Page 44 of Eight for Losing, One for Loving

“If she wishes to talk to you, certainly, but only if you give me your word you will do nothing to persuade her into accepting me for moral reasons, or… or for any other reason other than wanting to.”

“Certainly, I shall, though are you certain there is no gossip. You are a well-known figure on the road, sir. If anyone has seen you, the lady’s reputation—”

“Do not, whatever you do, raise that as a reason to marry me,” Leo said, dropping his knife and fork in his anxiety. “Vi would run as far and fast as she could rather than do so in those circumstances.”

Harbottle returned a rueful smile. “Ah, she is indeed a woman with spirit. In that case, I shall certainly not do so.”

“Spirit? Ha!” Leo said with a bark of laughter. “She’s the most obstinate, pigheaded, frustrating woman in the entire world.”

“And you cannot live without her,” Harbottle finished for him.

Leo stared down at his breakfast and sighed. “No,” he agreed morosely, and prayed the vicar might succeed where he had failed.

Vi had not been in the best of humours when she’d awoken and found Leo had gone out without her. She’d had some lingering hope that she might have induced him to make love to her that morning, though a glance in the mirror on the dressing table had swiftly put paid to that notion. She’d looked a fright, her hair a tangle no self-respecting bird would deign to nest in, and the lump on her head, whilst not so pronounced, had turned some impressive shades that did little for her complexion.

The note Vi discovered on her pillow, explaining where he was going and why and how he could not bear to wake her when she’d had such a trying night, had mollified her somewhat. Finding he had arranged breakfast in bed, willow bark tea, and for her gown and Mau to be seen to, removed any lingering resentment at his going off on his own. At least she’d had time to make herself look something close to neat and tidy, even if lovely and desirable was now far out of reach and Jenny had helped her do something with her hair, which had helped somewhat.

Vi would have liked to have seen the Reverend Harbottle again too, for he seemed a nice man, even if he had led Leo into danger last night. But perhaps Leo would allow her to call in on him before he took her back home.

They would be going back home, she realised with a sigh of dismay. The adventure was over, and whilst she had no desire to ever endure the terrors of last night again, she had to confess that sharing all the trials and tribulations with Leo had been rather wonderful. She had enjoyed parts of it a great deal, she realised, looking back at the events of the previous day with a wistful sigh.

“Mrs Huntington?” Jenny called through the door.

“Yes, Jenny, come in.”

“I brought your gown back, for the doctor will be here shortly, though Mr Huntington told me not to give it to you before he got back. I think he was joking,” she added dubiously. “I’m afraid the hem is torn, but I tidied it up as best I could.”

“You’ve done a splendid job. Thank you, Jenny, and thank you for everything you did last night. I’m so very grateful. You did wonders with my hair this morning, too. I confess, I thought it was beyond saving,” Vi added, touching a hand to the elegant coiffure Jenny had created for her earlier with a smile.

Jenny blushed, pleased with such praise. “My pleasure, Mrs Huntington, and… well, if it ain’t too cheeky to say so, if you should ever be needing a lady’s maid… I mean, I know I’m not one, but I’m good with hair like you said, and with keeping clothes nice and properly pressed. I’m a quick learner, and I’ve a fair hand with a needle and thread too, and—”

Vi smiled as Jenny ran through all her talents. “Well, Jenny. If you are certain you don’t mind leaving the village and your job here, I will certainly think about it. My own maid is due to be married in a few weeks, you see, and so—”

“Oh, Mrs Huntington! Do you really mean you’ll take me on?” Jenny cried, and Vi saw the desire for this chance burning in the woman’s eyes.

Vi considered this. She had not meant to make a snap decision, but Jenny had proven herself capable, brave, and resilient last night, and she thought she was someone in whom she could put her trust. Surely the girl deserved a chance. If Vi took her on now, Rachel would have a little time to train her up before she left to get married.

“I do,” Vi said, nodding. She laughed as Jenny gave a little scream of delight and then gave Vi an impulsive hug before she remembered herself.

“I beg your pardon, Mrs Huntington. I… I’m just so happy for the opportunity.”

Vi smiled, patting the girl’s hand. She would have to explain she was Miss Spencer eventually and hope Jenny was not too shocked. “That’s quite all right, but you might need to give Mrs Caruthers notice before you leave her employ. I shall leave you my address so you can follow on when she is able to let you go. Now, if you really want to impress me, hurry and get me dressed.”

Vi sat at the table by the window in her room, sipping a cup of tea. The doctor had seen her and declared her fit and well. He was elderly, no nonsense man who told her frankly that he did not hold with ladies having fits of the vapours. In his opinion, there was little that could not be fixed with walks in the fresh air, looser corsets, and good food, but he warned her against overexerting herself. If she experienced any further headaches or dizziness, she was to seek medical help at once.

She had expected Leo back by now, and when she heard the knock at the door, her heart leapt, only to plummet again as she heard Jenny’s voice.

“Reverend Harbottle is here, Mrs Huntington. Shall I show him in?”

“Yes, please do, Jenny,” Vi called, getting to her feet. Why on earth had the vicar come to call? She hoped there was nothing wrong. Surely Leo could not have got himself into another scrape so quickly.

Jenny showed the reverend in and hurried out again instead of lingering, proving to Vi that the girl knew how to be discreet.

“Reverend, how lovely to see you again. I so hoped to thank you for everything you did for us last night.”

“My pleasure, my pleasure,” Harbottle said, spying Mau and going over to see him. “My, my, he is a handsome fellow, I must say. I’ve never seen a cat like him, even if he isn’t an Egyptian Water Sphinx,” he added, regarding Vi with a crooked smile.

“Oh,” Vi said faintly, wondering what else he knew.