She gritted her teeth. “You disobedient, odious girl!” She took a step toward me. “You will do as I say, or I shall depart this very instant with your brothers, and you shall never be permitted to see them again.”
I wondered why she hadn’t already dragged me to the carriage by the arm, but then I noticed Mrs. Kellaway, out of breath once again, rushing up beside me.
Aunt Ruth’s gaze flickered in her direction before settling on me again. I couldn’t predict how cordial she would be in Mrs. Kellaway’s presence, but it was bound to be better than if we were alone.
It took all my concentration not to obey her demands, especially with Mrs. Kellaway watching me, and my brothers trapped inside the carriage.
I glanced behind me, surprised to see the Everards approaching from the drive. They must have thought we were leaving, and had come to bid their farewells.
Behind them, Mr. Kellaway, Edmund, Alice, and Miss Lyons followed. I took a deep breath. Aunt Ruth was one against many now. I held perfectly still as the others stepped up beside Mrs. Kellaway, quietly observing the scene.
The air was tense, and I was certain they could easily perceive Aunt Ruth’s anger.
“I do not wish to marry Mr. Frampton,” I repeated, mostly for the others to hear. “Please, aunt, do not force me to wed him.” I squared my shoulders, preparing to deliver a piece of news that would shake everyone. “I have received another offer of marriage from Dr. Owen Kellaway, their second son.” I gestured at Mr. and Mrs. Kellaway. I barely had time to register the surprise on her face. “He has offered to take guardianship over my brothers as well. So you shall finally be free of all three of us.”
A quiet scoff came from my left, and I saw Miss Lyons cast her gaze to the sky. “Please, not another false engagement, Miss Downing. You are causing great embarrassment to yourself.”
Alice scowled at her, tugging on her arm.
“This time it’s not false,” I said.
“This time?” Aunt Ruth gave a hard laugh. “I won’t tolerate another moment of your excuses and lies.” Her eyes darkened.“Bid your farewells and get in the carriage. I already have your brothers, and I will not hesitate to take them home without you.”
Mr. Kellaway took a small step forward, and so did Edmund. Both men wore deep scowls. Mr. Everard, even with his frail build, seemed prepared to leap forward and wrench my brothers free of the carriage if he had to.
“I can attest to my brother’s affection for Miss Downing,” Edmund said, his stern brow directed at Aunt Ruth. “He told me himself.”
Alice stepped forward tentatively. “I shall add my witness as well. Owen’s feelings for Miss Downing were made quite obvious at the ball yesterday.”
Miss Lyons stared at the back of Alice’s head with a look of betrayal, a furrow between her delicate brows.
“And I have been most certain of their attachment from the very beginning,” Mrs. Everard added with wide eyes. Her jowls wobbled as she stabbed that sincere look in Aunt Ruth’s direction. I wasn’t certain if Mrs. Everard’s witness would add or retract credibility, but still, I was grateful for it.
Aunt Ruth released a huffed breath. She seemed to be growing flustered with the attention, and her vexation was rising. Mrs. Kellaway stepped forward and looped her arm through mine.
Aunt Ruth glared at me. “Even if you are telling the truth, it is no matter. That is not the arrangement we have made. Mr. Frampton has offered the same thing, and he offered it first. He is a respectable man, and you are obligated to him. Everyone in Silton knows it.” Her eyes flashed with anger. “Surely Mrs. Kellaway will attest to the importance of honorable behavior and the fulfilling of obligations.”
Mrs. Kellaway’s brow pinched, and I had never seen her so discomposed. Anger shone through her usually kind disposition.“I don’t think you are one to speak on the matter of fulfilling obligations honorably, Mrs. Filbee.”
Aunt Ruth’s face fell, a dark shade of crimson rising to her cheeks. She sputtered a few jumbled words before a glare settled over her face.
Mrs. Kellaway’s voice was steady and strong, her gaze direct. “Do you know how often I have wished that my dear friends had left their children to my care instead? Not only would I have done all I could to make them comfortable in my home, but I would have allowed them to grieve. I would have allowed them to bechildren. I would have loved them these past five years as I love them now.” Her eyes shone with tears as she held me close to her side, but her voice was still stern. “Your treatment of Annette, Peter, and Charles is not only dishonorable. It is detestable.”
Aunt Ruth’s jaw slackened. “I beg your pardon.”
Mrs. Kellaway held her head high, eyes narrowed. “I do not presume you hold any legal right to refuse or accept a marriage proposal for Annette. She is above the age of majority at one and twenty. If she hasn’t yet, my husband and I will gladly take her to sign all the necessary papers to discharge your guardianship and receive any inheritance her parents have left her with.”
I had never heard of such papers and legal proceedings. Aunt Ruth had never mentioned it. But Mrs. Kellaway still didn’t know the recent threats Aunt Ruth had made against my brothers and the control she still claimed over them.
I glanced at the carriage and spotted Peter in the window. Charles pressed his hands to the glass beside him. The tears on his cheeks made my heart wrench, and I was tempted to shove Aunt Ruth out of my way to reach them.
I glared at her, my anger tumbling close to the surface.
Aunt Ruth inhaled deeply, as if to compose herself, as she addressed Mrs. Kellaway. “I think it is a testiment to myhospitable nature that I have continued to care for Annette even after my obligation expired. I have been kind enough to secure her future with Mr. Frampton so she will be taken care of. She is engaged tohim, and that is the end of this conversation. She will come with me now, or she will take your carriage home later. It makes no difference to me. Either way, I am taking the boys home with me now.” She marched toward the carriage door.
I lunged forward, grabbing her by the back of the dress.
She spun around, thrusting me off of her with a firm push. I tripped on my hem, but Mr. Kellaway and Edmund caught me before I hit the ground.
