“Thank you, Joe, yes.” I passed my hand down Lily’s neck and transferred the rope to him.
He rubbed his jaw. “I’m very sorry, miss. I ’ate to see ’er go.”
I nodded, blinking back new tears. “Thank you.”
Back at the house, a glowering Cassie confronted me in the hall. “Lizzy, Papa told me what happened today, and I want to speak to you.” She took my hand and led me to the sitting-room, shutting the door behind her. “I am very sorry about Lily. I know you will miss her. But I do not believe you appreciate the significance of my father’s largesse.”
“That is not true. I—”
“Allow me to finish.” Cassie thrust her hand towards me. “Any other person in your place would be elated to receive such a generous gift. Instead, you have made my father question his judgment. He is fretting that he has made you unhappy. This is outrageous! You must go to him and set his mind at ease.”
How dare she? Words of denial danced on my tongue, but before I voiced them, the verity of her assertion silenced me. My shoulders sank. How could I have been so ungrateful to my uncle? He had been an admirable guardianto me, notwithstanding my early childhood years when he had paid me little to no attention. As much as I wished he had not sold Lily, I should not be the cause of his discontent. “You are right.”
“And I think…” Her head edged to the side. “Wait…did you just agree with me?”
“Yes, I shall talk to Uncle at once. Is he still in his study?”
“I believe so.” She grinned, opened the door, and swept her hand to indicate I should go ahead of her. “Is this not an odd circumstance? For once,Iam the one to giveyoua lecture.”
“Indeed.”
Upon my return to the study, my uncle stood. “Have a seat, Lizzy.”
“No, thank you, I shall not be long.” I stood before him with my right hand gripping my left arm. “Pray accept my apology for my earlier behaviour. Despite your warning, I allowed my emotions to overrule my logic and failed to appreciate your kind consideration. You could have chosen to use the money in any number of ways. I am grateful to you.”
My uncle stepped closer, and his arms enclosed me. “You are more than welcome, my dear. You must know you are like a daughter to me, and I want only the best for you.”
I coughed against a thickness in my throat. “Yes, I know.” Any iota of resentment I may have harboured for him dissipated. I directed the sole remaining animosity in my breast to Mr. Darcy, a presumptuous man who used his wealth to take whatever he wanted—without regard for how his actions affected anyone else.
Darcy
On the ride back to Springvale, I whistled an old Scottish folk song my mother used to sing to me. At the house, I bathed, then reviewed my correspondence. While Winston dressed me for dinner, I shared the news of mynew purchase. My valet expressed his agreement that I had chosen a fine gift for my sister.
In the drawing-room, I took a seat near the Haywards and enquired after my friend’s wellbeing. Once Hayward assured me that his headache had receded, I related my successful transaction with Mr. Barton. Yet neither of them offered congratulations. Rather, my friend grimaced, and the colour drained from his wife’s countenance. “What is the matter?” My sight darted between them.
Hayward gritted his teeth. “Lily, though she legally belongs to Mr. Barton, isMiss Bennet’s horse. She trained the mare from the time Lily was a foal, so they have developed an extraordinary bond. She will not take the news well.”
Miss Bennet: the customer in the haberdashery. Her fair image thrust to the forepart of my mind. Lily had beenherhorse? I swallowed. “Who is Miss Bennet, and what is her connexion to the Bartons?”
“She is Mr. Barton’s niece and has been his ward since her parents died sixteen or seventeen years ago of a virulent ague.”
“I do not understand how you could have purchased Lily.” Mrs. Hayward studied me, wearing a marked frown. “I should have averred that Mr. Barton would never agree to sell that horse under any circumstances. How did you convince him to part with her?”
“I…um…offered him one thousand pounds.”
“One thousandpounds?” She shared a quick look with Hayward. “If I may ask, why would you offer so much money for one horse?”
Once I had explained my rationale for purchasing Lily, understanding lightened the expressions of my friend and his wife. Nevertheless, a twinge radiated from deep within my core. “I wish I had known of Miss Bennet’s attachment to Lily. Why do you suppose Mr. Barton agreed to the sale?”
Hayward slanted his head. “Barton has suffered financial difficulties over the years and has been trying to rebuild his coffers. I suspect he could not forgo your offer.”
“Oh, fie!” Mrs. Hayward expelled her breath in a huff. “This was badly done on Mr. Barton’s part—that horse means the world to Miss Bennet. And he could have saved a pretty penny by now if he had not indulged Miss Barton’s every wish over the years. That young lady has an extravagant wardrobe and receives everything else her heart desires while Miss Bennet wears her castoffs!”
My friend reached out to touch his wife’s arm. “Now, now, Susan. It is not so difficult to understand that after his wife’s death, Mr. Barton sought to make up for the loss of his daughter’s mother with material goods. Besides, unlike Miss Barton, Miss Bennet does not covet such finery. Rather, she is content to have plenty of books to read.” Mrs. Hayward opened her mouth to respond, but he silenced her with a raised palm. “Do not misunderstand me. I do not agree with Barton’s treatment of the two ladies. Furthermore, I hate to see Miss Bennet lose Lily, but what is done is done. She may take a modicum of comfort from the fact that her horse will have a loving home and will be well cared for.” His sight drifted to me. “I shall reassure her of this fact when the opportunity arises.”
That might be a small consolation to her at least. Mrs. Hayward changed the subject with a mention of a new tea shop on Minster Street, but Miss Bennet’s image would not budge from my cognisance. Would she hold my purchase of Lily against me? And why should I be troubled if she did? I roused from my rumination with the realisation that Mrs. Hayward had uttered Miss Bennet’s name again.
What had she said? She had already shifted to another topic: tomorrow’s dinner guests, the Ware family. I took advantage of the first pause in her speech. “Excuse me, but I missed what you said a moment ago with regard to Miss Bennet.”
