A/N: Big thanks yet again to my wonderful betas thegladelf and mryddinwilt. Please don't forget to check-out captainswanandclintasha's lovely pic-sets of the earlier chapters on tumblr.
It was now mid-December, and two weeks since Emma and Mary Margaret had come to London. Ruby, as a kind gesture to her guests, invited Robin and Regina to dine at Harley Street. Neither she nor Mrs. Lucas had any knowledge of the tensions that subsisted between the Miss Blanchards and their relations. Emma would have protested against the invitation had she been present at the time the idea had been bandied about, but she had gone out for a walk, and only Mary Margaret had been consulted. "It's not like we can avoid Robin and Regina forever," was Mary Margaret's reply when Emma expressed her annoyance.
Emma had indeed gone for a walk as mentioned, but there had been more to her outing than either her sister or her hosts knew. She had been getting more and more restless as each day passed without bringing any tidings about Neal. Deciding to do some further investigating on her own, Emma had walked two streets over and hailed a hackney coach to take her to Grillon's Hotel. Upon inquiry, she found that Neal was not currently put up there. Leaving him a note with the desk manager just in case, Emma returned weary and disappointed. Perhaps Neal had gone back to his estate in Somersetshire. Ought she to send him a letter there?
Emma did not doubt that Neal loved her. He had looked devastated at having to leave. Besides, had he not shown how deeply he cared for her by every word, look, and gesture? Emma blushed recalling the precious memories. Perhaps her error had been in not writing to him before she had left Devonshire. Mrs. Lucas had only planned on staying in London until the end of January. What if Neal didn't return to London before they'd all gone back to Misthaven? It wasn't as though Emma could expect Robin and Regina to issue an invitation for her to stay with them at Grosvenor Street. Or that she'd want to stay with them, even if they invited her. Emma tried to console herself that, at the worst, if she did fail to meet with Neal in London during the course of her visit, it wasn't as though she would never see him again. He would come to Misthaven once he had settled his affairs.
It was with no great degree of enthusiasm that Emma went upstairs to dress for dinner on the evening her brother and his wife were coming to dine at Harley Street. She decided on a pale cream chiffon dress with ruffles around the border. She wasn't particularly fond of the outfit, but hadn't felt like wearing anything else either. A set of pearl earrings were her one concession to ornamentation. Mary Margaret had put on a pretty yellow satin gown with lace trimmings. They entered the drawing room arm-in-arm. Ruby sat beside her husband, dressed in a rich red net overdress worn over red silk that accentuated her elegant figure and harmonized with the purples and golds in the room.
Kelly West, who had been invited to the dinner, was already there and fawning over Mrs. Lucas. Emma thought she caught a look of cold hostility in Kelly's eyes as the latter glanced at Mary Margaret. But the look was fleeting, and Emma wasn't sure if she had just imagined it. For, what reason could Miss West have to dislike her sister? She had called at Harley Street a couple of times in the last two weeks. Emma had gotten the impression that she was angling for an invitation to stay with the Whales.
Captain Jones was the next of the guests to arrive. He greeted his hosts and made a general bow to the rest of the party. He looked somewhat grim and there were dark circles under his eyes. Though his gaze lingered on Emma, he did not address her directly, for which she was thankful. She could not help feeling unjustly resentful at seeing him before she had been able to catch a glimpse of Neal in London.
Dr. Whale went to the window. A few snowflakes were starting to fall. "We shall certainly have a white Christmas this year," he observed.
"We should go to Vauxhall Gardens on Christmas Eve, my love," said Ruby. "I hear the fireworks display they put on last Christmas was spectacular."
"Will you and your sister be returning to Misthaven after Christmas, Miss Blanchard?" Kelly West enquired sweetly of Mary Margaret.
"After Christmas? Why, their visit here has just begun!" declared Ruby, with a laugh. "In fact, I would as lief keep Granny and the Miss Blanchards here until summer, if I have my way!"
"Bless me! That you shall not," cried Mrs. Lucas. "I haven't changed my opinion of London in the last two weeks!"
"Don't tell me you dislike staying with us, Granny," Ruby pouted.
"You know it's all the noise and the smoke that I detest." Throwing a wink at Emma, Mrs. Lucas added in an undertone, "But don't you fret, Miss Emma—we won't leave until a certain someone comes to call, eh?"
