Page 78 of Miss Ashbury and the Anatomy of Mending a Heart

Candace frowned. “Though I must admit I’d much rather you just make our home your own. And if it’s too much of a bother to live with us—though that’s what I’d prefer—you must know that James has several houses. You could make a tour of them, if you wanted, check that they’re all being run well in our absence.”

It was thrilling and depressing, all at once. Vera suddenly had options, where only moments ago, she’d felt she had none. At the outset of her bargain with Stephen, she’d told herself she had no choice.

Somehow along the way, that sentiment had faded, replaced by a feeling of purpose. Vera liked helping him with patients. She found fulfillment in making people feel better. There was a sense of accomplishment and joy in it, even when she had to rinse her boots off at the hand pump.

“What a boorish knave.” Candace frowned at the passing foliage out the open window. “I have half a mind to set Seamus on him for how he treated you.”

“It was all a terrible misunderstanding at the outset. Though Stephen acted beastly, he’s apologized several times and his actions prove his sincerity. I assure you, things are much different now.”

“They must be.” Candace arched her eyebrow. “’Stephen,’ indeed.”

“It isn’t like that.”

“I truly think you believe that, which is going to make this all the more enjoyable to watch.”

“Candace, really. If there were something of the sort between us, do you think I would have felt so jealous toward Miss Warrington?”

“Of course you would. It’s the manner of things, before one is fully settled. Why, before James and I had an understanding, there were several times where I thought of drowning you in the well.”

“What?”

Vera didn’t know what shocked her more—the violence of the imagery, or that Candace could ever have been insecure where the duke was concerned. The man had followed her out to the countryside not two days after she left London—how could Candace not have seen how he felt?

“I suppose I should apologize for it now, but at the time, I thought it was you he was after. Very inconvenient, those feelings, as I adore you. I assure you, Vera,” she added solemnly, “I would have found a way to be happy for the two of you, even if it took my entire life.”

“This is a ridiculous conversation. You and James were made for one another.”

“It’s always more difficult to see such things from the inside, I think.”

“It hardly matters now. You’re happily settled.”

Vera found it very easy to smile at her friend now. The momentary anger, those feelings of betrayal—those were gone, washed away by honesty and understanding.

Candace met her eyes, her expression solemn. “Vera, no matter what happens with your current situation, I hope you know that you are always more than welcome with me and James.”

Vera nodded her thanks. She was grateful. She just still couldn’t help but wish that she didn’t have to be.

CHAPTER 23- VERA

When Vera came down to dinner several nights later, there was an odd current in the room. She paused upon the threshold, her eyes narrowing slightly. Benjamin shifted in his chair, refusing to meet her eyes. She wondered if he’d snuck a lizard into his trouser pocket again, or perhaps he had Sheldon clasped to his chest beneath his shirt.

But that didn’t explain why the baroness had a pleased lilt of a smile on her face. Smug—that was the word for how Jacqueline looked. Vera’s gaze swept the table. Everything appeared much the same as any other night—the plain stoneware service that the baroness preferred when it was just family, as Benjamin and china were a combustible mixture—though the only empty chair was the one right next to Stephen.

As for him, Stephen looked…nervous. Which made Vera nervous. She scanned the room again. Perhaps she’d interrupted an awkward family conversation.

Yes, that must be it. For there was no other reason she could think of that would produce this strange tableau of expressions.

“Good evening,” she finally said.

Stephen stood from his chair with alacrity. “Good evening, Vera.”

Benjamin began to giggle. He clasped his hand over his mouth. His mother shot him a quelling glance that did little good.

“What on earth is going on here?” She paused, her eyes warily travelling across the tabletop again.

Had Benjamin put a small creature upon her chair? If so, why were the two adults acting very nearly as strange as the child?

“Nothing,” Stephen replied, just a bit too quickly to be convincing. “Here, come have a seat.”