Miss Talbot beamed and then focused her attention to her sister. Lifting her chin in defiance, she said, “I told you. Most men know how wrong it is to let a woman go on believing they love them even when they don’t.”
Inwardly, he groaned. He sincerely hoped his true identity didn’t come out. For certain, he’d have these two women hating him for the rest of his life. “I think,” he said quickly, “that all menandwomen should be totally honest with the people they care about. After all, that’s how God wants His children to act.Love thy neighbor as thyself.Correct?”
Both women smiled and nodded.
Nic now wondered if playing the clergyman role had changed the way he looked at women. Well, if it hadn’t before, it definitely had now. Perhaps this switch with his cousin was fate trying to tell him something.
“And what about you, Mr. Woodland?” Mrs. Smythe asked, leaning closer to him. “May I be so bold to ask when you will start looking for a wife?”
Indeed, the older woman was quite bold to be asking that. Then again, it was high time Frederick wed. Nic took a quick glance at Mildred. Her eyes were large, anticipating his answer. Her older sister kept switching her gaze between him andMildred. It was obvious what these two matchmakers were up to.
Feeling uncomfortable, he chuckled. “I must admit, Mrs. Smythe, your question has caught me off guard, and I fear I don’t know how to answer.”
“It’s quite simple,” she said. “Do you think you will be looking for a wife soon?”
He wished it were that simple. As long as he played his cousin, he couldn’t let anyone know his interest was in Tabitha Paget. “I haven’t thought of it, Mrs. Smythe. Perhaps I shall turn to God and see what He wants me to do.”
Both women nodded with broad smiles. “Good answer,” Mrs. Smythe replied.
“Are we ready for pie yet?” Mildred asked. “I made the most delicious pie you have ever tasted.”
Nic patted his stomach. “Give me another minute and I shall be ready. It would be a sin to turn down anything you cook, Miss Talbot.”
She giggled like a young girl as her face flamed red. He needed to remember that he couldn’t let her believe he was interested in her. He must pass out compliments to other single women, especially when Mildred was around and could hear. Maybe then she wouldn’t get the wrong idea.
An hour—and a full stomach—later, Nic left the older women’s house and strode toward the church. Although Frederick was keeping a close eye on the building in case of anymore thefts, Nic needed to act as if he spent a lot of time there. His cousin would have, so Nic must follow in his cousin’s daily routine.
He walked inside. A few lanterns had been lit, and closer to the chapel, some candles were lit. Thankfully, Frederick did this every day because Nic would never remember.
He shrugged off his cloak and hung it on a peg by the front double doors. Silence stretched through the air, bringing peace to Nic’s heart and mind. Strange to think he’d long for this solitude after the kind of life he’d led. He could only pray God had forgiven him for all of his wrongdoings.
As he neared the clergyman’s private chambers, the shuffling of feet disturbed the stillness. He stopped and swung around. A young woman in a hooded cloak hurried toward him. At first, he didn’t recognize her, but the closer she came, the more he realized who she was. This was the McFadden girl.
“Forgive me for startling you, Mr. Woodland, but it’s important I speak with you.”
She stopped in front of him and dropped her hood. Her blonde ringlets weren’t wound as tight as he figured they should be. In fact, her whole appearance looked downtrodden. Sad brown eyes stared up at him, silently begging for attention.
“Why of course, Miss McFadden.” He motioned his hand toward the benches. “Would you like to sit and talk?”
“Yes, that would be good.”
Once they sat, she heaved a deep sigh. “Mr. Woodland, I have been completely devastated since David’s death, and I needed to talk to someone.”
“You know I’m always here for my parishioners.”
“Yes, I know. I should have come earlier, if only to ease my sorrow, but I just couldn’t bring myself to tell you…” A sob broke from her throat as she covered her hands over her face. “Oh, forgive me, for I have sinned.”
Nic hitched a breath.Sinned?He wasn’t prepared—or ordained—to help anyone who had sinned. Now what was he going to do?
“See here, Miss McFadden,” he patted her shoulder lightly. “I’m sure it’s not that bad. You have always been a kind-hearted, God-fearing young woman.”
Slowly, her hands fell away from her face and she stared at him with wet eyes. Tears continued to fall down her freckled cheeks. “Yes, I have, but…but this time anger drove me to act out on my feelings.”
A lump formed in his throat. Many thoughts swam in his head, none of which he wanted to believe. Instead, he’d be patient and wait for her to tell him her crime. “Go on.”
“Well, you see, a few months ago, David Griffin and I had been talking about marriage.” She wiped her eyes. “I truly believed he loved me, but several weeks ago, I saw him with Miss Johnson. I noticed the way he gazed upon her was the same way he used to look upon me. Suddenly, he was going out of his way to do things forherinstead of me.”
He nodded as his heart beat in a panicked rhythm. He prayed she wasn’t going to confess what he thought…