Emma's face reddened. Captain Jones cast a curious gaze in her direction.
The Robin Blanchards arrived at last. Regina had an air of offended dignity about her as she greeted her sisters-in-law—the sort of look people get when they know they've been acting wrong and have been made to look foolish on account of it. Robin, on the other hand, seemed pleased to be present and greeted his sisters affably. On being introduced to Captain Jones, he seemed quite struck on learning that the gentleman was the owner of an estate in Misthaven. For the remainder of the evening, he made overtures of friendship to the captain, which were indifferently received. Not, perhaps, from any pointed disinclination towards making Robin's acquaintance, but from preoccupation with other matters.
At dinner, Emma once again found herself sitting by Captain Jones, and this time she felt that he had deliberately contrived it. She did not find that thought appealing. She rebuffed any attempts at conversation from him, confining herself to the requests and phrases that dining etiquette required. She noticed him giving an almost imperceptible wince or two as he carved the meat dish in front of him, and wondered if his old injury had flared up.
"Is there good sport to be had at your estate, Mr. Blanchard?" Dr. Whale asked Robin when the first course had been set out and everyone had received helpings of the rump roast, the pigeon pie, the boiled potatoes, the roasted asparagus, and the scalloped oysters.
"We had decent grouse and pheasant shooting in September and October this year," Robin replied, "but the weather has been too severe for fox-hunting."
For some time, the conversation continued along the same vein, with discussions on the best modes and seasons for shooting different kinds of game birds and animals. Emma was intrigued to hear Ruby talk of hounds and horses as well as any of the men.
"Do you hunt, Mrs. Whale?" she asked.
Ruby assented.
"My Ruby is one of the best hunters in the county," Mrs. Lucas announced proudly. "If the winter wasn't so bad, I would drag her back to Misthaven with me to take care of the fox problem at Lucas Park."
After a brief lull, Regina was heard to say, "My husband and I are thinking of engaging the services of a landscaper at Locksley this summer."
"A landscaper?" said Mary Margaret, pausing with a forkful of pie part-way to her mouth. "I didn't know you were planning alterations at such a grand scale."
Regina gave an affected laugh. "That place needs a good deal of modernization. Why, the very approach to the house needs broadening."
Emma had known that with Locksley passing to Robin there would be several changes to the estate, but it did not make it any easier to hear them talked of so casually. She felt completely in sympathy with Neal as she recollected how indignant he had been about all the alterations Captain Jones had undertaken at the Abbey after the death of Robert Gould.
"Captain Jones has done quite a number of improvements at Misthaven Abbey in the past few years." Mrs. Lucas stated, as if on cue. "Mr. Blanchard, I suggest you consult someone who's done this sort of thing before a professional who'll charge heaven and earth for it!"
"I would be glad to hear your ideas, Captain," said Robin, gesturing at the man in question.
"I haven't done too much in the way of ornamentation on the Abbey building itself," the captain replied. "It's mostly been repair-work on manor houses and clearing off brush to make more farmland."
"Is the soil thereabouts good for farming crops?" Robin enquired. "Locksley grounds are best suited to grow berries and fruit trees."
"Misthaven soil is very fertile. All manner of crops and fruit trees thrive in it," said Mrs. Lucas, eager to establish the superiority of Devonshire over other counties.
"What kind of fruit do you cultivate in your estate, Mr. Blanchard?" Ruby asked.
"We have some fine strawberry and blueberry beds and a grove of Bramley apples," he replied.
"And we're planting Ribston Pippin apple trees in early spring," Regina added.
"I'm very fond of apples," Kelly West gushed. "And Ribston Pippins are my favorite variety, by far."
Emma bent to her plate and rolled her eyes. Apparently, Mrs. Lucas wasn't the only person Kelly West considered worth flattering.
"Is it, dear?" said Regina, with a complacent smile. "That variety is sweet as honey and has a crisp bite like a pear, quite superior to the Bramleys on the estate."
"Are the Bramleys to be cut down, then?" Emma asked, surprised. The Bramley orchard at Locksley had been planted in their grandfather's time, and consistently yielded a fruitful crop that was sold to the market. Emma did not think either Robin or Regina would do something so imprudent as to give up a steady source of profit.
"Oh, no. The old avenue by the pond is coming down to make way for the apple orchard."
