It was likely Delia was looking at some form of frippery and Matilda was in search of writing materials. “Winifred, stay with your sisters. No chasing bunnies or anything else.”
She gave a nod then plopped down next to her sisters.
The three should not be sitting on the ground, but he’d address that later.
“I am going to find Delia and Matilda and bring them back. Do not move from this spot, any of you.”
“I will keep watch so that you can retrieve your other nieces, Lord Melcombe.”
He looked up into Miss Claywell’s warm green eyes. They’d always reminded him of brilliant emeralds “Thank you.”
Preston rushed to retrieve Delia and directed her across the street and back to her sisters. He then found Matilda and escorted her back to the others while wondering exactly what he should say to Miss Claywell.
When he returned to the bakery, the nieces were no longer sitting on the ground, but had moved to a bench, were sitting straight with their ankles crossed in a proper manner. Miss Claywell stood before him. There was an empty seat beside Delia which Matilda slipped into, and now the girls were arranged by age.
“You received a letter,” Delia held it out to him. “I paid the post from the funds left from the bakery.”
“Thank you.” Preston took it and noted that it was from his Uncle Gerald. He took a deep breath, and willed his heart to quit pounding, and hoped that an explanation as to why Miss Claywell was in Willanton would be found within. “Excuse me for a moment.”
Preston,
We bungled it.
Miss Claywell completely misunderstood the conversation between me and her uncle. She was not privy to the full extent of the offer I proposed, or everything contained in the settlement agreements. All she heard was a portion of the conversation and got it into her head that Lord Lansdown was going to force her to marryme. Had her uncle known of the misunderstanding, he would have explained, but Miss Claywell did not give him the opportunity and ran away that night. I can assure you that this is completely out of character for such a sensible miss. She is one of the most intelligent and rational females of my acquaintance, and this response is in complete contrast to her normal disposition, and frankly has me and her uncle quite bewildered.
Her funds are limited and there is only one place in which she can escape, and that is to Eyemouth in Scotland, where her mother’s family lives. She wouldn’t go to any of Lansdown’s sons because they’d return her.
When her uncle and I checked the mail coach routes, we realized the one that travels to Eyemouth will also go through Willanton, and it is our hope that my missive will reach you in time to stop her from continuing and explain the truth of the matter. I also fear that this missive might reach you after she’s gone, though we hope that isn’t the case. We also pray that she is on her way to Eyemouth, otherwise, we don’t know where she’d run off to, nor even know where to begin to search for her.
Lansdown has already written to her mother’s family explaining the situation in the event she arrives on their doorstep. All we can hope is that someone explains before she disappears for good.
I promise to write when I receive further word.
Sincerely,
Uncle Gerald
Bloody hell! What did he do now?
Tell her the truth?
He was certain she’d reject him. No woman wants a marriage proposal by way of an uncle, but that’s what he’d done, which he still blamed on brandy.
Yet, she had a right to the truth, even if he looked the fool.
At least he now knew why she’d been on a mail coach.
Preston folded the missive and returned to his nieces and Miss Claywell, searching for the proper words to explain the misunderstanding that sent her fleeing from her home.
“Miss Claywell, I, um, you see.”
Blast, just say the words! He’d been laughed at before and survived. It would be humiliating coming from her, but it was best to have it done.
“Yes?”
“You see, I believe we should…” Should what?
“Uncle Preston?” Delia looked at him with concern. “Are you well?”
