A Lady of High Regard (26 page)

How could he? Right there in broad daylight—on the street. No sensible person would risk such social disgrace. Not unless . . .

Biting her lip, Mia saw her hopes fade away. She felt a heaviness settle upon her. It appeared her matchmaking had worked once again. Garrett had obviously proposed, and Eulalee Duff had accepted.

CHAPTER 20

N
o one was more surprised than Mia to find her parents had returned home in her absence. When the Brightons’ driver had delivered her to the house, the pouring rain had been her only focus. But once inside, Mia saw the trunks and heard the animated discussion of the servants and knew that her mother and father were back from their travels.

“Mother? Father?” Mia made her way upstairs presuming to find them in their room.

“Mia! Oh, how good to see you safe and looking so well,” her mother declared as she eyed her daughter critically. “You look a bit pale, however. You aren’t coming down sick— are you?”

“I feel fine.” She embraced her mother and then turned to find her father smiling. “Father, it’s so good to see you.”

He hugged her close. “I have missed you, my little Mia. England was stuffy and boring without you.”

“We talked of you constantly.” Her mother moved to the large walnut wardrobe and opened the doors. “Oh, Mia. I think you’ll love the new clothes I’ve brought home. I have two new gowns for you, in fact.”

“I’m sure they’re lovely.”

“And the most up-to-date of fashions. Your Mrs. Hale may well get the best of information regarding the latest trends, but nothing serves as well as going straight to the source.”

Mia decided to change the course of the conversation. “How did you find England other than stuffy and boring, Father?”

“Actually quite beautiful. The green of the countryside was most appealing. We traveled several days in the open landscape and found it very refreshing.”

“Even invigorating,” her mother added.

“How about things here?” Her father turned to direct one of the servants, then glanced back at Mia. “Any news we should know about?”

Mia thought for a moment. “Mr. Wilson is doing very poorly. The doctor is certain of it being cancer. He mostly sleeps these days. His pain has been most difficult to manage.”

Her mother looked sympathetically to her husband. “Poor Mercy. I should go see her immediately.”

“We will both make a brief visit,” Mia’s father declared. “After all, we have brought them gifts of thanks for allowing Mia to stay with them. There’s no reason to put it off.”

“You changed your original plans and came home early,”

Mia stated.

Her mother looked away. “There were . . . My sister felt . . .”

Mia saw her father was just as uncomfortable. “Tell me, please.”

Her parents exchanged a glance. “You aunt was unhappy that you didn’t come to at least consider the arrangement she had hoped to make. It did not bode well for the family, as the man she had in mind sought his matrimonial potential elsewhere.”

“Did she force you to leave—because of me?” Mia put her hands on her hips. “That is hardly a charitable or family-like thing to do.”

“She was worried. Their investments have not done as well as ours. To have seen the two families joined would have meant help for their failing businesses,” her mother replied.

“But,” her father continued, “to answer your question, no, she did not ask us to leave.”

“She made it clear, however, that we were not welcome.” Her mother grasped a gown by the shoulders and gave it one hard shake. “After that first day, she would scarcely even speak to us.”

“I can’t believe this! What sister would turn out her family for such a reason? Does she not see how archaic arranged marriages have become?”

“I don’t think she saw anything clearly,” Mia’s father said, reaching out to touch her shoulder. “At first I thought she was only concerned about their financial situation. I tried to reason with her and offer a loan of money, but it was simply not what they wanted. Then I came to understand that money was not the only thing at play in this matter, but also a certain social status that could be gained by relating themselves to this man and his family.”

“So you left? When was this?”

“We were there for two weeks before we found the situation too unbearable. So your mother and I took ourselves on a little tour of the countryside. We visited some of the business associates I had known when still dealing with our imports, and we went to Plymouth to see your uncle Winston. He was quite cordial, and we found the city very pleasant. We had a nice time of it, despite the disagreeable situation.”

“I am sorry, Mother, that such a thing would cause division between you and your sister.”

Her mother shrugged. “I still cannot believe Elizabeth would allow such a thing to separate us, but ’tis her choice.”

“What of Aunt Jane? Did she feel the same way? Was there no one who could reason with Aunt Elizabeth?”

“Jane feels she must support Elizabeth. After all, they both live in Bath and their families are there. I do not believe Jane considered it such a serious offense,” Mia’s mother replied. “But as your father said to me, we must give them time to rethink the subject. Elizabeth acted poorly and perhaps in time she will see the error of her ways.”

Mia had never heard her mother respond about a family matter in such a way. It seemed the time abroad had helped her mother to see life in a different light. “Well, I for one think we should put it behind us,” Mia said, forcing a smile. “I’m glad to have you home. I missed you both.” She hugged her father again and then went to her mother. “Thank you for taking my side and defending my desire to marry for love. It means a great deal to me.”

“I truly want your happiness, Mia. I’m sorry if I seemed to imply otherwise. In fact . . .” She let the words trail and looked to her husband.

Mia thought she was acting strange. “In fact, what?”

Her father came to them. “What your mother is trying to say is that we’ve had a change of heart regarding your work for Mrs. Hale.”

“What?” Mia could scarcely believe what she was hearing.