Emma's ire rose. She glanced across the table at Mary Margaret and saw a similar look on her sister's face. It was well that they had moved from Locksley, Emma thought. Neither of them could have borne seeing the old trees coming down in favor of apples, however sweet and crisp the fruit may turn out to be.
They were served iced fruits glacés among other things during the dessert course. Regina was casting envious looks at the variety of ices molded and colored to look like the fruits and flowers their flavors were derived from. Emma wondered, not without some amusement, if an ice-house would be added to Locksley along with other sweeping "improvements".
Ruby had planned for cards after dinner, knowing her grandmother's fondness for the game. Captain Jones, Kelly West, and Emma were assigned to Mrs. Lucas's whist table, while the others gathered to play a round game.
"Are you ever planning to go back to Misthaven, Captain?" Mrs. Lucas addressed the captain, once the game got going. "You've not stepped foot in that place for nigh on three months now."
"My plans are unsettled just now, Mrs. Lucas," he replied, tossing a card on the table. "I daresay I shall go back soon enough."
"There are other kinds of diversions to be had in the country besides bloodsport, you know?" Mrs. Lucas added in a lower tone, with a sly look between Emma and the captain. "You'd better keep that in mind, Captain, or other men will catch all the pretty young things who go tumbling down hills and spraining ankles."
Emma blushed.
"Ooh, who was your gallant rescuer, Miss Emma?" Kelly West glanced between Mrs. Lucas and Emma. "I'm dying to know!"
"There was no rescue," said Emma crossly. Sometimes, Mrs. Lucas really was the limit!
"Miss Emma looks ready to bite my head off," said Mrs. Lucas with an arch look. She leant towards Kelly West and said in a sotto voce. "All I will say is that his name begins with a 'C'."
Captain Jones sucked in a sharp breath. After a moment, he muttered in an undertone, "That's not the kind of 'gallant' activity I'd expect from that gentleman."
Emma whipped her head around, her eyebrows climbing high. There was an angry scowl on the captain's face. On becoming aware of Emma's observation, he rearranged his expression into something more neutral, but there remained a dark cloud on his brows. The other two did not seem to have heard his remark, and Mrs. Lucas moved on to other topics.
When one round of whist was over, the four of them gathered around the second card table, where a raucous game of speculation was still going on. Kelly West stood by Regina's shoulder and cried out her approval whenever she won a bid. After watching the play for some moments, Emma went up to the piano to look over some new sheet music Ruby had acquired. Captain Jones followed her after a minute. Emma was exasperated. She expected him to say something about Neal, but he confined his remarks to the music. After a brief internal struggle, she began in a low voice, "What did you mean by your earlier remark?"
The captain studied her face for a moment. "You mean about Mr. Cassidy? I take it he was the gentleman the good lady was referring to?" Captain Jones jerked his head in the direction of Mrs. Lucas, who was loudly cheering Ruby on at that moment. Emma flushed, but nodded. His expression hardened. "I meant what I said. 'Rescuing' gentlewomen from falls is not the kind of chivalrous behavior Mr. Cassidy typically indulges in. Quite the opposite, in fact."
Emma's eyes widened on realizing the full import of his words. "That's quite the accusation you make there, Captain."
"I am well aware of that." Captain Jones swept his hand in a gesture of acknowledgment.
"May I ask, what is the basis of your remark?"
His jaw clenched. "I'm not at liberty to speak plainly on the matter."
Emma gave a twisted smile. "How convenient."
Captain Jones narrowed his eyes. He leaned towards Emma slightly. "The tone of your remarks urges me in good conscience to warn you against trusting the gentleman in question."
"Whom should I trust instead? You?" said Emma, sarcasm dripping from her tone. "Please don't pretend to be an unbiased well-wisher."
Captain Jones pressed his lips together, "Whatever I might feel towards you, I assure you they have no bearing on my statement."
Emma was taken aback. Whatever he might feel? Was he pretending… Twitching that thought aside, she flung out, "I know of your history with the first Mrs. Gould, and of your unchivalrous treatment of her. Why should I trust anything you say against a person intimately connected with that family?"
Captain Jones reddened and he clenched his fists. For an instant, Emma was afraid she had pushed him too far. But after a few moments, he let out a slow breath and regained control of himself.
"Whatever story you think you know, my dear Miss Emma," he gritted out, his eyes glinting, "is most certainly wrong."
