“She brought it on herself,” snipped Mrs. Towler. “We’ve been warning her as such for months.”
In an attempt to lighten the room’s heavy atmosphere, Cassandra shrugged. “Who among us has not made ill-advised decisions in our youth?”
Both turned toward her at the statement.
Mrs. Towler folded her hands in front of her. “Rachel is hardly a youth, Miss Hale. She is a young woman of sixteen. Far too old to allow romanticism to cloud her judgment. You cannot be so ignorant. You know as well as I that if anyone learns of this her reputation will be in tatters.”
The harshness in the woman’s tone irked Cassandra. It was clear that Rachel had made a poor decision, but regardless, Rachel needed understanding, not censure.
Cassandra was not exactly sure what came over her. She was extremely hot, after just being extremely cold, and she was tired. Annoyed. And the words rushed out of her mouth before she checked them. “I would think that at a time like this, Miss Warrington’s well-being would be more of a concern than what others say about her.”
Mrs. Towler jerked her head up. “My goodness. You’ve an awfully strong opinion on something—and someone—about whom you know very little. It borders on the offensive.”
The frigid response echoed in the silence and made it clear that she had, indeed, overstepped her bounds. Cassandra looked down at the Persian rug beneath her feet before she raised her chin. “My apologies, then, if I have offended.”
At this Mr. Warrington intervened. “We are in debt to you, Miss Hale. By Rachel’s own admission you were instrumental in helping her successfully navigate the situation.”
Mrs. Towler followed his words. “I hope we can trust you for discretion.”
Cassandra raised her eyebrows in incredulity. For whom would she even tell? “Discretion? My only concern was her safety, Mrs. Towler. I certainly would never intrude if I didn’t think it necessary, and I’d never reveal anything that would cast a young woman’s integrity into question.”
Cassandra’s irritation mounted as Mrs. Towler’s smug expression intensified. She might not know much about family dynamics, but she hoped they were kinder than this to Rachel. Her inability to mask her true opinions had always been a downfall, and she now teetered on the cusp of saying more than she ought. “I must be going. I can see myself out.”
Fortunately, no one had taken her cloak when she arrived. She snatched it from the chair next to her, fixed her eyes on the door, and headed toward it.
But Mr. Warrington stepped in front of her, blocking the way. “You can’t leave alone. It’s far too dark and late.”
“Yes, I can.” She met his gaze, stopping a few feet before him. “I am quite capable of walking home.”
He shook his head. “I do not doubt that, but it is now the middle of the night. No need for you to leave. We can certainly offer you lodgings here.”
“Thank you, no.” She almost laughed at the ridiculousness of the suggestion. “I will take my leave.”
Chapter 9
James stared at Miss Hale, noting her tightly pressed lips and the flush on her high cheekbones. She was angry, and rightfully so. She’d offered them a service, a kindness, and now his mother-in-law’s behavior toward her was inexcusable.
He could not blame Miss Hale for wanting to leave, but he needed to speak with her privately. He now had more questions than answers, and he must ensure that Standish was truly out of his sister’s life. After all, she was the only one who could answer his questions without bias. Complicating the matter further, Mr. Shepard’s warnings of violence and turmoil were fresh in his mind. What if this woman walked home and was attacked?
No, this could not be permitted.
Miss Hale wrapped her cape over her arm and moved around him toward the door.
He stepped forward just enough to prevent her from exiting completely. “Then allow me to call the carriage. There’s no need to walk.”
Miss Hale’s jaw twitched, and fire smoldered as she glared once again toward Mrs. Towler. “If we are to speak of reputations, then returning in the carriage from Briarton Park would not only wake everyone on the high street but severely damage mine. I thank you for the offer, but a carriage is not necessary.”
How could he make her comprehend? “Then I’ll escort you myself. I cannot allow a young woman to be walking alone on Briarton property. There are certain dangers of which you might not be aware.”
Miss Hale tossed her hair away from her face in annoyance. “As Mrs. Towler has so adeptly indicated, the last thing I—or any other young woman, for that matter—would want is to be seen walking alone with a man in the middle of the night.”
Mrs. Towler smirked. “So you do care, then, what others think?”
James ignored his mother-in-law’s ill-timed comment. “I must, in good faith, see you back to the village safely, especially after the kindness you have shown Rachel. Moreover, I would like to ask you a little more about what exactly happened—in private.”
Miss Hale stared at him, and then her shoulders, which had been held in tight defensiveness, slumped slightly. She sighed and adjusted the cloak on her arm. “Very well, for the sake of Rachel.”
Without another word or glance in his direction, Miss Hale exited from the room.
