“No need. A friend’s primary duty is to be a listening ear, and after the past few weeks, you have every reason to ‘vent your spleen,’ as my brothers are so fond of saying.”
Thea squeezed her arm. “My troubles are no excuse to sharpen my tongue on you. But I am so very tired of waiting! I have tried to be patient—I have—but I do not know how much longer I can allow him to wallow in his misery before I force the issue. Frederick cannot ignore me like this!”
With a gentle hush, Mina reminded her that they weren’t in private, and Thea drew in a deep breath, forcing herself to calm. This wasn’t the first time they had discussed this issue, and there was no good to be had in retreading old steps. Yet Thea was reaching the limits of her forbearance.
“This is so vexing!” said Thea through gritted teeth. “How are we to sort this out if I am not allowed to call on him, and he refuses to venture out into public? And Phoebe is being so mum about the business. It isn’t like her to give me the cold shoulder.”
Mina gave a reassuring squeeze of the arm, which prodded Thea to take another breath.
“We know men are foolish and that they avoid sharing their troubles,” said her friend, speaking the words that had been repeated more often than Thea’s prayers. “You love your Mr. Voss, and he loves you. There is no doubt on that score.”
“Not one. We will see this through,” said Thea, forcing herself to straighten.
“Yes, you will,” said Mina with a decisive nod.
Glancing out at the gathering, Thea allowed herself a huffy chuckle. “This truly looks like all the rest of our festivals, doesn’t it?”
“How many other ways are there to mark these occasions? Besides, after such a long winter, it is lovely to be out of doors, among the merriment,” said Mina, a bright smile gracing her lips.
“It is,” said Thea. “I wonder if Phoebe will attend.”
“Your Mr. Voss may have vanished, but she seems to attend every public event,” said Mina, glancing out at the gathering with a slight frown. “I must say she isn’t what I imagined when you described her in your letters.”
There was a tightness to her tone that echoed through Thea. “Things have been a bit strained with the Vosses of late. That is all. Phoebe is a bit out of sorts.”
Mina nodded, though there was a brittleness to the expression that bespoke of one giving the expected response.
“Believe you me, Phoebe and you are bound to be the best of friends,” said Thea, the words slipping free before she thought the better of it. “You two are both such dears that it is inevitable. She told me how that blue gown you wore on your first Sunday complements your complexion and figure.”
“My figure?” asked Mina with raised brows.
Thea paused, trying to ascertain what it was about that statement that was so offensive. There was a hint of something in Mina’s expression; for all that it was usually so easy to read, Thea couldn’t discern precisely what it was.
“Phoebe thought the dress looked lovely.”
“No,” replied Mina, “she said it improved my figure.”
Thea’s brows raised. “She didn’t mean it as a criticism.”
“Yet she takes great pleasure in teasing and twitting others.”
Waving that away, Thea shook her head. “The Vosses enjoy a jest, but she would never be openly rude or cruel.”
“I doubt Mr. Godwin would agree,” said Mina, her expression growing tight around the eyes and lips.
“She is a tad harsh with him, but only because he’s a pest,” said Thea.
“And you do not believe Miss Voss views an interloper, who is dividing her friend’s attention, as a pest?”
Shaking her head, Thea’s mind scoured for something to say. Something to mend the breach between them. This was not unfolding at all as she had hoped.
“It was a compliment. I am certain of it. I must be telling it wrong, for I assure you that it was not a criticism in any fashion. Phoebe is a dear. I promise.”
Mina smiled as though accepting that assessment, but it held more polite disbelief than genuine acceptance, and Thea couldn’t help but pray that matters would settle with time—yet Mina’s visit was already half over. Shaking aside that thought, Thea forced herself to remain calm. They would become friends in time. Rushing matters wasn’t helping.
“Phoebe!” Rising to her toes, Thea lifted a hand to draw the lady’s attention; she was moving before she thought the better of it, ignoring how Mina stiffened as they crossed the green.
“Good afternoon,” said Phoebe, greeting Thea with a buss on the cheek. And turning to Mina, the lady gave a curtsy and greeted her as well. “It is good to see you, Miss Ashbrook.”
