As soon as the words escaped her mouth, a young woman beside Mr. Baker turned in their direction. She was tall, with fiery red curls that spilled out the front of her straw bonnet. When she saw Prudence, her eyes flashed with recognition. She strode forward to meet them on the path, abandoning her brother and their other companions.
“Miss Hale, is it?” she asked with a smile.
Prudence nodded, coming to a halt in front of her new friend. “Miss Baker, a pleasure to see you again.”
“Likewise.” The young woman gave a polite nod, her brown eyes shifting in Sophia’s direction.
“My elder sister, Miss Sophia Hale,” Prudence said. “And this is Miss Marianne Baker.”
Sophia greeted her with a smile, listening quietly as the two women discussed the origins of their gowns and ribbons. Sophia’s mind wandered again to Lord Finchley’s proposal, and her stomach twisted with dread. She had been trying to put it out of her mind, but the urgency of the matter couldn’t be ignored.
“You look far too somber to be wearing such a cheerful color,” Miss Baker said with a laugh.
It took Sophia a moment to realize Miss Baker was addressing her. She looked down at her pastel yellow gown, forcing a smile to her face. “Forgive me, I was lost in thought. I thank you for the reminder to smile. My sister says I don’t do it nearly enough.”
“She doesn’t,” Prudence said with a thoughtful nod.
“Did I hear that you accompanied Lord Finchley to the theatre a few weeks past?” Miss Baker asked.
“I did.” Sophia twisted her fingers together.
“I have heard rumors that he is finally ready to marry. Do you think he will propose soon?”
Sophia’s face grew hotter. The gossip must have been spreading faster than she realized. “I don’t know. One can never rely on such a thing with certainty.”
Miss Baker’s nose twitched, and she rubbed it with the back of her finger. Her eyes glistened. “No. One cannot.”
“No, indeed.” Prudence stared down at the grass, the smile wiped clean off her face.
Sophia wanted to groan. All of her efforts to improve her sister’s mood had been undone in an instant.
“What distresses you?” Miss Baker asked, touching Prudence’s sleeve.
“I will not trouble you with the tale. My sister has dragged me out of the house in order to avoid the subject.”
“You may confide in me if you wish.” Miss Baker gave a soft smile. “I have been nursing a broken heart of my own.”
Prudence scowled, taking Miss Baker’s hand as if they had been lifelong friends. “Who broke your heart? I should like to see him sent to Newgate for his crimes.”
Miss Baker’s eyes lit up with delight. “I should like to see that too.” But then her smile faded. “If I may spare any lady the heartache this man has caused me, then I will feel much more content.” She leaned forward with a whisper that barely cut through the breeze. “His name is Mr. Isaac Ellington.”
Sophia’s stomach dropped. Prudence didn’t even attempt to conceal her shock as she shot a glance in Sophia’s direction. She corrected her expression quickly, but not before Miss Baker noticed. “Are you acquainted with him?” she asked, eyes wide.
Prudence adjusted the pendant at her neck with a nervous laugh. “Yes. He—” she shot a glance in Sophia’s direction.
“We knew him when we lived in Cornwall,” Sophia finished in a quick voice. “It was years ago.” Her throat was dry as she swallowed.
“How I wish I could have met the two of you first!” Miss Baker sighed. “Perhaps you might have warned me. Has he always been so quick to wound unsuspecting women?” Her light brows drew together. “Perhaps not. Perhaps I was the only one he cast aside so easily.”
Sophia’s heart stung, the pain spreading throughout her entire chest. Her legs were heavy, her knees threatening to buckle beneath her. Miss Baker was another of Isaac’s victims—proof that he hadn’t changed his ways. This was the evidence she needed. Blood rushed past her ears, blending the sound of Miss Baker’s voice with the distant birdsong. She felt like she was drowning, despair dragging her down to the very floor of the sea. She had almost believed that Isaac was genuine.
And now, she felt like a complete and utter fool.
Surely Stepfather would have a metaphor for how Isaac toyed with his prey, relating him to some sort of animal. But at the moment, all she could think of was her deep disappointment. She had spent years hoping that he had made a mistake by deserting her, but it seemed that the behavior was actually just part of his character.
“I’m certain you are not the only one,” Prudence said. Her voice was calm, but she cast a worried glance in Sophia’s direction. “When did this happen?”
Miss Baker looked down at the grass. “Just last month. I was led to believe that Mr. Ellington would propose to me. He even asked my brother for his consent…and then…well, he must have changed his mind.”