“We realize the times are changing and that social mandates should not be the only reason to make decisions. We were wrong to demand you resign your position at
Godey’s
simply because it looked bad. You have our permission to continue with your work there.”

Had Mia not been certain that Garrett had just proposed marriage to Eulalee Duff, this might have been the happiest moment of her life. “Thank you so much. You have no idea what this means to me. There are hundreds of people out there whom I wish to help, and this will make a difference to them. At least I pray it does.”

“We ask only that you practice wisdom,” her father replied. “We would not wish to see your reputation ruined.”

Two days later Mia prepared to have Jason take her to town. She dressed in a dark green suit and had Ruth fashion her hair very simply. She wanted to appear confident, but not overly affluent.

Her plan was to shop for Prudence’s wedding present, visit Mrs. Hale, and then go to the dock district. She thought that she might purchase additional hand pieces from the woman who had called herself Sadie. Maybe Sadie would even talk to her about Jasper Barrill—if she knew him.

Collecting a handful of coins from her desk, Mia stuffed them into her bag and made her way downstairs. She was just about to call for her carriage when the butler announced Garrett Wilson. She froze in place. She wanted only to turn and flee, but instead it seemed as though her shoes had been nailed to the floor.

She hadn’t seen him since that day he’d been with Eulalee. She had sent Ruth next door to pack all of her things and bring them home rather than risk having to talk to him. She hadn’t wanted to hear whatever announcement he might want to share about his future. She honestly wanted to be happy for Garrett, and for Mrs. Duff, but she just couldn’t bear it—not yet.

“Why, Mia, you look as though you’ve seen a ghost,” her father declared as he moved past her. “Garrett, how good to see you.”

The draping at the entry to the foyer kept Mia from being able to see Garrett. She heard her father’s enthusiastic greeting and listened for a moment as they made small talk. She had finally decided to slip out of the house through the back rooms when her mother appeared.

“Did I hear your father declare Mr. Wilson had come?”

“You did, indeed,” Mia’s father said, coming into the room. “Garrett has paid us a visit.”

Mia’s mother nodded in approval. “Would you care for some refreshments?”

“No. I wouldn’t impose on you in such a fashion. I feel bad enough arriving without sending you some sort of warning, and I am in fact off to tend to something in town.” He grinned and then lifted his gaze to Mia. “You appear to be on your way out.”

“Yes, I am.” She tried to sound completely at ease.

“Were you going alone?”

She thought to put a wall between them and assert her independence. “Yes.” He didn’t need to know that Jason would drive her. “Father and Mother have very kindly changed their mind about my work with
Godey’s Lady’s Book.
Father has agreed I may continue to write for them.” Garrett said nothing, but Mia could see the disapproval in his eyes.

“So what brings you here today, son? Has your father taken a turn for the worse?”

“No, he’s nearly the same—no better, no worse. Actually I came by to ask Mia if she would care to accompany me to a musical affair tonight. There is to be a performance by a string quintet from Vienna. I thought she might enjoy such an event.”

I would have enjoyed it,
Mia thought, though she tried to remain aloof. How she longed to shout out her feelings and convince Garrett to abandon his affection for Eulalee Duff.

“I’m sure she would be delighted to accept, would you not?” Her father turned to Mia with a broad smile. “I know how you enjoy such events.”

She felt trapped. “I . . . ah . . . I think . . . well, it sounds lovely.”

“There you have it,” her father said, turning back to Garrett. “You are kind to include our Mia. Now tell me where you are off to.”

“If you’ll excuse me,” Mia said, stepping toward the hall. “I should be leaving.”

“I have my carriage and would be happy to escort you,” Garrett declared.

“I’m going to do some shopping for a wedding present for Prudence Brighton. I am certain that would hold little interest for you,” Mia replied in a rather clipped tone.

“On the contrary. Purchasing a gift for the couple was on my list of things to accomplish.”

He’s surely lying. He’s just doing this so that I cannot go unaccompanied into town. Why can’t he simply leave me alone?

“Mia is also going to pick something out from us,” her mother threw out. “It would probably be nice for her to have your company. If nothing else, I’m sure she would appreciate your help in carrying the packages.”

The memory of Garrett pulling packages from the back of his carriage and escorting Eulalee Duff into her house was triggered with this comment. Mia bit her lip to keep from saying anything, lest she unleash some remark about that day.

“Then we shall settle that matter as well,” Garrett said, extending his hand to Mia. “And perhaps we shall stop and have some refreshments.”

Mia allowed Garrett to lead her to the door, not knowing what else to do. She couldn’t imagine a more uncomfortable situation—at least not until she was sitting inside his carriage. Was this the same carriage in which he’d driven Eulalee home? Had she sat in the same place?

“You are up to something,” he said as he took up the reins. “You might as well tell me now.”

She stiffened. Perhaps if she bolstered her aching heart with anger or indifference, it would hurt less to be in his presence. “My father is now my keeper once again, and unlike you, he trusts me to see to my own affairs.”

“Only because he has not had to save you from being trampled by an angry mob.”

“Why did you come to my house today?” She suddenly felt overwhelmed by the closeness of his body to hers.

“I had hoped we could talk. I have been wanting to talk to you about something important.”