Not waiting for her to agree, Osborn pulled her arms through his. Violet knew better than to fight the gentleman oncehe got an idea in his head, but she couldn’t help considering whether or not gnawing off her limb might be the better course.
“Things have been rough of late,” she said. “I do not know if I can simply forget it all and ‘enjoy the afternoon,’ as you so blithely put it.”
“You fret too much, Vi,” he said with a shake of the head. “Those are troubles for another day. Enjoy yourself!”
Gritting her teeth, Violet forced a smile but didn’t fight the gentleman as he forced her back into the fray.
Chapter 32
Why was the most acute torture that which one inflicted upon oneself? Arthur knew he ought to look away, but seeing Miss Templeton traipse off with Mr. Gadd made his heart constrict. Doubly so when he considered that she’d been attempting to sneak away without a word. Granted, there was the issue of her cold reception amongst the townsfolk. And Arthur had seen her nearly every day of late, so she likely didn’t feel the need to seek him out, but he had hoped that she wouldn’t leave without greeting him at the very least.
Arthur tried not to curse his friends. The Finches were good people, and the more he came to know the pair, the more he liked them. But unknowingly or not, they were holding him captive.
“I didn’t realize there were so many ways to arrange a nursery,” said Mrs. Felicity Finch with a slight growl to her tone. “But Annette is determined to identify every variety, never mind that there is hardly a difference from one to the other, and the first option was quite serviceable.”
“My sister means well,” said Finch in an attempt at comfort, but the fellow needed to do a better job at hiding his amusement for he was dangerously close to laughing at hiswife’s predicament (something even a seasoned bachelor like Arthur Vaughn knew was perilous).
Mrs. Finch’s eyes narrowed, her gaze boring into her husband. “Of course, she means well. Most people do not set out to be cruel, but good intentions don’t erase the irritation they cause.”
“I read recently of a corpulent gentleman traveling in the north…” began Finch in a tone filled with mischief.
“I read that to you from the latest edition of theCovent Garden Jester. Do not try to distract me with puns, Lewis Finch,” said Mrs. Finch with an expression that was intended to be scolding but failed utterly.
“But I do so enjoy distracting you,” replied Finch in a low voice that was likely not meant to carry. Thankfully, discovering that Mrs. Finch read such an absurd periodical was distracting enough that Arthur didn’t hear the lady’s reply.
His gaze tracked Miss Templeton and Mr. Gadd as they strolled about the gathering, and Arthur took heart from the fact that the lady didn’t seem to be enjoying the fellow’s company. Though he had to admit that her discomfort, in part, likely came from all the grim expressions turned in her direction. Arthur simply hoped Miss Templeton’s displeasure had more to do with the former and not the latter.
“She is avoiding me,” said Mrs. Finch, and Arthur gave a start, his gaze turning to her. There was a hint of speculation in the lady’s eyes as she studied him, though her attention swiftly shifted back to Miss Templeton. “I’ve tried calling on her several times, but our last conversation was a touch…uncomfortable.”
“I do not think Miss Templeton trusts easily,” said Arthur, offering up an insight that didn’t break a confidence, as anyone who knew the lady must have guessed as much.
Mrs. Finch’s brow furrowed as she studied the lady from afar. “I believe you are correct. As I consider all our conversations since my return to Oakham, I do not think any of them were truly personal or revealing—except our last conversation,and she only said as much as she did because she was overwrought. The girl I knew was eager and open, and I fear experience has taught her to guard herself.”
She glanced at her husband and held his arm tighter. “I fear far too many of us are forced to learn that lesson.”
“Too true,” murmured Arthur, tucking his hands behind him.
“Dr. Vaughn, there you are.”
Despite being new to the area, that was a voice he recognized. One that sent a shiver down his spine. Miss Bacon had a particular way of speaking that conveyed sunshine and roses yet never failed to raise his hackles and paralyze his tongue. Though that had as much to do with the way she examined him like a cut of beef as it did her saccharine manners.
“Miss Bacon,” he said with a proper bow whilst carefully casting his eyes about for an escape.
“Might I have a word with you? Privately?” she asked with a smile that was far more genuine than any she’d given in the past.
Manners almost made him accept, but with her father’s angry visage still haunting his dreams, Arthur didn’t dare allow that concession. He tried to think of a way in which to word his reply, but they jumbled in his head, allowing only the smallest of answers to come out.
“No. Thank you.”
Miss Bacon’s lips tightened as her gaze lowered to the ground, and in a low voice, she said, “I understand, and I do not blame you. It seems I owe you an apology, and though I didn’t feel it necessary at first, I fear my conscience will not allow me to ignore it. It has come to my attention that my father was a bit hasty in speaking with you about a certain…misunderstanding.”
As the gentleman had looked ready to call Arthur out right there in the street, he would say it was more than “speaking,” but that was neither here nor there.
“I wanted to apologize for that,” said Miss Bacon as a hint of pink colored her cheeks. “I should’ve been more circumspectbefore telling anyone, but had Miss Templeton not been so wicked as to suggest it, I would never have been so bold as to do so. Or should I sayMr.Templeton since she walks about so bold as brass with no thought as to how her actions affect the rest of us. As though a mere apology would compensate for the harm she’s done—”
“I assure youMissTempleton is quite aware of her actions and the harm she’s done,” said Arthur. “And there is nothing ‘mere’ about the apology she made. There are plenty of people in my life who ought to acknowledge the harm they’ve done to me, but their pride will not allow them. The apology she offered me was the most heartfelt and sincere one I will likely ever receive, and Miss Templeton chose to give it of her own free will.”
Miss Bacon straightened. “Simply acknowledging her wrong isn’t enough.”
