Page 79 of Desperate Proposals
They sat in silence for the rest of the drive.
Chapter Twenty
October gave way toNovember, with Evelyn safely tucked away at Platt Lodge with Selina and Leonora. Her husband, having returned to London the week prior to tend to his perpetual efforts to square a circle, had been replaced by her new clumsy and incredibly talkative collie. Though she was at first wary of having the dog, Evelyn found she didn’t mind its companionship. Milburga followed her from room to room about the house, which had felt strange at first, but which now provided her with a small measure of comfort. At night the dog slept on a cushion that Dutton had procured and placed near the foot of Evelyn’s bed.
Despite Milburga’s company, though, Evelyn still felt a hollow ache, wishing she might have someone to talk to. On this particular morning she’d felt especially low, most acutely as she sat at her dressing table. She found she couldn’t bear to look at her own reflection, lest she be consumed by thoughts of marital congress.
She’d not realized it would be so until Mr. Hartley had joined their lives together, but it had been pleasant, having someone totouch, or even to simply share her day with. Still, she thought, it was just as well to be alone as she was now. Far more respectable, at least, to sleep with one’s dignity intact, even if it meant her bed remained empty and cold.
At least, so she told herself as she waited at the front door for Murphy to bring the carriage about, so he might deliver her to her planning meeting in the village for the goat willow festivities.
Evelyn tugged at a glove, irritated to be so preoccupied. Thankfully, the sound of the carriage wheels on the gravel interrupted her ruminations.
Life continued on for her much as it always had, except she now resided a short ride to the east of Methering Manor. Her new home had none of the history of her old one, but at least it was comfortable.
She dared not call on her father, lest Selina insist on tagging along and causing mischief. Exactly what nature of mischief Evelyn was still not sure, for when she’d questioned her sister-in-law about her overly warm relationship with Wright the day before, Selina had tittered and directed her own scrutiny back on Evelyn! Asking such impudent questions about her husband and his… why, Evelyn’s cheeks burned just at the thought of it. She’d been so astounded at what she was hearing, she’d stood up and excused herself from the room.
Then, once she’d composed herself an hour or so later, she’d explained to Selina that regardless of what had transpired between her and Baron Methering’s butler, it would have to end now. Which meant Selina, for all intents and purposes, was to be restricted to Platt Lodge and its grounds.
Evelyn’s mother-in-law, Mrs. Hartley, had remained behind when Mr. Hartley left for London. Evelyn felt a small measure of relief at that, for the lady had done an excellent job bringing Leonora up to snuff.
But she also suspected her husband had left his mother with strict instructions to maintain an eye on Selina as well.
Evelyn allowed herself a small sigh as she sat alone in the carriage. Through the windows was the familiar Lancashire landscape, with its quaint, tilled lowlands and wide-open sky. Watching it pass gently by was a balm on her agitated senses.
She wasn’t usually like this. She had always considered herself to be as imperturbable as anyone. But then there was all that nasty business that had come to pass on their return from Birmingham.
Evelyn sat back in her seat, not wishing to spare even a single thought for when her husband had expressed his desire to drag her and Selina to London, which she’d firmly resisted. It caused a peculiar melancholy in her that she did not care for.
Knockton’s familiar structures stood as they always had, slightly askew and well-worn at the edges. Ancient vines crept up the stone buildings flanking the main road, whose gray shingles and clay chimney pots barely stood out against the leaden sky. The trees had begun to show their branches.
Evelyn wondered how long it would be until they all finally relinquished their tenacious hold on the remaining autumn foliage that quivered in every breeze.
Just then, she caught sight of a crowd loosely congregated on the village green. She frowned. She was unaware of anything of importance happening in town today besides the Preservation Society meeting.A mass of people never bodes well, her father always said. Pressing her face closer to the glass, she squinted, but she could not make out much beyond blurry, featureless forms. Drat.
Mr. Hartley had told her he’d send her spectacles once they arrived in London, but all she had received from him since he’d left was one brief letter.
The prose had been flat and to the point. As Evelyn herself wrote. Clear, concise, and perfectly adequate.
She’d never realized how unsatisfying it was to be on the receiving end of a such a missive.
She turned back toward the inside of the carriage and knocked on the sliding door alongside her head. After a moment it slid open.
“Ma’am?” Murphy asked, stooping down from the bench so they might hear each other better.
“Can we drive a little farther, toward the green? It appears there’s an assembly there.”
“Alright,” he said, making the word sound far less cheerful than it ought to.
Before Evelyn could say anything further, he swiftly slid the door closed.
When they pulled up at the green, Evelyn could initially only see that the assembled were men of varying ages and classes, and that they seemed intent upon a particular gentleman at the center, flanked by a pair of poles upon which hung blue banners. He must have been standing atop a crate, but even so Evelyn could only see the crown of his hat, for there were at least twenty or so people milling about him.
Murphy came around to open the door, and she took his hand to exit, perplexed. The gentleman near the center was speaking, and she caught the end of his statement:
“… formation of school boards? Surely we can manage the schooling of our children well enough without the government’s say. Surely our children would benefit from the reading of Scripture.”
“Hear, hear!” rumbled several of the assembled men amid a smattering of applause.
