No. She was angry, that was all. And she’d use whatever she could to let Sophia know that. Which she’d accomplished, and now, Sophia decided, it was past time for her to leave.
“I’m sorry, I must go in now.” Sophia picked up her basket again and stepped to the side to go around the other woman.
But Miss Timperman blocked her path. “Not before you hear what I have to say.”
Sophia gritted her teeth. She’d already heard. What else could Miss Timperman possibly have to say?
“Matthew was supposed to bemyhusband, not yours.” Miss Timperman pointed a finger at Sophia to emphasize her words. “And I don’t give up easily. If I were you, I’d ask him for an annulment today. Then pack your things and leave.”
Sophia blinked at her. It was the most preposterous suggestion she’d ever heard. And after she’d tried and tried again to give Miss Timperman the benefit of the doubt. Why, she’d even defended her to Matthew! “No,” she said, simply but firmly.
A little smile curled Miss Timperman’s lips, but it wasn’t friendly at all. In fact, it had an almost cruel slant to it. Chills prickled Sophia’s skin, and she gripped the basket even tighter.
“If you don’t do as I suggest, you’ll be very sorry,” Miss Timperman said.
The woman had clearly taken leave of her senses. “What does that mean?”
“It means exactly what I said. You’ll wish youhadannulled this marriage and left town.” And with that, Miss Timperman turned on her heel and left.
Sophia stared after her. What had just happened?
Miss Timperman had threatened her. She ought to have laughed it off, but there was something in the woman’s voice and the way she looked at Sophia that made the threat seem very, very real.
And very dangerous.
Chapter Twenty-two
SOPHIA’S RECOUNTINGof the events that had taken place behind the Cantons’ home replayed through Matthew’s mind as he made his way to the boarding house that evening. He didn’t want to believe it—that Miss Timperman had threatened Sophia—but Sophia was insistent that was exactly what had happened.
Sophia had been so certain just a few days ago that Miss Timperman was simply brokenhearted. But if what the woman had said to her was true, she was more than sad. More than angry even.
And Matthew was determined to put an end to all of it.
He lifted his hand to open the Darbys’ boarding house door when a voice called his name. Turning, he found exactly the person for whom he was searching.
“Miss Timperman,” he said, his voice kind but businesslike.
