The Reverend nodded fervently. ‘Unquestionably.’ The relief in his voice had both daughters regarding him doubtfully. ‘What kind of a friend would I be were I not prepared to drop everything to provide what comfort I can in his time of need?’
‘You have a duty to your parishioners,’ protested Grace. ‘What of them?’
‘I will not be gone long,’ the Reverend declared. ‘I will ensure my duties are taken care of in my absence. In fact, I believe his mother will be departing this mortal coil and in the arms of the Almighty any day now.’
‘I thought you said she wasn’t religious,’ Charity retorted.
‘She isn’tyet,’ her father responded through gritted teeth.
‘I would have thought Percy is more than capable of seeing to his mother’s last rites,’ retorted Grace. ‘He certainly has more piety than you do Father.’
Reverend Shackleford gave an indignant hmph, offering up an internal prayer for the slight untruths he was beingforcedto utter while at the same time asking to be delivered from deuced interfering daughters.
‘I am certain it will be no more than a matter of days. Agnes will not be alone. After all, you and your sister are ladies now, Charity, and able to provide … err … womanly diversions to keep your stepmother entertained.’
Charity snorted. ‘The only items Stepmother needs to keep her entertained are her periodicals and her smelling salts, and Prudence is more than capable of providing both.’ She shook her head. ‘I think I should come with you, Father.’
‘Absolutely not.’ The Reverend’s vehement response increased his two daughters’ suspicions.
‘What are you not telling us, Father?’ Grace queried, her eyes narrowing.
‘What about Chastity?’ The Reverend countered instead of answering the question. ‘You wouldn’t wish to leave your twin. You’re usually joined at the deuced hip. And of a certainty, I cannot take you both.’ He paused, then narrowed his eyes in return, suddenly aware of an inconsistency. ‘And anyway, why must Prudence be the one to provide succour to your stepmother?’
‘Chastity is coming with me to Faith’s,’ Grace declared abruptly.
Augustus Shackleford frowned, sensing something amiss. ‘Why only Chastity?’ he queried. ‘Would not both girls benefit from some sea air?’
‘It would be entirely too much for Faith in her delicate situation,’ Grace responded briskly. ‘I think Charity will be better placed with you.’ She got to her feet, signifying an end to the conversation. ‘I will have Mrs Tenner put together some medicinal supplies to help with any pain.’ She glanced over at her sister. ‘Charity is eminently capable of providing the necessary assistance.’
Then without giving her father time to respond, she swept out of the room, Charity at her heels, leaving the Reverend pondering which of them had just been fed the larger bag of moonshine.
∞∞∞
Seated comfortably in the Duke of Blackmore’s second-best carriage the following morning, Charity closed her eyes and feigned sleep. The last thing she wanted was an interrogation, and even behind her closed lids, she could sense her father eying her speculatively. He was a master at diverting attention from his own Banbury stories by focusing on someone else’s.
Cuddling Freddy to her, and revelling in the warmth the foxhound supplied, Charity’s thoughts turned to her twin sister. Father was right. They’d been practically inseparable throughout the whole of their lives. Unlike Faith and Hope, their older twin siblings, Charity and Chastity were almost identical. In thought as well as looks.
Until Patience’s unexpected wedding. In the last eighteen monthssomethinghad changed. Oh they still finished one another’s sentences, laughed at the same things, enjoyed ribbing Anthony, ran rings around their father and stepmother. But something was different. It was as though, of a sudden, their paths had begun to separate.
They’d both always enjoyed reading, very often the same book at the same time, but after Patience left, Chastity’s taste began to lean more towards romance - much of it entirely unsuitable reading matter for a clergyman’s daughter. She always seemed to be swooning over some imaginary hero - handsome naturally.
Up until Patience’s wedding, both girls had spent much of their time outdoors and were rarely inside the vicarage in between breakfast and supper. But lately, Chastity had been looking for excuses to remain inside. She would avidly pour over their stepmother’s periodicals and gossip sheets, endlessly talking about Lord this and Viscount that. Her sudden onset of dreaminess set Charity’s teeth on edge. And now the family was back in Queen Charlotte’s good books, their older sisters had naturally mooted the opportunity of a Season in London.
Once upon a time, both twins would have been horrified at the very idea. But now, Charity knew very well that the only reason Chastity had poo pooed the prospect was out of loyalty to her twin, dramatic though her denouement had been.
It wasn’t that Charity was against the idea of marriage. She certainly didn’t have the same aversion Patience had displayed and was pragmatic enough to know they couldn’t stay under their father’s roof forever. But since every one of their older siblings had achieved advantageous unions, indeed, wildly beyond anyone’s expectations, Charity had felt as if a noose was tightening around her neck. What if she went through therigmarole of a season and nobody offered for her? She wasn’t stupid and was well aware that she and her twin were possessed of more than passable looks. Both boasted a pleasingly thick head of chestnut hair that took a curl nicely. Clear skin and nicely rounded curves. That was what Tempy said anyway.
But while Chastity was possessed of a sunny disposition to go with her romantic notions and pretty face, Charity’s wit most definitely veered towards sarcasm, but worse than that was her complete inability to stifle her honesty. Plain speaking had got her into trouble on so many occasions, though Chastity had loyally taken the blame for at least some of her twin’s faux pas. In that way, Charity supposed she was a little similar to Patience. Though unlike her older sister, she enjoyed the company of others and was notintentionallyrude.
Sighing internally, Charity’s thoughts came back to the present. She realised she was being entirely unfair towards her twin through her unwillingness to play the marriage mart. And Chastity’s idealistic, not to mention her absurdly trusting nature had already got her into trouble. Of course it could have been considerably worse, and next time… Charity shuddered inwardly. This could not be allowed to go on. As soon as she and her father returned from Salcombe, she would send a note to Grace concerning the possibility of a Season. Hopefully, before Chastity ended up ruining herself.
Chapter Three
Jago Carlyon, stepped into the dim interior of the Seven Stars Inn in the fishing port of Dartmouth and waited for his eyes to adjust to the meagre light. He’d been given instructions to meet at five o’clock, but Jago had chosen to arrive well ahead of the assignation. Perhaps he was being over careful, but such caution had saved his life on more than one occasion. Taking his tankard of ale to the very back of the pub, he took a seat in a discreet corner, his chair facing out into the room. The inn was quiet with only a few fishermen congregating around the bar. Jago knew he would attract more than a few surreptitious glances, but he was known well enough in the area to alleviate the misgivings of all but the most suspicious locals.
Naturally, if the inhabitants of the tavern had been aware of Jago’s true reason for being there, they might well have given him a much wider berth. As it was, they supposed him a simple labourer, albeit a well-mannered one and assumed he was treating himself to a well-earned tankard of ale after a hard day.
As it was, they were wrong on both counts. Indeed, they believed his name to be Cardell, but that was as fictitious ashis occupation. Oh, he helped offload the cargo of the merchant ships docked by the quayside well enough, but that was to cover up his true purpose for being in Dartmouth.
