“Now, now.” Tabitha rubbed the older woman’s arm. “Don’t work yourself into a dither. Unless we know what really happened, we cannot come to these kinds of conclusions. It will make us sick if we ponder on it for too long.”
“Yes, you are right, of course.” Mrs. Stiles turned to Sally. “Perhaps we should make a meal and take it to the Griffin family tonight.”
“Indeed, we shall.” Tabitha hooked her hand around the older woman. “Cooking has always made me feel better.”
“Oh, you are such a joy.” Mrs. Stiles smiled at her. “I probably shouldn’t say this, but I hope you never leave North Devon. I have grown fond of our times together. I was just telling your aunt earlier today that we need to find you a man to marry here in town so you will never leave us.”
Tabitha chuckled, even though she really didn’t like that her aunt and companion were playing matchmaker. But hadn’t she been thinking about marriage as well, which is why she took that basket to Mr. Jacobs?
“In fact,” Mrs. Stiles continued, “I have been noticing how much attention Mr. Woodland has been giving you. And just a few minutes ago,” she motioned her head toward the doctor’s office, “he was looking at you differently.”
“Differently?” Panic welled in Tabitha’s chest once again. “How so?”
“There was a certain twinkle in his eyes when you were talking to him.” Mrs. Stiles giggled. “I think he’s sweet on you.”
Flipping her hand through the air, Tabitha released an awkward laugh. “No, he’s not. He’s kind to everyone he talks to.”
“True, he is, but his eyes have never twinkled before.” The older woman tilted her head, studying Tabitha a little closer. “He would be a very good husband. Any woman would be lucky to have him.”
Tabitha resisted rolling her eyes. If Mrs. Stiles only knew that the wolf in sheep’s clothing was really Lord Hawthorne…London’s most eligible rogue.
“I think I shall talk to your aunt about having him over for supper again. After all, he’s lonely, and you’re lonely…” She nodded. “Yes, the two of you would suit perfectly.”
Tabitha’s heart sank. She couldn’t have two old women doingthat.But what kind of excuse could she give Aunt Clara, especially if Mrs. Stiles convinced her aunt that Mr. Woodland was a match made in heaven?
Chapter Thirteen
Heaviness weighed onNic’s chest, but then so did relief. Church was over now, and he headed back to Frederick’s house. Although Nic felt he’d memorized his cousin’s sermon well enough, it definitely drained him and made him want to sleep the remainder of the day. After all, didn’t the Lord say that Sunday was a day ofrest?
He opened the door and walked in, closing it behind him. As he shrugged out of his raincoat, a voice from the corner of the room startled him.
“Splendid sermon, if I must say.” Frederick walked up to Nic and clapped him on the shoulder.
Confused, Nic arched an eyebrow at his cousin. “You were there? I thought you’d be sleeping.”
“I shall sleep soon enough.”
“Where were you? I didn’t see you.”
“I hid in the back classroom. Don’t you think I want to make sure you are presenting yourself as a man of God?”
Nic rolled his eyes and carried his coat to the fireplace, hanging it on a nearby chair to dry. Today’s weather was horrendous before church, and it surprised him to see so many people in attendance. Nevertheless, he was grateful they had turned out for the sermon his cousin had prepared. They needed the uplifting words of comfort.
“Of course I’m representing you well enough. Why do you continue to have doubts?” Nic walked into the kitchen to fix himself some tea. “Have I not succeeded in proving I can play your role?”
Frederick followed. “Actually, there were a few times you stumbled.”
“Yes, and I picked myself up, didn’t I?” Nic snapped.
Frederick chuckled. “Only when someone saved you.”
Nic stood by the counter and stared out the window. The rain pelted the glass pane, creating a relaxing rhythm. Indeed, someone had saved him, and that one act of selflessness had warmed his heart so much he was beginning to have different feelings about Tabitha.
For three days, he’d tried to convince himself he was just grateful for Tabitha’s help, and nothing else. But in the back of his mind, he knew it to be different. Had he actually come to care for the servant woman who lived a different lifestyle? He still hadn’t heard from Trey or Tristan to discover why Tabitha had changed her status, but she certainly didn’t act like a servant any longer. Not that she ever had. From their first day of meeting, he could see she was far too bold to be a servant. In fact, her boldness was what captured his attention. Well…that, and her beauty, of course.
Now it didn’t matter about her station in life. He had indeed come to care for her, and he couldn’t shake the feeling no matter how hard he tried. She was the last thing on his mind when he fell asleep at night, and she was the first thing he thought about when he awoke. Out of all the women he’d charmed over the years, none of them had taken up residence in his mind quite like Tabitha had.
Another thing that bothered him was knowing she resembled someone he knew. Sometimes her smile would have a familiar tilt to it, or her eyes would gleam in a certain way that made himthink he might know her family. If he could only figure this out, perhaps then he’d know why she didn’t act like a servant any longer. Maybe her family did have noble blood running through their veins. That would explain why she acted the way she did sometimes.
