Miss Adeline's Match by Joanna Barker

Author:Joanna Barker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance;clean;regency;companion;letter;matchmaker;foxhunt;secrets
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2019-01-10T20:58:28+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

I found Mrs. Beckett and Charity only a minute later as I hurried back down the road leading to Crawthorne. They turned when I called out to them, and I kept myself from looking at Charity by focusing on my feet, step after step, until I reached them.

“Is he gone?” Mrs. Beckett asked, her arm still tightly wound in Charity’s.

“Yes, I believe so.”

“I certainly hope he will not be back,” she said. “I would hate to inform Mr. Beckett of a trespasser.”

Even with all that Charity had to fight against, I could not help but think she was lucky to have such an aunt and uncle who would watch over her.

“What did he want this time?” Charity’s voice was unsteady, but when I finally met her eyes, they were sharp and clear.

I hesitated. I was still uncertain as to whether I would even give her the letter. It would only give her false hope about Mr. Henley’s earnestness. I did not trust him, and neither should she. “More of the same,” I said. “I spoke quite strongly with him and hope I have convinced him to leave you be, once and for all.”

Charity bit her cheek, looking away into the woods, not seeming to focus on anything. “Is he leaving Leicestershire, then?”

Her false indifference was fooling no one, but I played along and kept my voice calm and low. “It was my understanding that he will leave the day after tomorrow.” If he kept his word, which I did not have much faith in.

“Oh.” Charity twisted one of her wild curls, hand trembling. “I suppose that is good news.”

I gave her a sympathetic look, which she did not see as she continued to stare with glassy eyes out into the trees. I thought I understood. Well, perhaps not understood completely, but I realized how tangled her emotions were. I needed to ensure Mr. Henley’s departure as soon as possible so he could not continually twist and manipulate her thoughts. “Of course it is good news,” I said. “He will be gone, and we can enjoy the remainder of our visit in peace and quiet.”

She nodded, and she looked at me again in painful resignation. She took a deep breath, moving her hand away from her hair and clasping both before her. “I think I should like to go back to Crawthorne,” she said. “I am not feeling equal to our task today.”

“Certainly, we shall go back,” Mrs. Beckett said. “We can deliver the basket tomorrow.”

“No,” Charity said, her voice resolute. “No, I would like to be alone, if you don’t mind. You two go ahead together, and I shall see you when you return.”

“Charity,” I said gently. “I don’t like to leave you alone.”

Her face tightened, and her eyes flashed with a strange heat. “I’m not a child, Addie,” she snapped. “You need not treat me like one.”

I pulled my head back in shock, mouth parting. She seemed almost equally surprised at her words, and her steely expression softened almost immediately.

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