***
James did not look at his mother-in-law. He knew she would not approve of his escorting Miss Hale home.
And he did not care.
For Miss Hale alone had answers to their questions that were presently the most important thing in the world.
He grabbed his discarded greatcoat and followed her from the sitting room.
Miss Hale traversed Briarton’s corridors as if she’d done so a dozen times. She swept down the angled staircase and through the darkened great hall toward the main entrance, with swift motions indicating that she could not exit the house soon enough.
And could he blame her?
Without a word he followed her out into the cold, still night. Above them the clouds had cleared and stars twinkled. He’d not even had time to grab a lantern. At least the moonlight was bright enough to light the way. He trotted to catch up and then fell into step next to her. “That was inexcusable. I’m sorry.”
Her pace slowed slightly, but she did not divert her gaze from the path before her. Even in her haste her movements exuded grace. “She certainly has her opinions.”
“My mother-in-law has good intentions, but if she’s angry or disagrees, there is no changing her mind.” He tried to lighten his tone. “We’ve not even been able to retain a butler for longer than a month because of heropinions.”
Clearly not interested in his attempt at lighter conversation, she lifted her cape, shook it out as she walked, and wrapped it around her shoulders.
He didn’t dare offer assistance.
They walked in silence until her cloak was fastened. “A teacher once told me that opinions, thoughts, and actions are the only things a woman can truly own. Everything else is subject to the influence of others. ’Tis one thing for Mrs. Towler to express her anger to me. I’ll likely never see her again. But it’s another matter entirely to take it out on Rachel. I don’t know specifics, but I do know that young women of Rachel’s age require patience and understanding. If you do not offer these, you risk pushing her away forever.”
He could not fault Miss Hale’s brashness. She’d been roped into a difficult situation in the middle of the night, and to intensify the situation, she’d been insulted. Even so, the walk to Anston was not a long one. He needed to keep the facts at hand and find out what really transpired. “Can you tell me what happened? Please. I—I need your help.”
She slowed at his request and expelled a breath, pluming frosty air into the night. “I’m residing at Mrs. Martin’s boardinghouse, andI heard them arguing outside of my window. As far as I witnessed, everything transpired as Rachel said. The young man wanted her to leave with him, and she did not want to go. He began to get violent, so I let him know his actions were being observed.”
“And that’s it?” Miss Hale was quickly becoming one of the most unusual women he had ever encountered. “You just interrupted?”
“Of course.”
“You had no idea who they were! Were you not frightened for your safety?”
“No. I only saw a woman who needed help. Besides, I always carry a weapon with me.”
He stopped walking. “A weapon? Surely you jest.”
Miss Hale shook her head. “I’ve a dagger in my boot this very moment. Do you really think I’d have agreed to walk alone with a man in the middle of the night without one?”
He was not exactly sure how to respond.
“It surprises me that not every lady takes such precautions when out alone,” she continued matter-of-factly. “At the school where I taught, the manservant was a retired soldier who had lost his leg in battle. He was determined to teach every student the art of defense. It was not ladylike, of course, but women must be able to protect themselves. I think we can agree that men do not always have a woman’s best interests at heart.”
Never had he heard a woman speak so openly on this topic. James tried to imagine Rachel, Elizabeth, or even Mrs. Towler with a dagger. It was almost comical, and yet he could see the benefit of such a skill. How would Rachel have reacted differently this night if she had known how to protect herself?
They were nearing the edge of Briarton’s property, and he still had so many questions. “Did you see Standish leave?”
“I saw him head toward the inn, but I did not see him depart. He said there was a carriage waiting.”
Disappointment stung. James wanted to know for certain that this man was miles away from his sister and that he could never do her harm.
This entire evening—this entire day, actually—had been strange, but this was perhaps the strangest way to end it. They walked over the bridge in silence and drew to a stop at the foot of the bridge as it opened up to the high street.
She turned to him, and it struck him as the first time she had fully met his gaze, and even in the dark he could make out the charming slope of her nose. “You should be proud of your sister, Mr. Warrington. She made an error in judgment, and I know you must be frustrated, but she rectified it before permanent damage could be done. We all learn as we grow, and she, in the end, acted with bravery instead of cowering to a man’s will.”
He had not thought of the night’s events in that manner. He considered her actions selfish. Foolish even. But brave?
