatever reason she could not name. How could he not understand her refusal? It would have required her to overlook an indiscretion he'd abandoned to a farmhouse, and let go of ever living out her days in tranquility at Beddingfield Park. She had done what was best. Certainly she had.

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Mrs. Egglestone immediately grasped that something monumental had occurred. She gave Josette time to herself and ignored the wan countenance. There were only days left until Josette departed for home, upon which it was assumed that Mrs. Egglestone's sister would have recovered from bringing yet another child into the world.

After so many days, and countless hours of walking with the older girls and rocking Henry by the drawing room window, it was time for Josette to go.

Manny brought her dresses and freshly washed unmentionables to be packed into waiting trunks.

Mrs. Egglestone shooed her servant from the room and helped Josette fold her gowns. She had held her tongue for a good many days, quite an achievement for a woman who liked to be kept abreast of the current news. She said nothing for a while,
then
as if her curiosity had burst loose from its bindings, asked, “Well my dear, we should love to have you again in the summer if you don’t go to London.”

“It will depend upon Mama, you know.”

“You’re anxious to be home again.”

“To see how the
narcissus come
along. I've cross-bred a pink with a yellow and can't wait to see what has sprung up.”

“You never know what will shoot up from the earth after sleeping all winter-long.”

Josette gave a shake of her head. “I feel like I've slumbered all winter to be sure.”

“Your mourning is over if you choose it to be,” Mrs. Egglestone said. “Now you can change into gowns the color of narcissus and butterflies and enjoy your Season.”

“I’m not sure if we're going this year.”

Mrs. Egglestone clucked her tongue. “That would be a shame. Amy will be eighteen by the by.”

“I know. But that doesn't yet make her a spinster.” Josette grimaced as Carter’s proposal shot to the forefront of her mind.

“And Captain Carter,” Mrs. Egglestone said in an abrupt turn. “Would you see him in London?”

Josette struggled for a response.

Mrs. Egglestone added, “He did tell me when last he called that the
Persephone
would sail on the seventeenth. I believe he spent all holiday in preparation, and the expected orders came.”

“I’m afraid he did not confide as such to me.” Josette's heart ached in her chest for she had thought of nothing else since his departure. The afternoons with the children she had so enjoyed upon her arrival had become tedious and eternal. Grasping for something to add to cover her unhappiness, Josette said, “He did say he had called at Beddingfield Park.”

“Yes, thoughtful man,” said Mrs. Egglestone with a knowing smile. “It was good of him to call on us, although I think he had a purpose in mind.” She gave Josette a questioning look, which was ignored.

Her letters to her family Mrs. Egglestone must now have assumed were for the captain. Did she really believe Josette would write to a man she was not betrothed to?

“He is often at Bedfield you know, and to leave money for the
Lovejoys
.” She sighed, raised a brow. “You know, my dear, one must admire a man for taking on another's duty.”

“You mean the boy?” Josette flushed at the memory of her accusation. “I assumed it was his.”

Rather than look shocked, Mrs. Egglestone replied, “Indeed, I must confess it has crossed my mind a time or two, but ‘Judge not that you be not judged,’ and all that.” She waved her hand as if shooing away something her husband had conjured up.

“I suppose it could belong to another gentleman,” Josette admitted. “Perhaps he was called upon by favor.”

“Or family,” mused Mrs. Egglestone. “Nonetheless, I have decided that if he were fathering children and leaving them on our doorstep, he would have been more delicate.
And certainly more ashamed.
Of that I have seen nothing. It is a duty thrust on him by unfortunate circumstances and some failure on his part or another, or so he confessed to me.”

“Then he bears a heavy conscience.”

“We all do when we must grapple with the consequences of those we love, though it is often unfair.”

Josette mulled over this scrap of wisdom as she put her last pair of stockings into the trunk. Carter’s supposed outrage at her knowledge of the little boy had instead been offense after she accused him of the responsibility. Had she erred? “Mrs. Egglestone,” said she, “did he mention when he was to return to England?”

Surprised passed over the woman's face and Josette read her wonderment of what had passed actually in her drawing room between the captain and her visitor. She snapped the trunk and sat upon it taking Josette by the hand. “No, but I would be happy to find out if you must know. We clergy wives, you see, have unlimited resources for information.”

Josette smiled rosily. “It is only that I have left some things unsaid.”

