Page 96 of Miss Vincent’s Vow

“And if they do not repent?”

“I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. At least I won’t be riddled with guilt for withholding forgiveness.”

“Your response is encouraging. It gives hope to us all.”

“Then will you, too, show mercy, and excuse us from a dinner party that is sure to cause distress?”

“For whom?”

“For my wife. Mrs Frampton was engaged to be married to her brother. Given his change in circumstances, a meeting will result in more pain, and I don’t wish my wife to suffer.”

“An admirable sentiment, but I reckon your wife is less fragile than you think. I believe it was for your sake she objected to my suggestion, not her own. But I will concede. If your injured captain does not want to join us, then I make no demur. But you are to ask him. I tell you, it is my experience that a heartbroken man is better off in company than left to wallow in his misery.”

Jethro wondered what Mr Wade had sacrificed in order to be successful. In the past, he might have tried to satisfy his curiosity, but he knew better now than to make such ill-bred enquiries into another’s personal life.

If Mr Wade wanted to tell him, he would do so in his own time.

Meanwhile, Jethro needed to figure out why the man was bringing him together with his rival. He wished he could determine whether Mr Wade was on his side against the Framptons, or if he planned to choose between them.

Chapter 52

The following afternoon, Cassandra stood outside the Golden Lion waiting for Xander’s coach to arrive. Jethro had offered to accompany her, but she had declined his escort, saying Martin’s presence would suffice.

Truth to tell, she would have liked to have her husband’s support, but she didn’t want to put him through what she expected to be an emotional reunion with her brother.

More than that, she feared what Xander might say, and she could not bear to witness him criticising Jethro, when her husband was being so generous as to welcome him back into their house.

She smoothed down the front of her dress repeatedly in an effort to keep her hands busy. What state would Xander be in? Would he require a nurse? Would he be able to walk? To work? To live a normal life again? So many questions, and no answers.

The other uncertainty looming over them was the wretched dinner party Mr Wade had invited them to. She dared not leave Jethro to fend off the Framptons alone, but the prospect filled her with dread.

At least there was little likelihood of her brother accepting Mr Wade’s invitation to join them and making things worse. She was certain Xander would not care to see Eugenia again so soon after his return.

As the coach trundled into the yard and drew to a halt, Cassandra stowed her own troubles away and prepared to meet her brother’s. She had received no word from him apart from a brief note of thanks telling her when he planned to arrive in Weymouth.

Nothing about how he was coping, though she would find out soon enough.

The man let down the steps, and the passengers alighted. No Xander. Had he missed the coach?

She stepped up to the vehicle and was about to address the driver when a noise from inside the carriage alerted her to Xander’s presence.

“An arm would be useful, sister.”

Cassandra climbed the steps and saw her brother was struggling to get up from his place.

“It’s been a long journey, and my leg’s gone numb. I can hardly move.”

She entered the interior of the coach and bent low over her brother. He hooked one arm about her neck and pulled. The heaviness of his body almost knocked her over as he hauled himself out of the seat, his face racked with pain.

“Stick.”

Cassandra excused his brusque manner and looked around. Her eyes alighted on a crude wooden stick lying on the floor beside him. She picked it up and slipped it into his hand.

“Not now, you idiot. At the bottom of the steps.”

Cassandra gulped hard and held onto the cane, trying not to be upset by his rudeness. There was no sign that he was pleased to see her at all. No welcome. No kiss. Not even a warm word. Nothing.

He’d treated her harshly, as if she were an inept servant. She should have sent Martin to help him instead.