by Deborah Hale
The rest of the party were all talking, so no one seemed to overhear Miss Brookes’s confidential murmur. Neither did they notice her subtle nod toward the stern of the barge. There sat the vicar and Verity Dawson on either side of Owen. They spoke quietly to the boy, pointing out sights of interest along the riverbank. But when their gazes met over the child’s head, Evangeline sensed another unspoken conversation taking place.
Her heart went out to them, though her sympathy was accompanied by an unwelcome pang of longing.
“I like boats!” Matthew announced to no one in particular. “They are always taking you to someplace new. I want to be a sea captain when I grow up.”
Evangeline’s gaze flew to the boy’s father. At his son’s words, Jasper Chase’s features set in a rueful frown, which she was certain she could interpret. Clearly he hoped his children would carry on his work once they were grown. But how could he expect that unless they were brought up from an early age to understand his commitment to improving the lives of millworkers and their families?
As the other children chimed in to tell what they would like to do in the future, Evangeline took the opportunity to respond to Abigail Brookes. “Are you not the least bit sorry on your own account?”
Should she have done more to encourage Mr. Chase to consider Abigail as a wife?
The vicar’s sister shook her head. “I have concluded that some women are not suited for marriage. I believe you and I fall into that group, Miss Fairfax.”
Was that true? Part of Evangeline agreed most emphatically. She had important work to do, which was not compatible with family life. Besides, she could never be happy subduing her strong will in order to conform to a husband’s wishes.
And yet, as she watched Jasper Chase talking and laughing with Miss Webster, another part of her—a weak, foolish part, no doubt—wished she were a different kind of woman. A woman who could be content with his love...if she were capable of winning it.
Chapter Eleven
Following their boating excursion, the weather turned rainy for a few days. No one at Amberwood seemed to mind as they got busy preparing for their concert under the direction of Miss Webster with the capable assistance of Miss Fairfax.
Watching the two women in action amused Jasper. Though the governess appeared to defer to Miss Webster in every particular, he suspected she was the driving force behind the project. She assisted in the choice of pieces, helped arrange the order of the program and made certain everyone involved had sufficient practice.
In Jasper’s experience, the qualities that made a strong leader often did not include compassion or a sense of fairness, but Evangeline Fairfax possessed both in abundance. The pupils at her charity school would be fortunate indeed to have her in charge of their care. He tried not to regret what his children would be losing.
As Margaret Webster immersed herself in preparations for the concert, Jasper was pleased to find that she no longer avoided his company. When they were together she seemed more at ease. He wished he could summon more enthusiasm for her company. She was an attractive, agreeable lady who suited him ideally. Yet he felt no great regret when he could not be with her. He kept hoping his early morning lessons with Miss Fairfax would suggest a cure for his strange apathy, but he was reluctant to raise the subject with her.
The day before the parish fair, the children grew anxious that continued rain might prevent them from going, but the sun came out at last, with every indication that it would return the next day.
When he rose early that morning, Jasper was pleased to see not a single cloud in the pearly dawn sky. Humming the melody of one of the concert pieces, he dressed, shaved and hurried to the nursery. Evangeline Fairfax was already up and waiting for him. Her expressive eyes sparkled with anticipation while her full lips bowed in an eager smile that was quite contagious.
Over coffee they talked about the upcoming fair.
Then, when Jasper expected her to begin his next lesson, Miss Fairfax asked a question he did not expect. “Are you certain you have not been hasty in dismissing Miss Brookes as a possible wife?”
Abigail? Jasper began to marshal his arguments against such a match.
But before he could get out a single word, Evangeline Fairfax launched into her rebuttal. “I know she may seem rather...boisterous at times. But that is only because she has been liberated from the scrutiny of her brother’s parishioners. Like an overheated engine letting off a little steam, wouldn’t you say?”
“Perhaps,” Jasper agreed, “but see here...”
Miss Fairfax was not prepared to see anything until she’d had her say. “I believe Miss Brookes could love your children as sincerely as their own dear mother. And I am certain she would run your household most capably.”
Why was she suddenly pushing Abigail Brookes on him when he had decided days ago that Margaret Webster would be the more suitable choice? Did it have anything to do with their difference of opinion about the children coming to live in Manchester? He thought that had all been settled, as well.
Jasper raised his hand to signal his wish to speak. “What you say is true, but as I told you, my feelings toward Abigail are too brotherly for marriage. Besides, I fear she might be too strong-willed to be a harmonious match for me. I have enough trouble fighting tradition, greed and prejudice among the other mill owners. I do not need conflict at home, as well.”
He expected Miss Fairfax to understand his reasoning, but instead it seemed to vex her. “I find it hard to fathom why a man who works so hard to make his workers less downtrodden is so anxious to subdue his wife.”
Her charge offended his sense of fairness. “You are twisting my words, Miss Fairfax. It is because I would not wish to subdue her that I rejected the possibility of a match with Abigail. Miss Webster, on the other hand, would not need to be subdued since her opinions harmonize naturally with mine.
“Why are you suddenly so concerned with Abigail?” he continued before she could argue. “You did not object when I first dismissed the idea of courting her.”
