“And if you are willing to marry a pauper and spend several years struggling with him until he establishes himself, why do you think your sisters would feel differently?” asked Mr. Kingsley with a challenging raise of his brow.
“Oh, now you are just being frustrating, Mr. Kingsley,” she muttered, crossing her arms.
“You mean sensible?”
Victoria lowered her lids with a good-natured scowl. “You are far too smug, sir.”
“And you are far too foolish,” he retorted. “Miss Caswell, you saved me from myself a fortnight ago, and I only hope I can do the same for you. And as an occasionally wise lady once told me, ‘This is your future, so make it what you will.’”
Chapter 39
The boisterous nature of the festivities from the night before left Hardington Hall feeling all the more silent this morning. Of course, most of the Nelsons’ guests were still abed, enjoying a leisurely repast or sleeping far longer than seemly to balance the exceptionally late (or rather, early) time they’d collapsed into bed.
Victoria paced the hallways, her slippered feet sending out a muted echo. A clock ticked in one of the adjacent rooms, and her footsteps unconsciously matched it beat for beat. A yawn crept up on her, starting from her middle and expanding outwards; holding onto that deep breath, Victoria wondered if she ought to attempt sleep again.
Her eyelids felt filled with sand, scraping up and down with each blink, but no matter how many hours she’d lain in bed, her thoughts would not quiet themselves.
Arriving at her parents’ bedchamber door, Victoria paused with her hand above the door handle. Retracting it, she stepped away and continued pacing along the corridor outside. But no matter how she thought her way through this issue, she kept arriving at the same point, and there was no ignoring the truth in Mr. Kingsley’s advice. Though she wished to postpone the discussion, Victoria could not waste an opportunity when she knew her parents would be together.
Without allowing herself to rethink her actions, she knocked on the bedchamber door and slipped in when bidden.
Papa stood before the mirror, straightening his jacket and giving himself a final inspection, but when he saw her standing there, he turned to greet her with a smile.
“Victoria,” said Papa.
The greeting drew Mama’s attention from her place in bed, and she set her teacup on the breakfast tray with a smile.
“I am surprised to see you up so early,” said Mama. “You seemed out of sorts last night, and I was worried you were unwell.”
Papa’s brows drew upwards. “Are you ill, my dear? Should I have Nelson send for a physician?”
Waving away their concern, Victoria shook her head. “I am well enough, though I do need to speak with you about a weighty matter.”
“Then you found a suitable candidate last night?” Mama moved the tea tray aside and rose to her feet while tying the sash of her dressing gown. “That is lucky, Victoria, for I despaired after you allowed Mr. Oliver Kingsley to slip through your fingers.”
Victoria opened her mouth to repeat all the many defenses she had used over the past fortnight, but it was Papa who spoke first.
“There was no slipping through fingers, Mrs. Caswell. Victoria acted as her conscience dictated, so there is no need to criticize.”
Mama paled as she met Victoria’s gaze. “I didn’t mean it as a criticism, darling. I was simply bemoaning the loss of such an eligible gentleman. He would’ve made you a fine husband.”
“We do not suit,” replied Victoria, though her mother did not appear to hear it.
Turning to Papa, Mama frowned. “I still cannot understand why he chose that Banfield girl over our Victoria.”
“It is a mystery, but there is no accounting for taste,” said Papa.
“Please listen!” The words came out far harsher than Victoria intended, and she closed her eyes to gather herself.
Mama took Victoria by the hands and led her to the settee at the end of the bed.
“What is the matter, pet?” she asked, taking a seat beside her daughter and clasping the young lady’s hands in hers.
“There is someone,” she murmured.
“Am I to expect a visit from him soon?” asked Papa with a smile.
Victoria let out a sigh that released all the frustration of her circumstances in one long breath. “It is a tad more complicated than that, Papa.”
