“Ha.”
Colin glanced back into the dining room, where Sarah lingered with Callum Henshall.
“I remember him from that cricket match against the Sidmouth fishermen. He was on the visitors’ team with us. Good man to have on the pitch.”
“That’s right.”
He looked at her, and his eyes softened in memory. “I also recall you filled in for me when we had to rush Vi to the doctor. The Scotsman insisted you be allowed to play, when others were opposed to a girl joining the game. And from what I heard afterward, you won the naysayers over with your skill.”
Another shrug. “We still lost.”
“Most impressive even so.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Why are you being nice to me all of a sudden?”
He barked in laughter. “Am I usually rude or something?”
“You are usually too busy teasing and roasting me.”
“True enough. At all events, do you like this man? For Sarah, I mean.”
“I do, yes. If she were to marry, she could pick a far stupider person. And he did travel an awfully long way to see her again.”
“Needs a little encouragement, does she?” Colin’s eyes lit with mischief. “I have an idea. Why don’t we help them along?”
“Help them? How?”
“Spark a little romance.” He waggled his fair eyebrows.
“How on earth would we do that?”
“Poor Georgie. You truly aren’t a romantic, are you? I will have to give the scheme more thought, but a few ideas spring to mind. We could make sure the two of them dance together at one of the parties your family’s planning. And subtly hint that we’ve noticed how much the one admires the other. Oh, and of course, there must be a kissing bough. My personal favorite Christmas decoration. Does mistletoe grow around here?”
Georgie’s mind reeled to keep up. “I ... don’t think so. Oh, wait! I saw a big clump of it during one of my rambles. In a tree on Vicarage Road.”
He grinned. “There, you see? I knew you’d be the perfect partner in this plot. And no time to waste. Christmas Eve is tomorrow. Can you take me there now?”
“Certainly. It’s a bit of a walk, though.” She looked skeptically at his shiny black shoes with crimson ribbon ties and red leather heels. “You’ve already walked to Temple Cottage and back. Are you sure you can walk nearly the same distance again in those pointy shoes?”
“Ah. I think you mean these very stylish shoes, perfect for a pink-of-fashion like me. Would you have me be an old-fashioned square-toes?”
Georgie looked heavenward and shook her head. “Let’s go. Just no complaining if your feet hurt.”
She led the way across town, past the church and eventually the vicarage, which stood near the north entrance of town. The vicarage house was old but had recently been enlarged and improved.
When they neared, they saw Cora sitting on a stool outside, wearing a maid’s apron and mobcap. They waved to her, and she waved back before returning to her task of plucking a chicken.
The sight saddened Georgiana.
As they passed, Colin shook his head. “To go from living with a loving grandmother and attending school to this ...? Can nothing be done?”
“The governors will meet tonight to decide her fate officially. I believe Mamma plans to attend and speak up on Cora’s behalf. But this looks to be her future if nothing changes.”
He blew out a deep breath and paused to look back.
For a long moment, the two stood there, watching the girl gingerly pull feathers from a chicken, perhaps for the first time in her life.
Then Colin said, “I suppose we had best get on.”
