“Yes, but you wouldn’t adore me so very much if I were any less ridiculous.”
“True. It is the only reason I keep you and Frederick around,” said Thea, attempting a grave tone, though a grin betrayed her.
The green was a cheerful sort of chaos. The remnants of the feast still littered the tables—half-eaten pies, empty jugs tipped on their sides, and scattered crumbs that the children gleefully scooped up with sticky fingers. The air was thick with laughter and the hum of overlapping voices, punctuated now and again by the sharp clack of tin plates or the delighted shrieks of a game gone awry.
At the heart of it stood the greasy pole, gleaming in the afternoon sun. The leg of mutton swung from the top, taunting those who scrambled up the length of wood, only to be dragged down by gravity’s pull and the heaping portion of lard slathered along the surface. The crowd cheered at each attempt and groaned at each failure, and more than a few wives and mothers were beside themselves as they looked on in dismay as those freshly laundered clothes were ruined with every effort.
Beyond them, lawn games were in full swing, with boules flying and races of every sort springing up, and above it all, the fiddlers fought to be heard. The whole scene teetered on the edge of bedlam.
And yet, for all the disorder, harmony wove its way into every facet. Faces shone with shared contentment, and every sound echoed the joy lingering in the air. It was pandemonium, to be sure, but the best kind: the sunlit sort that made one feel the world, for all its troubles, was still very much alive.
Phoebe linked her arm through Thea’s, tugging her gently into motion. They moved without any true direction, letting the noise and color sweep them along. The lilting melody from the dancing set their steps into rhythm, and the scent of trampled grass and sweet cider clung to the air, mingled with the faint smoke of spent coals. For a little while, the heaviness at home and the small, clinging concerns of everyday life slipped from mind.
Through the jumble of movement and laughter, Thea spied Mina at the edge of the green, her posture a little uncertain amid the bustle, though the gentleman at her side was quite animated. Without hesitation, Thea angled their path in that direction, and though Phoebe gave a faint groan of protest and made a half-hearted attempt to steer them elsewhere, Thea ignored it, tightening her hold on her friend’s arm.
“Come. We mustn’t let my cousin believe we abandoned her,” she said, and before Phoebe could object again, Thea drew her straight toward the pair. It was just as well, for though Mina appeared at ease from a distance, the tension in her expression was clear up close.
“Have you brought a ribbon?” asked Mr. Timothy Voss, his gaze raking Mina as his mouth pulled into a smile that Thea supposed was flirtatious, though it looked a great deal better on his elder brother than on him.
“I did not,” said Mina. “I wasn’t aware of the tradition.”
“That is a shame,” said Mr. Timothy. “I, for one, would be honored to wear your colors.”
And at that, her cheeks filled with a color all their own as Mina’s gaze pleaded for rescue.
“Mr. Voss,” interjected Thea, “I fear my cousin is overheated. Could you fetch her a drink? She looks faint.”
Perhaps not the most gracious of lies, as it cast Mina as feeble, yet the gratitude in her gaze when the gentleman rushed to do her bidding made it clear that she cared not one jot about the injury to her pride.
And when he was out of earshot, Mina let out a sigh. “My deepest thanks. I do not know what to do with him as he will not stop this nonsense.”
Phoebe’s brows rose at that. “Nonsense? Perhaps he is in earnest.”
Mina didn’t go so far as to scowl, though it was clear in her gaze that she did not appreciate the sentiment. “My thanks, Miss Voss, for your insight. Of course, you know your brother better than I do, but I find his sudden overzealousness a bit… disconcerting.”
But Phoebe waved that away. “Now,thatis nonsense. You have status and wealth and needn’t scurry about to find yourself a husband if you do not wish to, so why not amuse yourself? Iwouldn’t recommend Timothy for matrimony as he is still too immature to be a good husband, but there’s nothing wrong with enjoying yourself. A bit of flirtation with an attractive gentleman can be quite diverting.”
“I do not believe it is diverting to trifle with people or affections,” said Mina in a tone so quiet that it was easy to believe it hadn’t been spoken, though the way Phoebe’s spine straightened made it clear she’d heard the disapproval.
Mina’s cheeks colored again, and she held up her hands in placation. “I apologize, Miss Voss. I do not mean to be curt, but I have known people like him and Mr. Winwood, and I do not trust them. They like to toy with people for their own amusement, and it only leads to pain.”
“Both my brother and Mr. Winwood are gentlemen, Miss Ashbrook,” said Phoebe in a cold tone. “I do not appreciate you insinuating otherwise.”
“That isn’t what she meant,” said Thea, holding up her hands to stay the argument. Though in truth, the lady did not say such things lightly, and likely, she was insinuating far more than what Phoebe realized. “This is just a misunderstanding—”
“Good afternoon, ladies,” said Mr. Godwin, appearing as though spat up from the pits of hell to plague them. All three gave a start, and Phoebe said something under her breath that was a touch indelicate, though Thea doubted anyone but she had heard it.
“A most splendid day, is it not?” asked Mr. Godwin, bowing low enough that his hat nearly brushed the grass. “I daresay the angels themselves must look down upon Haverford and smile at such a harmonious scene. Truly, there is nothing so edifying as a neighborly village enjoying a Christian feast.”
He clasped his hands before him, smiling with the serene satisfaction of one who believes his every utterance was of great importance. “I was just remarking to my uncle that such anoccasion could only occur under the beneficent influence of the Whitcombe family. Their example inspires moral improvement wherever it reaches—one feels it even in the air, does one not? Lady Cecilia’s grace and discernment are a reflection of her most excellent aunt and uncle. I count it to be the greatest blessing of my life to serve beneath such a pattern card of Christian virtue.”
Thea exchanged a look with Phoebe, who appeared to be biting her tongue hard enough to bleed. Mr. Godwin rocked on his heels, hands folded, as though awaiting the collective gratitude of the company for having shared such a noble sentiment. The gentleman continued to expound, praising Haverford, the Lord, his patron and patroness, their entire family, his uncle, and anyone remotely connected. He never seemed to run out of praise, and though everything was said with a smile and an air of earnestness, Thea couldn’t help it when her eyes struggled to remain focused on him.
“You are such a happy soul, Mr. Godwin,” said Mina with a smile that was far more genuine than Thea could manage at such a time.
“You are kind to say so, Miss Ashbrook. I find that sincerity, when expressed with sufficient eloquence, cannot help but lighten hearts,” said the gentleman. “And I dare say there are few who can be more eloquent than a clergyman. It is the heart and soul of our profession, after all.”
Phoebe didn’t say a word, but she gave the slightest of sighs at that. Slanting a look at Thea, it was clear that she wished to tell him it was not true on either count.