"Oh, so Mrs. Gould did not die of a broken heart when you abandoned her?" she asked sarcastically.
"That's the story Cassidy's coward of a father passed on to him, is it?" Captain Jones sneered, still speaking at a lower register. "In truth, Robert Gould murdered Milah in cold blood because she fell in love with me."
Emma narrowed her eyes. "And you know this because…"
"He boasted to me that he'd done it," Captain Jones returned, his nostrils flaring.
They stared at each other, breathing hard. A loud clapping broke out at the card table. Emma jumped, startled. The card game had ended, with Ruby emerging as the undisputed winner. Expelling a sharp breath, Emma abruptly turned away from Captain Jones without ceremony and joined her sister. She could not believe his audacity in imputing immoral behavior to Neal without adding a particle of evidence to support his statement. And that story about Robert Gould murdering Milah sounded far-fetched. People didn't go around murdering their wives because they had an extramarital affair. If that was the case, a quarter of the nobility of the country would be dead, starting with Princess Caroline. If Captain Jones had imagined that she would be flattered by his mention of a partiality for her, he was going be sorely disappointed. Would he have stayed away from Misthaven for so long if he truly harbored such a preference for her? Emma saw through his artifice and pointedly avoided him for the rest of the evening. She merely nodded when he came to take leave of her, a troubled expression in his eyes.
Christmas came and went under a blanket of heavy snow, curtailing most of the outdoor activities and entertainment, including the proposed outing to Vauxhall. The sun finally came out two days into the new year, though it seemed but a weak, wintry substitute of the original. Dozens of hired hands descended into the wealthier neighborhoods, shoveling snow from the roads and pavements and loading them into carts to be dumped into the Thames. The next day continued to be clear of snow or the threat of it. Ruby's suggestion that they all go to Hyde Park for a little airing was enthusiastically received. Mrs. Lucas stayed home, but the Whales and the Miss Blanchards set out, well wrapped in thick winter coats and mufflers, and feet shod in woolen socks and sturdy boots. The whole of London seemed to have hit upon the same notion. A string of carriages were stalled in the road leading up to Hyde Park, and Emma was impatiently jiggling her legs by the time they reached the entrance.
The Whales had many acquaintances in London, and they frequently stopped to chat with somebody or the other. At first, Emma and Mary Margaret walked with them, but growing impatient of the slow progress, they drew apart and walked on, promising to meet the Whales in half an hour's time on the bank of the Serpentine River.
"I didn't think London would be so dreary in the winter," Emma remarked, after a short silence. "We've barely stirred out in days!"
"We wouldn't be any better off in the country. By all accounts, there's been a great deal of snow in Devonshire as well," said Mary Margaret.
"I suppose so," Emma said. As though struck by another thought, she added, "The roads are probably impassable with the amount of snow that's fallen."
Mary Margaret was at no loss to understand her sister's train of thought. "Emma…" she began, after a short pause. "I know you don't like me bringing up the subject, but I feel I ought to. Are you sure Neal is coming to London?"
Emma gave a sigh of frustration. "I don't know," she finally confessed, when Mary Margaret continued to look at her in concern.
"Then, why did you want to come to London?" Mary Margaret stopped walking and touched Emma's arm.
Emma made no reply but kept walking. Mary Margaret gave an audible sigh and followed after her sister. They walked about for some time and gradually meandered towards the bank of the Serpentine. On spotting the Whales, they joined them. Together, they stood watching the many fashionably attired young men, and even a few women, who were skating on the frozen surface of the river. Some were attempting complicated figures, with varying degrees of success. Others were cruising in straight lines and curves, blowing kisses to their sweethearts who were standing on the riverbank. A gallant young man was escorting a timid young lady across the icy surface, their eyes only for each other. Several children were taking their first lessons in skating from their doting fathers, their mothers hovering anxiously nearby.
"Remember how we used to go sledding during Christmas-time when we were children?" Mary Margaret said to Emma.
Emma gave a small smile. "Yes. And Mama wouldn't let us go for a whole year when I fell off the sled that one time and sprained my ankle."
The sisters laughed at the remembrance. When their teeth started chattering from the cold, they all started back towards the carriages, Emma and Mary Margaret walking a little ways ahead of Ruby and Dr. Whale, who had stopped to talk to someone.