“That is because I was not fully aware of her situation,” Miss Fairfax replied. “And how many people’s future happiness depends on her finding a husband.”
“What people?” he demanded. “And why does their happiness depend on Abigail getting married?”
“Her brother and Verity Dawson, of course.” Miss Fairfax sounded impatient with his lack of perception. “The vicar cannot afford to take a wife while he has to support his sister. It is plain that he and Mrs. Dawson are in love, but the poor woman has no fortune.”
Jasper wondered how he had failed to notice what seemed so obvious to Miss Fairfax. “I will talk to Norton and ask what I can do to help...short of marrying his sister, that is.”
When Miss Fairfax looked as if she meant to continue arguing, he cut her off. “It will not do, my dear. Much as I care for my friend, I cannot trade his happiness for my children’s.”
“I do not believe your children would be unhappy with Abigail Brookes for a mother.” Her tone made the statement sound more like a fact than an opinion.
Jasper shook his head. “Children cannot be happy if their parents are always at odds, especially sensitive children like Emma and Owen. You may not understand that if your parents got on well together, but I assure you it is true.”
The governess flinched, as if he had thrown the dregs of his cold coffee in her face. “Did your parents not get on well...before...?”
He gave a grunt of laughter as bitter as bile. Then he stared into the black pool at the bottom of his cup. “They fought like cats and dogs over everything and nothing. Being poor only made it worse.”
He had not thought about that in years. The devastation of the fire seemed to have drawn a curtain between his early life and everything that came after. He was not certain what brought it back to him now, except t
hat he did not want Evangeline Fairfax to think him unreasonable. He trusted that she, of all people, would understand what deep scars early experiences could leave upon a person’s heart.
She did not reply right away. Perhaps she was trying to digest what he had told her.
At last, in a very quiet voice, she asked, “Is that part of the reason you try to ease the burden of poverty on your workers—to relieve the strain on their families?”
Jasper gave a slow nod. “I never thought of it that way, but I suppose so. It is ironic that trying to relieve that strain on my workers led to more in my marriage.”
Miss Fairfax’s bewildered look compelled him to say more than he’d meant to. “My father-in-law had made his fortune by the time Susan was born. He was determined to give her everything he’d never had, which made her accustomed to getting her own way.”
He had loved his late wife and it pained him to speak ill of her, but he needed Evangeline Fairfax to understand why he was resolved to have a different kind of marriage this time. “You may not recall the tension between us in that last year. I tried as much as possible to keep our disagreements from the children. A person is better able to do that in a house of this size.”
“Do what, Papa?” asked Matthew from the boys’ bedroom door.
His son’s question made Jasper’s heart leap into his throat until he realized the boy could not have overheard much beyond that last sentence. He chided himself for speaking of such matters where the children might overhear, as they had more than once before.
He searched for a plausible, benign answer, but before he could think of one, Miss Fairfax came to his aid. “Why, hosting a party for so many guests, of course. Are you looking forward to the fair? I believe we will have a fine day for it.”
Matthew nodded as he wiped the sleep from his eyes. “Granny said she would give us each sixpence to spend.”
As his son chattered about the plans he and Alfie had made for disposing of their little windfall, Jasper and Miss Fairfax exchanged a long look. He tried to convey his gratitude for her assistance. He hoped she would realize that his disagreement with her was precisely the sort from which he was trying to shield his children.
* * *
Organizing five excited children to attend the parish fair kept Evangeline too busy to think a great deal about what their father had said to her that morning. But as the small parade of carriages set out from Amberwood to the village green, her thoughts returned to their early morning conversation.
Mr. Chase was right—she had not been aware of any tensions in his marriage when she first took up her position with his family. She had noticed Mrs. Chase became upset when her husband went away to Manchester. But whatever quarrels or pleading might have taken place before his departure, she’d never suspected.
Perhaps her employer was right to seek a wife who shared his opinions—one with whom he could have a placid marriage. Would being kept away from Manchester be any worse for his children than being raised in a household that seethed with conflict, as he had? Possessing a comfortable income did not guarantee a harmonious family life, it only relieved some of the stresses and made differences easier to conceal.
In a strange way, it comforted Evangeline to know that Jasper Chase did not seek to dominate the woman he would marry. He only wanted to protect his children from the domestic strife he had suffered as a young child.
No one would ever guess that part of his past, today, if they watched him lift his children down from the carriage. Evangeline noted the protective way he held them and the tone of affection in his voice when he spoke to them.
When her turn came to alight, Mr. Chase offered her his hand. “Come, Miss Fairfax. You had better have a final word with the children before they scatter to the four corners of the fairground.”
He spoke warmly and smiled at her as if they had never known a moment’s disagreement. He grasped her hand with firm strength that promised to keep her from falling, yet did not clutch too tight. His touch kindled sparkling warmth that swept through her. When he let go, it felt as if something as vital as light or air had been taken away.
She must put a stop to this foolishness! With determined effort, Evangeline stood erect and imagined herself clad in an invisible suit of armor. Jasper Chase had told her plainly that he could not care for a strong-willed woman like her and he had told her why. Though she sympathized with his reasons, she could not change her nature for him or any man. Besides, she had important work to do.
