Owen nodded.
Emma thought over the days he had been gone, though. “Mr. Yardley never came to call.”
“I believe you were in the rectory.”
“No,” Mrs. Buckley said. “She is correct. Platt would have told me.”
Owen frowned. “Simon mentioned the visit to me himself. Why would he have been here if he did not visit either of you?”
Emma’s stomach churned. “I do not know. Maybe he came to Buckley Place instead?”
“He specifically mentioned visiting the two of you.”
“Well, before we accuse him of anything, perhaps we ought to gather more information first. And eat?” Emma asked.
Owen drew his arm around her waist, pulling her against his side and breathing her in. “I like the idea of that.”
Mrs. Buckley started toward the door. “Come, you two. We should not keep the rector waiting.”
After dinner,Emma found herself walking from the dining room beside Mr. Lofton, and she put her hand on his arm. “Could I have a word?”
He stopped, his expression hopeful, spearing her in the heart. “Of course.”
Emma dropped her hand, stepping back. She waited until Owen had left the room entirely, giving them privacy. “You are a dear friend of mine, Mr. Lofton, and I wished for you to learn of this from me.”
His eyes immediately shuttered, the smile falling from his lips. “You’ve chosen someone else.”
A slight laugh escaped her. “It is kind of you to act as though I have had my pick of suitors.”
“You have, Miss Darling.”
She ignored the comment. “Captain Buckley has offered for me, and I accepted him. But until he speaks with his parents, we are not announcing our engagement. I did want you to know, though.”
Mr. Lofton’s eyes moved over her with affection. “You have always been so kind, Emma. I appreciate your candor, and I am sorry it did not work out between us.”
“I have long counted you as one of my friends and hope to continue to do so.”
He was silent for a moment, his eyes dropping to her lips. When his gaze drew back up to her eyes, she detected sorrow there and wondered if he missed Sarah. “Yes, of course. I would not have it any other way. The captain is a lucky man, but I am sure he knows that.”
“We’ve known one another most of our lives,” she said quickly, eager to put off any rumors that she had only chosen Owen for his new inheritance.
“I have heard about your history. In fact, once I learned of it, I wondered if my suit was pointless.” Mr. Lofton shrugged. “But I decided I still ought to try.”
She gave him a dry smile. “There are no secrets in Briarstead, I suppose.”
“Not when Mrs. Wickerton is around, at least.”
“Thank you for being so kind.”
“Of course,” he said. “But now we ought to join the others.”
She agreed. “I will have Platt bring the dressing table back to your house.”
“No, keep it.” Mr. Lofton looked sincere. “I have no use for it. Consider it my wedding gift.”
Emma inhaled, tired of arguing. “Thank you.”
They made their way into the parlor, and Emma left his side, finding Sophia and joining her in conversation. The woman wanted to make over her bonnets and had yet to pin Emma down to accomplish it. But all the while, as she did her best to schedule a day for the following week to visit the milliner’s shop and select ribbons and silk flowers, Emma’s mind ran over the conversation she’d had with Mr. Lofton.
