Page 88 of Sense and Suitability
“Mrs. Bridges, what a pleasant surprise to see you this evening.”
“Mrs. Thornbury,” Aunt Bean replied, her fan slowing to a calculated flutter. “I had not realized you were in town. What a... fortuitous encounter.”
Mrs. Thornbury’s brow lifted ever so slightly, her expression steady and inscrutable.
There was something almost heroic in the way Mrs. Thornbury met Aunt Bean’s barbs without flinching. Her quiet confidence, her unshakable composure—it was, Emme thought with reluctant admiration, inspiring.
“Indeed. My nephew persuaded me to rejoin society for tonight.It has been a pleasure to reconnect with old friends—and to meet new acquaintances.”
At the mention of Simon, Aunt Bean’s fan paused midair before snapping shut with an audibleclick. “Ah, yes. Lord Ravenscross. A young man with many responsibilities—and, one might say, many challenges.”
Oh, good heavens!Emme needed to concoct some plan to get her aunt away from Mrs. Thornbury and further embarrassment. Perhaps this was a perfect time for a faint?
Mrs. Thornbury’s smile remained in place, though there was an undeniable steel behind it. “Lord Ravenscross bears his responsibilities with admirable fortitude, though I am certain you, with your extensive experience in such matters, might have a great deal of advice to offer.”
Emme bit back a smile, silently marveling at how effortlessly Mrs. Thornbury deflected her aunt’s jabs. Truly, if one aspired to grace under pressure, Mrs. Agatha Thornbury was the pinnacle. Perhaps society brought out her best.
“I would offer advice if it were sought,” Aunt Bean said with a sniff. “But the younger generation often prefers to chart its own course, heedless of the wisdom of their elders.” At which time, Aunt Bean did nothing to hide her rather pointed look in Emme’s direction.
Mrs. Thornbury’s gaze flicked to Emme, her expression softening. “Miss Lockhart seems quite capable of determining her own path. I have always admired a woman with a sense of purpose.”
“Purpose is admirable,” Aunt Bean said, her tone sharpening. “But purpose without propriety is another matter. My niece has grown beyond her silly connections of youth, and she has no regrets related to previous attachments, I assure you. It is clear she can do much better.”
“Aunt,” Emme warned, but her intervention was futile.
“And I would encourage her to steer clear of families who seem to inherit poor judgment, deception, and inconstancy in relationships,”Aunt Bean continued, her words aimed like arrows. “I am sure you know such legacies quite well.”
Mrs. Thornbury’s calm remained unbroken as she replied, “Regret, Mrs. Bridges, is a most peculiar thing. Some are plagued by it; others learn from it and move forward. I suspect Miss Lockhart is wise enough to choose the latter.” Mrs. Thornbury offered a slight nod to Emme. “From my brief acquaintance with her, I feel she knows her place and her own mind.”
Her place? That, Emme thought bitterly, made Mrs. Thornbury’s opinion of her and Simon’s potential future quite clear. Yet her own mind was precisely the problem—it knew the painful truth all too well. It was her own heart that was causing the indecision.
Aunt Bean’s lips tightened. “Wisdom in youth is often a matter of luck rather than merit. Tell me, Mrs. Thornbury, did your husband share your philosophical outlook?”
No!Aunt Bean did not just bring up Mrs. Thornbury’s heartache.
A shadow flickered in Mrs. Thornbury’s eyes, but her tone remained steady. “Captain Thornbury’s outlook was one of optimism and constancy. He was ever guided by his heart and his sense of honor. A rare combination, I must say.”
Emme’s breath caught. What happened when the heart and honor were in conflict? Did honor always triumph?
The implication was clear, and Aunt Bean bristled. “Rare, indeed. Though one might wonder if such qualities are valued as highly as wealth and connections. The heart is rarely a trustworthy appendage, except in hindsight.”
“Albina”—Mrs. Thornbury’s tone dipped with tender entreaty—“it was a long time ago. Whatever grievances you may carry, they do not serve either of us now.”
“Grievances?” Aunt Bean’s cheeks flushed bright red. “I hold no grievances. I merely observe that some choices are made without proper foresight.”
This conversation really needed to happen elsewhere instead of a crowded room. So much for all those lessons on propriety!
“Your foresight in rejecting him was most acute, I am sure.” Mrs. Thornbury tilted her head, her gaze steady. “But you chose someone else that better met your desires, which left dear Captain Thornbury to find me.” Her smile softened, though her eyes remained steel. “And for that, I owe you my most heartfelt gratitude.”
Aunt Bean sputtered a few seconds, the feather in her hair dancing a rather unruly rhythm in response. “Gratitude,” she snapped, “is an easier sentiment to bear when one has gained everything they wished for.”
“Not everything.” Mrs. Thornbury’s quiet response carried the faintest edge.
In that moment Emme remembered Simon mentioning how his aunt and her late husband had been unable to have children of their own. And now, to lose someone she evidently loved so dearly—two decades into their marriage—would surely weigh heavily on a heart.
Loss came in all shapes and sizes, didn’t it? The way of the world.
“Life takes its toll on us all, Albina. You and I are not exceptions. Perhaps it is time to let the past rest.”
