Page 44 of An Unwitting Alliance
“I am sympathetic to your cause,” Tom said carefully. “But I have a request to make.”
“Go ahead.”
“Miss Vail and I were betrothed without our agreement. I know this happens often, but we are both old enough to know our own minds. If you return with a sizable inheritance, Miss Vail might have the opportunity to go to London for a Season. She might even find a love match. I will care for your family while you are gone, but I want the reading of the banns postponed.”
Mr. Vail stared at him in utter shock. “You—you are unhappy with Cassandra?”
Unhappy? Cassie was not at all what Tom had expected. He admired the way she nurtured her family and carried her responsibilities. And she challenged him, which was invigorating. Not to mention she was beautiful. How could he explain to her father without adding more worry to his shoulders during this delicate time? Perhaps he needed to ease Mr. Vail into the idea. He cleared his throat and chose his words carefully. “Miss Vail would make an ideal companion in any marriage, but the circumstances for requiring this onemight change. I am not asking you to break the contract this minute. I can wait until you return and we are better apprised of the situation. As the engagement has yet to be announced in the Society papers and is not common knowledge in this community, as far as I understand, I cannot see why another week or two would hurt.”
Mr. Vail had his thumb back to his jaw, the rhythmic movement enhancing his somber mood. “Delaying a fortnight longer before the engagement is announced is not a great span of time, and I should return by then. However, I must tell you that I am not sure money will change our minds where this marriage is concerned.”
Tom worried about the same thing, but he still wanted to be the overseer of his own life. Even more, he wanted Cassie to be afforded the same choice. She deserved someone better than him. Someone who shared her same goals about raising children. Someone who did not talk to angels, like he did to Charley. Someone who did not jump at impossible opportunities like restructuring workhouses, only to laugh away anything hard of his own. “Time is enough for now, Mr. Vail,” he said. “But there is one more thing. I have important business in Leeds tomorrow. I planned to leave early, but I will return by nightfall and then I can be here with your family.”
Curious, Mr. Vail’s brow lifted, but he did not pry. Instead, he frowned and gave a deep nod of agreement. “I must speak with my family now. There is a great deal to arrange.”
“I hope your travels bring you what you seek,” Tom said. “And Godspeed.”
Chapter 17
No one had gone tochurch. There was too much commotion with all the packing and the worrying. Cassandra had little patience for Robert’s and Michael’s energy, but try as she might, they could not stop talking about what Papa might inherit from Uncle Robert. Megan and Mama were no better. It seemed Cassandra and Papa were the only ones who erred on the side of practicality with their low expectations.
It was soon decided that she, Tom, and Megan would ride with Nancy and the girls to Mama’s cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Beechams’, home. The Beechams had younger children Jane and Bethany were fond of, so the trip was exciting to them. Cassandra, however, was not eager to say goodbye. She did not care for her family being so divided.
At the Beechams’, Jane seemed to realize for the first time that she would not be returning home with her sisters and Tom after the visit, and tears welled in her eyes.
“I cannot leave her like this,” Cassandra said to Megan.
“Nor can I,” Megan answered. “I have never been parted from them for so long.”
Tom must’ve heard their concerns because he swooped Jane up into his arms. “Janie-Small, if you are very good at the Beechams’, I shall buy you a treat when you return.”
Bethany grabbed his arm and jumped up and down. “Me too? Me too?”
“You too,” Tom promised.
Jane was unsure until she caught on to her sister’s excitement. “Will it be sweets?”
“If that is what you want.”
“Lollipops. We want lollipops!” Bethany cried.
“Lollipops!” Jane cheered.
Cassandra laughed at how easily the girls were bribed. They skipped happily inside with their cousins. She pulled Nancy into a hug before the nurse could follow the girls. “Take care of them for me.”
“I will, miss. And you care for your mama.”
Back in the carriage, Cassandra sat beside her sister, but that left her in full view of Tom’s endearing wide smile. It was the exact comfort she hadn’t known she needed.
“I am going to miss seeing those two,” Tom said. “Bethy-Tall asked me to marry her, you know.”
Cassandra could believe it. Marriage was Bethany’s favorite topic of conversation since Tom had arrived. “I hope you did not break her heart.”
“Break her heart? The girl was ready to break yours. I had to beg her not to do anything to you. You saw how she was when I promised Janie-Small sweets. Your sister is easily jealous, and I would not be surprised if that is why your father sent her away. It is hard to have competition between sisters, and I hate to be the center of it.”
Megan had been staring longingly out the window at the fading house, but at this she turned and laughed. Tom had his flaws, but he was very good at cheering people up when he wanted to. After a few more ridiculous remarks about who was better suited to him, Cassandra or Bethany, Cassandra was laughing too.
But everything inside Fairview seemed to change overnight. Aunt Evans arrived safely—or should she sayAuntie, as Tom called her? Of course, the nickname had come when Aunt had begrudgingly forgiven him following several profuse apologies. Cassandra had nearly warned her aunt that if she did not forgive him straightaway, she might end up with one of Tom’s generous surprises. Maybe they’d get a dog next time.