“Bother, Josette Price,” Mrs. Egglestone scolded, “then you must find a way to tell him at once.”

CHAPTER TEN

Edward was waiting on the steps of Beddingfield Park. He helped Josette out of the carriage and spun her about. “I told you I would miss you while you were away.”

“You missed me? Where is Amy? And has Papa not been informed of my arrival?”

“I’m sure he would have, had he'd been about. He's taken Gardner out to fish so that we may have carp for dinner. Cook promised me, and Hannah will make her keep it.”

Josette chuckled. “There’s no waiting until dinner. Tell me there's a biscuit left somewhere in the house.”

“I'm sure I've eaten them all. My aunt insists.”

“Mama is never hungry when there are other mouths to feed.”

“She's missed you, too. We've been waiting for you to come. Our play is ready to perform.”

“I'm afraid I didn't find occasion to study my lines.”

“But there's only four! Surely you can remember four simple phrases.”

Josette took off her bonnet as they passed into the cool air of the vestibule. “Oh, Edward, I've so many other things on my mind.”

“But you promised!”

“And I'll keep it.” She reached for his hand and gave it a sisterly pat. “Don't fret, cousin.” She hurried off to her mother's apartment and found her at her writing table.

“Josette!
No one told me you'd arrived.”

“They're probably in the kitchen cooking Edward's dinner.”

“That young man.
He eats and eats.”

“And dictates the menu, I understand?”

Lady Price gave a small smile. “He is our guest.”

Josette sighed. “I like the sound of fish, Mama. Don't listen to my complaints.”

“Tell me everything.” Lady Price looked her
over,
searching for something she did not appear to see.

Josette knew what it was about. “Captain Carter called in Bedfield.”

“Yes,” her mother said, twirling a pin in her fingers. “We've been waiting for news.”

“Oh, Mama,” Josette exclaimed, and the emotions so carefully bottled up since the proposal bubbled out. “You would not believe my surprise.”

Her mother smiled faintly.

“I had no idea…”

“You are an appealing young woman. Why does it surprise you?”

Josette flushed at her mother's candor, realizing at the same time she expected an announcement. “He came only weeks ago. And he did make an offer, Mama, but I could not accept him.”

Her mother's expression did not change but her eyes stirred with some unexpressed thought. She said, “I fully expected news by now. I must admit I’m surprised you did not accept.”

“But why?”

“He's a good man, Josette. And he's been very attentive to our family.”

“I've hardly had more than a few moments private conversation with him.”

“You knew him well enough to have a defined opinion.”

“I was wrong,” Josette confessed. “I only ached for George. I never meant to make Carter feel the brunt of it.”

“He admires you, Josette. He would not have stayed so long at Beddingfield Park or with his aunt if he had not.”

“You don't mean to imply he stayed for me?” Josette got up and went to her mother's window. It faced the rolling hills beyond the family’s acreage. Her mother's opinions astonished her as much as the captain's proposal. What would she think if she knew he kept a bastard in the village?

“You are too modest, but I've never doubted you would make a wise choice when it came your time.”

“You think it was foolish for me to refuse?”

“He's a gentleman. I thought I saw feelings for him in you, but perhaps I was mistaken.”

“Whenever did I show feelings?”

“He certainly stirred some emotion.”

“He is handsome, Mama. But unlike me in so many ways.”

“And what a compliment your tempers would be together.”

“I'm afraid he finds Amy has more spirit.”

Her mother's eyes widened for a moment. “Perhaps you misunderstood. Or perhaps,” she said coming over to the window and putting her arms gently around her daughter, “he is not looking for spirit.”

“I have spirit.”

Her mother laughed softly. “That you do.”

The evening meal celebrated Josette's return, and afterward the family moved into the library. With a small fire waving cheerily from the hearth, Edward, Amy, and Josette put on their melodrama for the household and the visiting Widow Mulgrave, Lady Price's especial friend, who delighted in any sort of entertainment.

Josette recited her lines dutifully and Amy with natural flair.

Even Sir Robert joined in applause and nobody seemed to mind that the Ladies Price
were
dabbling in theatrics with their cousin.

With a pleased look, Edward took a final bow at Amy's insistence. “One final announcement,” he said as the applause dissipated and the room quieted. Everyone waited with baited breath but Edward's countenance turned rueful. “I'm leaving for London tomorrow.”

A surprised silence was the room's reply until Amy cried out first, “Oh Edward, you mustn't!”