And she had seen George glaring at Miss Wallington and Severn as they danced at the ball.Perhaps Tilly wasn’t the only one choosing between multiple attachments.
But Tilly had apparently made her decision.Just as George had seemingly kept his word to her sister.
Scarlett returned her thoughts to her own affairs.As appealing as a vision of a future in the hunting lodge might be to her, she had a feeling that Malcolm would not accept it.That he would want to offer his wife a true establishment.
Still, she thought, he might accept it if she made clear that what she wanted had changed.His honor, at least, would demand it.
The service came to an end, and they filed out of the church into the sunshine.Once more, most of the party wanted to walk back to Parkhorne Hall, given the fine morning, and Scarlett felt the same.The walk would give her more time to think.
Unfortunately, as she began to walk, Miss Marburry fell into step beside her.
She hadn’t spent much time with Miss Marburry at this house party.She did know, however, that while timid amongst the gentlemen, with the other ladies the girl had a tendency to talk just to fill the silence.
But the first words that she spoke surprised Scarlett.“Mr.Brown was not at church this morning,” she said tentatively.“I hope he is not ill.”
Scarlett very much doubted that the man was ill.He was probably lying abed and contemplating the decisions he had made the night before—with her.
But that would not do for Miss Marburry, so she merely said, “I had not noticed, Miss Marburry.But I suppose you are right.I hope that he is well too.But it is not unusual for people to rise late the night after a ball, especially the gentlemen.You will notice a few are missing this morning.”
“Yes, it is true,” Miss Marburry said, all good nature.“Although I am surprised you did not notice his absence, Miss Perkins.You have spent much time in his company as of recent.”
Scarlett startled at this insinuation.Was the girl suggesting that more existed between her and Malcolm than anyone else knew?Why would she intimate such a thing?It could be nothing to her.
“Ah, I suppose,” she said uneasily.“We have often been seated together at dinner.”
She wished she could say the obvious, which was that both of them were loose ends at the party and made a natural match for that reason.But she couldn’t very well say to Miss Marburry that she, Scarlett, wasn’t one of George Salisbury’s quarries.Miss Marburry supposedlywasand was about as likely to marry him as she was.
“That is exactly why I asked you if you noticed his absence.I thought you might know, you see, whether he was feeling poorly or not.Since you are so often with him.”
Her logic was certainly pointed.She gave a little smile—perhaps Miss Marburry had acquired a preference for Malcolm.Scarlett could understand why, of course.And the girl had certainly had plenty of time alone to notice that George’s eldest brother was exceedingly handsome.
“Is there a particular reason you are concerned for Mr.Brown’s health?”
“Oh no, nothing of import.It is only that he promised to take me on a walk this afternoon.And now I don’t know if I should expect it or not.”
That was curious, Scarlett thought.Why would Malcolm have promised to take Miss Marburry on a walk?Perhaps Mrs.Salisbury or his sister had asked him to offer to entertain the girl.Certainly, Malcolm would do it under those circumstances.
They walked on for a few minutes in silence.Scarlett had returned mentally to the problems that had preoccupied her in the church, when Miss Marburry startled her once more by speaking.
“He is rather eligible, don’t you think?Mr.Brown?”
Dear God, Scarlett thought, perhaps the girldidhave atendre.
“I suppose,” Scarlett said guardedly.“It depends what is meant by the word.”
“Mrs.Salisbury certainly seems to think so, although I suppose she has a reason to be partial to him.Having known him for so long, I mean.”
This information was interesting, Scarlett thought.She had little insight into what Mrs.Salisbury thought of Malcolm or how likely she would be to help facilitate his marriage.Perhaps, she thought, here Miss Marburrycouldbe useful.
“Does she hope that Mr.Brown will find a wife?”
To her surprise, Miss Marburry faintly blushed.“She has told me so herself.And she has—expressed the hope that he will find a lady of good birth and adequate fortune.”
An uneasy sensation came over Scarlett.While this description wasn’t very precise, Miss Marburry’s conscious look suggested she knew more about who Mrs.Salisbury hoped Malcolm would marry.
“Those qualifications sound very reasonable,” Scarlett said, thinking that perhaps she did not want to know more of Mrs.Salisbury’s opinions.
“I do think,” Miss Marburry said with an air of confidentiality, “that Mrs.Salisbury hopes thatImight fill the post.”
