Sophie asked, “Did you ever come to love Mr. Thrupton, or he you?”
“Honestly, no. But over the years, I found that the more respect and kindness I showed him, the more respect and kindness I received in return. I know not everyone is as fortunate. Some men repay kindness with cruelty. But hopefully Captain Overtree is not that sort of man.”
“How am I to know?”
Mavis pressed her hand. “Perhaps pray about it and ask God to show you. I hope that isn’t hypocritical of me. I admit I have not given God much thought lately. Nor prayed as often as I should.”
Sophie nodded. “It almost seems wrong to beseech Him for help when I have ignored Him all these years. But I confess I have been praying like never before. I don’t know if He hears me, but I hope He forgives me.”
“I believe He does, with all my heart,” Mavis assured her. “Now, may I meet this Captain Overtree? I am no infallible judge of character, as I’ve already proven, but I would like to at least meet the captain and convince myself he is a decent man. I will have to answer to your father, you know, and I can’t have you running off with someone I’ve never even met.”
“Yes, of course you may meet him. I would like that. But he says I must give him my answer by tomorrow morning, and that if we are to marry we must elope to Guernsey without delay.”
“Does he indeed?” Mavis’s eyes sparked with ire. “As if I shall let you sail away with a strange man without a chaperone! I have learned my lesson, better late than never. I will escort you and confirm his intentions are honorable before he has you alone and in his power.”
“Oh, I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Sophie said. “He made it clear it would be a marriage in name only.”
“What?” Mavis gaped at her. “Is the man not flesh and blood?” She shook her head. “Lofty promise, but difficult to swallow. I’d believe a man’s actions before his words. I think we’ve both learned that the hard way.”
Sophie managed to eat a little something at Mavis’s insistence, and then left the cottage and headed down toward her father’s studio. Thoughts in a whirl, she walked through Lynmouth, past shops and public houses, barely seeing what she passed. Then a familiar face caught her eye and she drew up short. There, through the window of the Village Inn, she was stunned to see Wesley’s friend, Carlton Keith. She had thought he’d left with Wesley. What was he still doing in town?
She pushed through the inn door and slid onto the bench across from the man before he could say a word. He paused, glass raised halfway to his lips in his one remaining hand. He might be attractive if he were sober and groomed—and if he wiped the ever-present smirk off his face.
She abruptly began, “I thought you went with him.”
He shook his dark head, eyes bleary with drink. “I wasn’t invited. No—that’s not fair. I had insufficient funds for the journey, and for once my generous friend was disinclined to pay my way.” He smirked. “Wesley went without me, so I plan to return to Overtree Hall without him.” Mr. Keith lifted his pint. “As soon as my ale money runs out.”
She didn’t fully trust the man, so she asked indirectly, “You are acquainted with Mr. Overtree’s family?”
“That I am.”
“And... his brother?”
“Yes. Better than most, I’d say. I fought with him in Spain. Saved his life, at the cost of my arm.”
She leaned forward. “What can you tell me about him?”
A wary look entered his eyes. “Why do you ask?”
“I’ve met him. He is here looking for Wesley.”
Carlton Keith sat up straighter and glanced over his shoulder as though the captain might be right behind him. When he spoke again his demeanor changed, his tone less cocksure and more respectful.
“I may have bragged a bit about saving his life. Truth is, he saved mine. After I lost my arm, I was invalided to England and later discharged. While he was on leave, he took me under his wing, so to speak. Got me on my feet again. That’s how I met Wesley in the first place. The captain asked me to keep an eye on his brother, and I’ve been doing so ever since. ’Til now.” Mr. Keith tipped his head back and drained his glass.
“He was yourcommanding officer?” she asked.
“Aye. Poor sot was stuck with me. I had about as much business with a gun as Gainsborough’sBlue Boy.” He laughed. “Green boy, more like, still wet behind the ears. My father purchased my commission, sure it would be the making of me.”
She regarded him seriously. “Was it?”
He flipped up his empty sleeve. “You tell me.”
She was about to feel sorry for the man, until she remembered her own situation.
She decided to keep her reasons for asking to herself, because Carlton Keith knew she and Wesley had spent a great deal of time together alone in his cottage.
“Is he... a good man? Can I trust him?”