Suddenly, Emma gripped her sister's arm. "It's Neal…" she whispered.
"What? Where?" Mary Margaret looked around, and then she too spotted him.
Neal Cassidy was standing by a curricle, his back to them. But there was no mistaking his identity.
"Neal!" Emma called out in an eager voice. On hearing his name, Neal turned. When he saw Emma and Mary Margaret, he visibly blanched. In her eagerness to talk to him, Emma pressed forward and held out her hand for him to shake.
Neal neither moved nor took Emma's hand. There was a look of frozen dismay on his face that filled Mary Margaret with a sense of dread. Why was he behaving in such an odd manner?
"Neal!" said Emma once again. She gave a bemused smile. "Are you not going to shake hands?"
Seemingly recovering himself with an effort, Neal bowed ceremoniously, still ignoring Emma's proffered hand. "Good evening, Miss Emma, Miss Blanchard."
Mary Margaret stepped up to Emma's side, who was starting to look pale, and placed a protective hand on her arm.
"Neal…" Emma whispered. Her lower lip wobbled.
Neal's eyes darted about; he placed a hand on the curricle, and then withdrew it quickly. He looked ready to bolt. Just then, a fashionably dressed young woman joined them and tucked her hand into Neal's arm. She was tall, but not lanky and wore a long fur-lined coat. A richly patterned shawl was wrapped about her shoulders. Her skin was darker than the typical English countenance. The woman stared at Emma and Mary Margaret for a second, before turning to Neal and saying, "Neal, won't you introduce me to your friends?"
Her voice, as she spoke, was that of a well-bred English woman.
"Of course," Neal replied, giving a ghastly smile. Nodding at Emma and Mary Margaret, he said, "Miss Blanchard, Miss Emma Blanchard, may I present to you Miss Lambe, my fiancée?"
Mary Margaret felt Emma sway in her grip. Uncaring of how discourteous she might appear, Mary Margaret quickly excused herself and led her sister away from the spot and sat her down on a nearby park bench. Emma's state was of more concern to her at the moment. Mary Margaret rummaged through her reticule and pulled out a bottle of smelling salts. Opening the stopper, she held it to her sister's nose. Emma took a gasping breath and blinked a few times. Mary Margaret set down the bottle and peered at her sister. She still looked pale but not as though she was going to faint again.
"Mary Margaret…" Emma whispered, looking stricken.
Mary Margaret felt her eyes prickling with tears. She passed her arm around her sister's shoulder and held her tight.
They were rejoined by a very concerned-looking Ruby and Dr. Whale. On noticing Emma's wan appearance, Ruby proposed leaving at once.
"Do you think you can walk to the carriage, Emmy?" Mary Margaret asked gently, using Emma's childhood nickname.
Emma pressed her lips together and nodded. Mary Margaret could tell she was trying hard to not burst into tears.
When they reached home, Emma immediately ran upstairs. After assuring Ruby that she would let her know if Emma needed anything and thanking her for her kindness, Mary Margaret followed her sister to their room.
Emma was lying lay face-down on her bed. She was not crying, and did not acknowledge Mary Margaret's presence when she plumped down next to her.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Mary Margaret asked after some minutes of silence.
Emma shook her head.
"Do you want me to leave?"
Emma shook her head once more.
Mary Margaret scooted down the bed and lay down beside her sister. She gently smoothed-down Emma's hair and started to sing a lullaby their mother used to sing to them when they were children. Tears started leaking from Emma's eyes. Soon, she was sobbing her heart out. Mary Margaret pulled her to her chest and tried to sooth her as well as she could. She herself was feeling pretty miserable. The last thing she had imagined was for her sister to end up with a broken heart just like herself. Despite Mary Margaret's occasional misgivings over Neal Cassidy's long silence, she had not expected to find him engaged to another woman. When Emma eventually fell into an exhausted sleep, Mary Margaret went downstairs and joined Mrs. Lucas and Ruby in the drawing room.
"Is Emma feeling better?" Ruby asked, in a concerned voice. "Would you like Victor to take a look at her?"
"Thank you, Ruby, but I do not think that will be necessary." Mary Margaret hesitated, unsure of what to say. "Emma's sleeping now. I think she'll be better after some rest."
"I hope she hasn't caught a chill," said Mrs. Lucas. "It's not always a good idea to go out in the cold after sitting at home for days on end!"
