Page 40 of To Know Miss May

Livvy paused. Now that was an intriguing proposition. But did she truly wish to agree to socializing, especially when it could very easily be with the Moon sisters?

To have Father stop trying to get her to leave her home, she knew it would be worth it.

“Very well,” she said. “I agree.”

Father smiled, then leaned back against his chair as it creaked in protest. “Ye won’t regret it, Liv. Ye’ll learn to enjoy it, I be certain of it. Now get some rest.”

Livvy nodded, gathering her stitching supplies and discreetly slipping her book beneath the handkerchiefs before making her way to her room, plopping down on her bed, and finishing the final chapters of Robinson Crusoe, delving deep into the words instead of dwelling on her present and far more depressing life.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“He has no more manners than a bear,”

Evelina, Frances Burney

August had attempted to speak with Mr. May the day before, intending to share what he’d discovered about his daughter, but August hadn’t been able to pull the man away from his work for a single moment.

Today, however, he was determined to relieve himself of his duty to convince Miss May off the Mount. Arriving early to work, he set his eyes on the doorway to the garden, prepared to wait outside until Mr. May arrived.

To his surprise, however, Mr. May was already there, his eyes finding August’s in an instant.

Excellent, they would be able to take care of this swiftly, then.

And yet, when August took note of Mr. May’s lowered brow, his stomach churned. What now? Had August done something he disapproved of? Or was Mr. may now going to task him with some other asinine request—convincing his maid to become lady of the castle, perhaps?

“Mornin’, Moon,” Mr. May greeted as August reached the door to the garden.

The blue light of a clouded dawn cast its reach across the white and deep purple hellebores that stood as sentinels on either side of the black, wooden door. The entryway was tucked nearly a foot inside the flawless archway covered in ivy, the layered stones stretching over the door like an arm reaching round for a tight embrace.

“Mornin’, sir,” August returned. He paused a few steps away from Mr. May and the closed door. “Lovely mornin’.”

Mr. May hmphed in response. “Ye be ’ere early.”

“Yes, sir.” Well, there was no point prolonging this anymore than it already had been. August was more than ready to put an end to this whole debacle here and now. “I was hopin’ to speak with ye.”

Mr. May’s stern brow raised a fraction, revealing his surprise, but he wiped it away in an instant. “That be the very reason I arrived early.”

The foreboding tone to his voice did nothing for August’s nerves. “Do go on, sir.”

He thought Mr. May would have denied the option of going first, but the man did no such thing. That shouldn’t have come as any surprise to August.

“I’ll get right to it,” he said, his eyes focused intently on August. Such a contrast from when he couldn’t meet his gaze the last time they’d met in the gardens. Did ye tell anyone ’bout what I asked ye to do?”

August pulled back, affronted at the question. He knew Mr. May didn’t really know August all that well, despite his growing up next door to the man. But really, had the man so little faith in him?

“No, sir. I said I would not, and I did not.”

Mr. May scrutinized him a moment, then his shoulders lowered. “Thank ye for bein’ honest with I.”

August nodded, though his defenses remained high. He did not appreciate his integrity being questioned. “May I ask why ye were askin’?”

Mr. May removed his cap and slid his fingers through his hair. “Miss Pengelly and your sisters came to me ’ouse yesterday, askin’ me daugh’er to join ’em in Marazion. Some’ow, Liv thought they asked ’er ’cause ye asked ’em to.”

August flushed. That Miss May was a perceptive little pisky. Despite feeling caught out, he couldn’t help but admire her intellect.

“I will say, sir, that I did just that.” Mr. May frowned, so August rushed forward. “I asked all three of ’em to ’elp befriend Miss May, though I said no reason as to why.”

His sisters had been less enthusiastic than Emma had been, but after Mother overheard his request, she insisted her daughters be more kind, so Ophelia and Portia had reluctantly agreed.