Page 43 of An Amiable Foe
She hesitated on the threshold of the room as Sarah entered and set down a small pile of books she knew Marianne would like to read. She left again quickly, and Marianne studied Perry’s face. He didn’t meet her gaze, and his voice sounded stiff to her sensitive ears.
“Mr. Osborne, what is it?” She no longer dared use his Christian name, not when he was glowering at her like that.
He looked up and quirked an eyebrow at her. “Mr. Osborne, is it now?”
“Well, I hardly dare…” When he merely stared at her and said nothing, she attempted to explain. “When you look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re displeased with me.”
“Ah.” Perry dropped his gaze to the stack of broken glass in his hand and got to his feet, setting the pile on a nearby table. “I’m not displeased with you. I’m displeased when I see Vernon kissing you.” He placed his feet apart and folded his arms. “Do you welcome his kisses?”
Marianne’s eyes widened. Could it be that he was jealous? Oh, if only that were true! A warmth settled in her breast, and it made her smile, which she tried unsuccessfully to hide. Perry glared at her.
“I’m glad you find something to smile about.”
Still giddy, she laughed and shook her head. “I don’t welcome his kisses.” She was rewarded by a glimpse of his lightened brow. He stared at the floor, the corner of his lips tilting in a smile, before lifting his gaze to hers.
“I am happy to hear it.”
Their eyes held for a moment before Jack came into the room, carrying a blanket, which he set on the armchair Miss Fife tended to use. He went back out of the room and returned shortly supporting Miss Fife on one arm.
Perry came and stood beside Marianne. “Jack, after you’ve settled Miss Fife, see to it that the broken windowpane is covered, will you?” He was nearly as close as Robert had been, but she found she did not want to escape from his presence.
“I must take my leave,” Perry said to her. “My uncle is only staying until tomorrow, and I should not abandon him to his solitude for too long.”
“I understand.” She peeked at him, then lowered her gaze, her heart still light at the thought of his being jealous of Robert. He needn’t be.
“Thank you for your assistance.”
He hesitated as though he wished to say something else, or stay longer, but he simply bowed and took his leave. Marianne remained frozen for a minute, prey to a whirlwind of emotions. She feared that despite Lord Steere’s warning, the feelings she had developed would not be quite so easy to dismiss simply because a stranger had ordered it. And what was she to do about such a thing?
In an hour, the house was restored to order with the only visible change from before being the cloth on the windowpane. Miss Fife declared that she would have a rest, and Marianne took out the basket with her mother’s things, prepared to go through them again when a knock came on the door. Jack went to answer it.
“Miss, there is a Miss Belford here to see you.” Jack reappeared at the entrance to the doorway, and in a moment, Miss Belford and her maid came into view.
Marianne stood. “Thank you. Please show Miss Belford’s maid to the kitchen and ask Sarah to prepare tea for us.”
She went over to Miss Belford and curtsied. “You have missed Mr. Osborne, who was here helping me to settle in. He left not long ago.” She wasn’t entirely sure why she brought him up if it wasn’t simply to test Miss Belford’s motivations for coming.
“How kind of you to invite me in,” Miss Belford said. She waited for Marianne to invite her to sit.
Marianne, who was regretting her choice to wear one of her oldest gowns on the day of Miss Belford’s visit, finally came to her senses.
“Please, do have a seat. I believe the tea tray will come to us soon. As you might guess, we have only just settled in here at the cottage.”
Miss Belford looked over at the broken window pane, and a crease appeared between her eyebrows. “What happened there?”
Marianne followed her gaze. “We had an unfortunate incident shortly after I moved in. There was an attempted break-in. That is what caused my companion and me to move back into the castle until we could be sure that the cottage was protected.”
She was deliberate in her mention of her companion. No need to cause further risk to her reputation.
Miss Belford’s brow creased with concern. “How terrifying. I am glad to hear you had somewhere safe to take shelter.” She paused and, with delicacy, asked, “What makes you sure the cottage is safe to live in now?”
Marianne gave a bleak smile. “I am not entirely sure of it. But now we have our footman at least, which was something I did not have the last time. I feel safer with him here. Mr. Osborne saw to his hiring.”
“He is kindness itself,” Miss Belford said, and Marianne darted a glance at her. Did she have her sights set on him?