Ruby looked at Mary Margaret intently for a few moments. Then, she said, "Victor and I saw you both talking to Mr. Cassidy. Who was that woman with him?"
Mary Margaret judged it best to tell them the truth. It was bound to come out sooner than later. "His fiancée, a Miss Lambe."
Ruby sucked in a sharp breath. Mary Margaret was relieved that she did not have to explain any further. Mrs. Lucas's frequent teasing of Emma over Neal Cassidy had likely left Ruby in little doubt of the implications of that revelation.
"That no-good, rotten scoundrel!" Mrs. Lucas burst out. "After paying court to Miss Emma all summer, he's gone and got himself engaged to someone else, has he?"
Ruby gave a disbelieving shake of the head. "He always seemed so charming and had such agreeable manners."
"Charming is as charming does," Mrs. Lucas declared. "Cassidy will feel the pointy end of an arrow at his backside if he ever dares to show his face at Lucas Park."
"Ruby, do you know who Miss Lambe is?" Mary Margaret asked, when Mrs. Lucas had finished her tirade.
"I've seen her at one or two public assemblies, but at none of the ton parties." Ruby spread open her hands. "I've heard she's from the West Indies. I can ask Victor to find out more when he goes to his club."
Mrs. Lucas hummed. "Well...if this girl is one of those West Indian heiresses, Cassidy's only marrying her for her money, I'll wager my life on it. Got into debt as likely as not, and found a quick way to settle everything."
"I'll ask Ellen to prepare a tray for Emma in a little while," said Ruby, after a brief pause. "I don't suppose she'll want to come down for dinner."
"Thank you. That would be best, I think." Mary Margaret felt truly grateful for Ruby's kindness.
Mary Margaret went down to breakfast alone the next morning. Emma had woken up complaining of a headache, which was not surprising considering the shock she had had. Besides, she had only eaten some thin gruel the night before, refusing everything else. After finishing her own breakfast, Mary Margaret took up a tray for Emma.
"How long are you going to stay in this room, Emma?" asked Mary Margaret, handing her the tray and plopping down on the bed.
Emma grimaced. "I don't think I can bear Mrs. Lucas's inquisitive probing or Ruby's pitying looks right now."
"Mrs. Lucas only means to be kind." Mary Margaret tried to reassure her. She added, "Dr. Whale is going to make enquiries about Miss Lambe."
"Does it really matter who Miss Lambe is?" Emma tore off a piece of bread with more force than necessary and started buttering it. "It's only food for gossip for people like Mrs. Lucas. She'll be spreading the story with embellishments all over Misthaven once we get back."
"Perhaps she will. But people will move on to some other piece of news in a few weeks' time," said Mary Margaret. "I'm sure you're not the first person who's had a broken engagement in Misthaven."
Emma set down the butter knife and turned to look at Mary Margaret. "Neal and I were not actually engaged."
Mary Margaret looked troubled. "But you wrote to him. I was never sure until then, but when I saw you writing to him more than once, I assumed…"
Emma bent down to her tray once more, not meeting Mary Margaret's eyes. "I suppose I just assumed that we were. I trusted him, and made a bigger fool of myself than I thought was possible."
Mary Margaret let out a sharp breath. She was silent for several minutes. The one thing that provided her a small modicum of comfort in the matter of David's secret engagement was her conviction that David had not meant to lead her astray. Over the course of their dinner at Grosvenor Street, Mary Margaret had seen nothing in David's behavior that led her to believe otherwise. He may have unexpectedly developed a partiality for her, but he had not meant to trifle with her, of that she felt sure. Mary Margaret could not help wondering if Neal Cassidy had fallen into a similar trap. Thinking to comfort her sister, Mary Margaret said, "Well at least Neal didn't break faith with you. That would have been much worse."
Emma turned to stare at her sister, disbelief and betrayal plain on her face. "He implied with every word and deed that he loved me, that he envisaged a future with me. You think he is not blamable because he didn't actually bind himself to me with a promise?"
Mary Margaret held up her hands in a placating gesture. "I'm not saying that he isn't to blame—quite the contrary! But, perhaps he was led away by the force of his feelings for you and didn't realize that you had fallen in love with him until it was too late."
"Too late for what? To avoid committing himself?"
"I only meant…"
"He kissed me," said Emma bluntly.