“Children!” She clapped her hands to summon her pupils...and perhaps to quench the last embers of warmth their father’s touch had ignited. “I do not want any of you going off by yourselves. Make certain you stay in the company of at least one of our guests at all times. Now, go have fun!”
The children scattered like autumn leaves before a brisk wind. Joining their father’s guests, they flitted from one bunting-decked stall to another.
Evangeline made a leisurely circuit of the fairground, keeping an eye on as many of them as possible. She took vicarious enjoyment in theirs even as she tried to ignore their father. Jasper Chase escorted Miss Webster around the various displays, accompanied by Emma and Miss Anstruther.
The latter seemed desperate to divert Mr. Chase’s attention from his chosen companion by any means necessary. She made a great fuss over Emma, who appeared to find her pretense of interest uncomfortable. At last the child went off with Rosie and Miss Leveson to watch a puppet show. Miss Anstruther showed no interest in accompanying her but continued to trail after Mr. Chase and Miss Webster like a perfect gooseberry.
Evangeline vowed she would never make herself so ridiculous by pursuing a man who clearly had no interest in her. She should not pay the slightest attention to Jasper Chase now that Emma was no longer with him.
Instead, she turned her attention to Matthew and Alfie, who were investigating the wares of a pastry stall with Abigail Brookes. Evangeline wandered close enough to overhear the boys debating the merits of Blackburn cakes over gingerbread. Meanwhile, Owen and Mrs. Dawson were admiring Mr. Brookes’s skill at the ring-tossing stall. Mrs. Thorpe, Mrs. Leveson and Mr. Webster sat in the shade sipping cider. Owen soon joined them, leaving the vicar and Mrs. Dawson to stroll off on their own.
A while later, Evangeline was watching Matthew and Alfie take turns tossing a large ball into a bucket, when Miss Anstruther stalked toward her with a stormy look on her face. “You there...governess, you seem to be watching everyone. Where has Verity gone?”
Though she was not well acquainted with Miss Anstruther’s companion, Evangeline felt strangely protective of the meek little widow—just as she had of her school friends. Perhaps that was due to the harsh contempt with which she’d seen Verity Dawson treated. If circumstances would not allow the vicar to propose, Evangeline wanted them to enjoy this outing together at least.
She did her best to give a civil answer, but it was not easy after Miss Anstruther’s sharp query. “The last I saw Mrs. Dawson, she and the vicar were admiring the needlework displays. Is there anything I can do to assist you?”
The lady turned up her nose at the very idea. “What on earth would I need with a governess? I want Verity to fetch me a cool drink. I mind this heat dreadfully.”
Evangeline thought the temperature quite pleasant. But she could not deny the other woman’s face had grown painfully red in spite of the parasol she held in one hand while fluttering her fan with the other.
Without a word of thanks, Miss Anstruther marched off in the direction Evangeline had indicated, like a battleship in full sail.
What could have put her in such a foul temper? Evangeline wondered. Had Mr. Chase finally made it clear he did not have the slightest interest in courting her? Whatever had vexed her, Miss Anstruther would likely take it out on poor Verity once she found her.
Evangeline glanced around to make certain
all her pupils were in the company of an adult then she set off after the lady at a discreet distance. She was not certain what she meant to do, but she felt compelled to be on hand in case Verity needed her.
After a brief search, Miss Anstruther caught up with her companion and the vicar standing at the edge of the fairground in quiet conversation.
“I have been looking for you, Verity.” Her fan flapped fast enough to raise a gale. “Why are you hiding away like this when you should be attending to my comfort?”
“I was not hiding.” Verity Dawson offered a feeble protest. Her eyes were downcast and her cheeks flushed. “I didn’t think you would want me following you and Mr. Chase.”
Her mild contradiction seemed to inflame Miss Anstruther. “Of course you didn’t think. You never do! I could have swooned from the heat for all you would notice. Instead, you are throwing yourself at the head of a man who feels nothing for you but pity.”
Verity Dawson shrank from the woman as if her sharp tongue were a switch and every word bit deep into tender flesh.
“N-now see here,” the vicar stammered. It was clear he wanted to defend Verity but was unaccustomed to confronting such a forceful opponent.
Penelope Anstruther dismissed him with a flick of her fan. “Do not try to be gallant, sir. It is obvious you cannot afford to marry a penniless nobody like Verity. If you had any sense you would pursue Miss Webster. At least she could improve your situation.”
Even from some distance away, Evangeline could see Verity’s lower lip begin to tremble. Outrage blazed through her in a way she had not felt since her school days. She could not bear to see the vicar and Verity bullied by this spiteful woman.
She flew to stand between them and their tormentor. “That is enough, Miss Anstruther! Request your companion’s assistance if you must, but there is no need to insult her and the vicar in that way.”
Miss Anstruther’s nostrils flared. “How dare you speak to me that way? This is no business of yours. Even if it were, you are little better than a servant, while I am a guest in your master’s house.”