“You are not a bore,” said Mina, rocking her daughter while cursing that wretched Hettie Nelson and Charles Dosett. As much as she hoped Lily would trust in that reassurance, Mina knew too well the power behind poisonous words.
“That is not the point,” said Lily. “Sophie has been nothing but kind to me. Even while others think me a tedious burden, she enjoys my company. She is sweet-tempered and simply wonderful, Mama. If you only gave her a chance, you would see it for yourself.”
Mina sorted through her arguments, picking her words with great care. “I know it may seem that way to you, Lily, but her mother is an expert at manipulating others. I have no doubt her daughter—”
Lily leaned away, wiping at her cheeks. “It is not fair of you to judge her for her mother’s actions. I feel uneasy around Mrs. Banfield—even when she is being cordial—but I do not feel so around Sophie. Quite the opposite.”
“You do not understand what you are asking of us,” added Simon, and Lily’s watery gaze flew to him.
“I am not a child, Papa,” she replied. “I am well aware of the history between you and Mrs. Banfield, but are you willing to deny Oliver a chance of happiness because of that? I have seen him with Sophie, and as much as I adore Victoria, Sophie is the better match for him. He cares for Victoria, but he loves Sophie. Or near enough. Give them a chance to sort things out.”
“It’s not that simple—” Mina didn’t know how she was to finish that statement, but it was of no use as Lily spoke over her.
“You cannot condemn her without even speaking to her, Mama.” Turning her gaze to her father, Lily added, “And if she is as false as you believe, then Oliver will discover it on his own as you did. Trust him.”
Simon crossed his arms. “I wouldn’t have discovered it if not for your mother’s assistance, and if Miss Sophie is as conniving—”
“No!” Lily rose to her feet, her cheeks pinking, though she did not allow her discomfort to dissuade her from her present course. Mina was so shocked at the outburst that she remained in her seat, as did Simon. “I will not sit here and listen to you slander someone who has been nothing but kind to me.”
Clenching her fists, their daughter strode away, ignoring Simon’s protests and only stopping at the threshold to turn a burning scowl at them.
“Do not try something so foolish as forcing Oliver to leave Bristow. It will do nothing but cause more friction.” Lily moved to leave, but stopped again, the fire in her gaze ebbing as she straightened and faced them. “And though you judge her harshly, Sophie has shown a great deal of understanding and concern for your feelings. Never once has she railed against you or encouraged me to go against your edicts. Though she had every right to be angry or bitter, she was only pained at your unflattering opinion of her. Sophie is far more forgiving and kind than I would’ve been in her place.”
Having seemingly said all she intended, Lily left the parlor, her head held high.
Simon leaned forward, scrubbing at his face as he murmured, “When did our children get so opinionated and outspoken?”
Shifting from her sofa to Simon’s, Mina sat beside her husband with a sigh, and he leaned back to wrap his arm around her shoulder as she curled into his side.
“But are they wrong?” she asked. Simon’s head shifted to look at her, and Mina raised her head to meet his gaze. “Have we meddled too much? Oliver is a grown man capable of making his own decisions.”
“I was older than he when I blithely strolled towards destruction,” muttered Simon.
Mina’s brows pulled tight together. “This has been far more difficult for you than I understood. I was so wrapped in my pain that I didn’t see what that woman’s presence was doing to you.”
But he gave a shake of his head. “I’ve had to fend her off a time or two, but I can avoid her far better than you. I hate seeing you subjected to her barbs and innuendos. And I fear for my son, who is set on following a similar path as I did once—or worse, rather, for he has broken with Miss Caswell and may never regain her affection.”
That was understandable, and Mina might’ve accepted them if not for Lily’s words, which gave voice to a concern Mina had ignored for far too long: Oliver had never seemed in the thralls of love around Miss Caswell. Or even tip-toeing closer to it.
“Love can grow.” Mina spoke the words more to comfort herself than for Simon’s benefit. Unfortunately, they left her feeling hollow.
“It can and does.”
“If we encouraged Oliver to give Miss Caswell more time, then perhaps his feelings would change.” Rather than growing in conviction, Mina felt more and more uneasy about the sentiment.
There was a long pause before Simon prompted, “And yet…?” When Mina gave him a puzzled look, he added, “Your tone was rife with unspoken words.”
“And yet they’ve been courting for a year and seem no more in love than before,” she said with a sigh. “They share a bond of friendship, but if it hasn’t evolved into love by now, I think it may be time to bid those hopesadieu.”
“But that does not mean we must embrace Miss Banfield.”
Mina gave that response a long thought, churning through all that had happened, Oliver’s desires, Simon’s discomfort, and the shadowy concerns over what may yet come to pass, and felt no more assured of what ought to happen. Except for one point.
If not for her own feelings on the matter, it was the answer she would’ve accepted long ago, but pain has a way of twisting one’s thoughts, and Mina was unhappy to discover just how knotted her own had been.
“Embrace, no,” said Mina. “But we’ve been unfair to the girl.”
Simon tensed beside her, though he did not voice any objection.