"What?"
"You heard what I said," said Emma, looking at her sister steadily.
"When?" said Mary Margaret in a horrified whisper.
"The day we went to Rougemont Castle. I suppose that's when I started thinking we were as good as engaged."
"Oh, Emma…" Mary Margaret was stricken.
Emma set down her tray, and said, "I would like to be alone for now."
Mary Margaret hesitated.
"Please…" said Emma, her voice wavering at the brink of tears.
Mary Margaret nodded and left the room. In her haste to comfort her sister, she had spoken thoughtlessly. Emma's revelation of the liberties Neal had taken made Mary Margaret feel angry and repulsed. This made it unlikely that he had not acted by design. Had he intended to merely trifle with Emma all the time? How had they all been so deceived in his character? To be sure, Cousin Ingrid had expressed her reservations against Neal, but Mary Margaret felt that the news of Neal's engagement would still come as a shock to her. Even Mrs. Lucas, who knew Neal the longest among them, had been surprised. Mary Margaret was deeply disturbed. She hoped that Dr. Whale might be able to find some information to throw light upon the matter.
Ruby called Mary Margaret down to the parlor later that afternoon. Mrs. Lucas was in the room, knitting.
"Victor's been to his club this morning," Ruby began. "He's found some information about Miss Lambe. I thought it best to tell you first."
"Yes?" Mary Margaret questioned eagerly.
"Miss Lambe's grandfather, a Mr. Pinney, was originally from Bristol, though he lived in Jamaica for a long time. He owned a sugar plantation there."
Mary Margaret sucked in a sharp breath. A sugar plantation owner in Jamaica automatically meant that he had employed slaves. "Does that mean Miss Lambe's grandmother…" She could not complete the sentence.
"She wasn't a slave, if that's what you're wondering." Ruby grimaced.
"Those plantation owners have no heart," Mrs. Lucas said, gesturing with her needle to drive home her point. "I've not had sugar in my house in years. Honey's good enough for me, and for anybody who visits me."
Ruby continued. "I believe she was a nanny at Mr. Pinney's household. When she had a daughter by him, Mr. Pinney brought up the little girl along with his legitimate son and gave her a proper English education. And when she'd come of age, he got her married to his estate manager. Miss Lambe was their only child."
"Are the parents not alive?" Mrs. Lucas asked.
Ruby shook her head. "They died of yellow fever last year. That's when Mr. Pinney decided to wind up his affairs in Jamaica. He sold his plantation and came back with his son, his son's family, and his granddaughter. Apparently, he died soon after his return to England."
"How did Mr. Pinney leave his money?" Mrs. Lucas asked, going to the crux of the matter.
"His son inherited the bulk of his property, which I believe amounted to three hundred thousand pounds. But he left his granddaughter a legacy of fifty thousand pounds."
There was a silence as the women processed this information. With such a large settlement, it was difficult to see Neal's engagement as anything but mercenary. Mary Margaret wondered if there was some truth to Mrs. Lucas's surmise that Neal had gotten himself into debt. Not that it would excuse any of his actions, but it might explain them.
Mrs. Lucas finally said. "Well…I pity the lass. I hope Cassidy does right by her. But I rather doubt it."
Mary Margaret went upstairs and recounted the information to Emma. Emma listened silently, and once she had finished, nodded her head in acknowledgment.
"Emma…" Mary Margaret said hesitantly. "I'm sorry for what I said this morning. I know that was a foolish thing to say."
Emma raised her eyes to her sister's. "Are you sorry because I told you that Neal had kissed me, or because you now think he's marrying Miss Lambe for her money?"
"Emma…"
"I know you mean well, Mary Margaret, but you don't understand." Emma bit her lip. "You can't understand, when you have David's love."
Mary Margaret felt a pang in her heart. She gave a twisted smile. "Perhaps I'm starting to realize that love alone is not enough."
"Oh yes," Emma sneered. "You'll also need to wait for David to grow a backbone and stand up to his stepmother."
"Emma!" Tears stung Mary Margaret's eyes.
Emma's face immediately crumpled. "Oh, Mary Margaret! I'm so sorry."
Mary Margaret brushed off her tears and stood up. "I'm going downstairs to check the post—it's about the time Cousin Ingrid would've written to us," she said and dashed out of the room, pained by the way Emma had lashed out at her in her anger.
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