Page 51 of A Christmas Miracle for the Frosty Marquess
She carefully pulled the dogcart away from Agnes’s pitiful home, heading in the direction of the vicarage. They had no sooner put the little house behind them than Mary nudged Clara.
“If I didn’t know better, I might be inclined to say that you and Lord Silverstone are in love,” she said.
Clara blushed, but she couldn’t hide her smile.
“Don’t be silly,” she said. “We worked together through a crisis, and we are simply grateful that Agnes made it through the night. Just as you must be.”
Mary giggled.
“And that hand holding this morning was, I suppose, simply gratitude?” she asked.
Clara’s blush deepened. She couldn’t speak for Julian. But as with every other time Julian had touched her, she had, indeed, felt a strong connection with him. And the way he had looked at her was as though he was seeing her for the first time.
“You are incorrigible,” she said. “Now, no more on that subject. We must figure out how we can help poor Agnes and those precious children.”
Mary looked at Clara suspiciously, but she reluctantly nodded.
“All right,” she said. “But I haven’t finished with this discussion.”
Clara laughed, shaking her head at her persistent friend.
“Incorrigible,” she said again.
When they reached the vicarage, Hannah greeted them with open arms and wide eyes.
“My heavens, I have been worried sick,” she said.
Mary embraced her mother, kissing her on both her cheeks.
“We are terribly sorry, Mother,” she said. “There was an incident last night, and we were needed at dear Agnes’s home.”
Hannah’s eyes filled with sympathy, and she put her hand to her throat.
“Oh, no,” she said. “What’s happened?”
As quickly as possible, Mary filled her mother in on Agnes’s situation. When she had finished, Hannah had tears in her eyes, and she was smiling fondly at the two younger women.
“I am so glad that you all were there to help her,” she said. “And Lord Silverstone is a very kind soul, paying for her physician’s bill.”
Clara felt herself blush again and smiled.
“It was very generous of him, indeed,” she said.
Hannah dabbed at her eyes, then smiled brightly.
“Well, we will be sure to make them some more provisions,” she said. “And we will be sure to check in on them every day until Agnes is well again.”
Clara smiled at the vicar’s wife.
“I will speak with Mother and Father when I return home, as well,” she said. “I am sure they will wish to do everything they can to help, as well.”
Hannah nodded.
“You truly are much like Lady Thornmire,” she said, stroking Clara’s cheek.
Clara smiled again, recalling how Julian had said the same thing.
“I only wish to help those in need,” she said modestly.
