The Dawson brothers announced they would take on all comers bowling, at least until it started to rain, and the matrons quickly gathered to gossip. Ned marveled at how his friends and neighbors all made the most of what, to him, had been at first a disastrous situation.
Instead, he realized he was surrounded by good company.
That is when Clarissa chose to speak.
No one heard her at first. Ned saw her lips moving; he didn’t know why—and then she stood on one of the chairs.“Please,”she shouted. “I have something to say.”
Because she was standing over them, people grew quiet and looked up at her with curiosity.
Clarissa appeared nervous. Ned’s first thought was fear that she was about to publicly denounce him and Gemma. He wished he was standing beside his beloved. Their gazes met across the room. She appeared concerned and yet resigned. He understood. He nodded. Whatever came, they would meet it head-on.
“I have something to say,” Clarissa repeated.
“Then say it,” William Dawson said. “We want a game in before it rains.” He was shushed by his betters.
“This won’t take long,” Clarissa answered him. She looked around the room. Her eyes settled on Squire Nelson and his wife. “I’ll say I’m sorry before I start. I know my news may not be received well.”
“Clarissa—” Ned started. She was confirming his fears.
She ignored him, announcing in ringing tones, “I call off my betrothal to Mr. Thurlowe.”
That stopped him. It stopped everyone. The whole room seemed to freeze, even the Dawson brothers.
Seeing that she had, at last, commanded everyone’s attention, Clarissa said to Ned, “Sir, you paid me a great honor. However, I find I must release you from your promise. I do not wish to marry you.” With that, she stepped down from the chair and walked through the stunned crowd and out the door.
Ned was the first to recover. He went after her.
Clarissa stood not far from the front door beneath the shade of a sheltering tree. As he approached, she said, “Did I catch you by surprise?”
“You caught us all by surprise.” He didn’t know what he expected but it was not seeing her stand so calmly and self-possessed.
“Yes, myself, too.” She waited until he reached her before explaining, “I wasn’t going to do that. You have made me very angry, Ned. And you’ve hurt me.”
“You have the right to those feelings. I am completely at fault.”
“I’ve had many thoughts since last night. Some far from charitable. My plan was to make you honor your promise. I’m scared, Ned. I don’t know what will become of me now.”
“First, you will have Gemma and me. We will help you in any way possible.”
“Thank you,” she said, the words barely spoken. She looked down. “My hands are shaking.”
“No one in there could tell.”
She nodded and then crossed her arms as if she was cold.
He had to ask. “What changed your mind? Why did you release me?”
“You told your lecturer that women have fine minds. You didn’t think that way before. There were times I sensed you didn’t really like women.”
“I wasn’t close to any.”
“You were close to me.”
What could he say? He’d never given her the opportunity to be anything to him other than an obligation. “I’m sorry.”
She nodded before admitting, “I am, too. I actually thought you were quite admirable when you told him what you thought.” Her shoulders straightened. “Very well. I’m going back in there. I needed a moment for the initial shock to wear off. This won’t be easy. I know the Nelsons are rather anxious to unburden themselves of me—”
“Clarissa,” he started, but she shook her head as if not wanting his sympathy.
