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“’Ow do ye do, Miss May?” Miss Pengelly asked, her own shoulders raised in the pouring rain. “I do ’ope ye ain’t too wet from bein’ out ’ere.”

Livvy’s spirits fell even further at the woman’s goodness.

Miss Pengelly, even though she’d just spotted her intended alone with another woman, hardly seemed put out by the fact—smiling kindly and asking after Livvy’s comfort.

Shame on ye, she scolded herself. Miss Pengelly deserved far more respect than Livvy had shown.

“Yes, I be tryin’,” Livvy responded, her cheeks burning despite the cool rain. She glanced to August, but she didn’t have to look at him long to decipher what his expression held—Livvy was imposing.

“I do be feelin’ a bit chilled, though,” she said, taking a step away from the others. It was time to leave. “Lovely to see ye again, Miss Pengelly. Mr. Moon.” She curtsied, averting her eyes from August, then sailed off down the island as fast as any gunship, praying to not slip despite her fast footing.

She was such a fool. To think of her pride in believing that August might be interested in her when he had Miss Pengelly to have and to hold. She and August were obviously made for each other in looks and temperament—not to mention the fact that Miss Pengelly was as normal as a person could come.

As if to prove the facts to herself again, Livvy looked over her shoulder. To her dismay, she spotted Miss Pengelly slipping a small letter into August’s hand.

A love letter, no doubt.

Livvy’s heart twisted again.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“In trying to please all, he had pleased none.”

Aesop’s Fables, Aesop

August quickly tucked the letter he’d procured from Emma into the dry security of his inner coat pocket.

“Ye’ll see it gets to ’im safely?” Emma asked in the hushed tone she always used when it came to speaking of Nicholas.

“’Course,” August reassured her. Along with playing the diverting part of Emma’s possible intended, he’d also agreed to act as liaison between the two, delivering letters and messages when Emma and Nicholas couldn’t do so safely themselves. He was more than happy to help. Truly, he was. It was just that now…

His eyes returned to where Miss May had scurried away from them, the muddy pathway now empty, apart from the small footprints she’d left behind.

He’d felt great relief in discovering that Miss May didn’t wish to leave the Mount. Now all he needed to do was tell Mr. May, who would rescind his request for August’s help, and all would go back to normal.

August could continue his help with Emma and Nicholas—which would only last another month or two, he was certain—then he could focus more on his desire to get to know Miss May better. Mr. May would soon realize the error of his ways and agree to have his daughter marry someone on the Mount. All would be well. All would be perfect.

A scoff escaped August’s lips as logic caught up with his heart. Good heavens. Was he so obtuse? Mr. May had seemed determined for her to marry off the Mount. But surely if the man knew there was someone interested in his daughter on the Mount…

There he went again, speaking of interest in and marriage to a woman he’d known his whole life but had really only known for two days. What was he thinking? Or was that the very problem, that he wasn’t thinking at all—that he was simply swept up in feeling joy and delight whenever he was around the diverting and charming Miss May?

He was exhausted, that was all there was to it. He’d had a full day of work, his stockings were wet in his boots, and he’d made matters worse by fretting all afternoon.

“August?”

He blinked. Heavens. Emma. “Forgive me. I’ve been deep in thought all day.”

Her eyes focused on him before trailing down the pathway. “I be sorry for interruptin’ ye.”

August shook his head with a reassuring smile. “There be nothin’ to interrupt.”

At any rate, he was the one who ought to be apologizing. He’d been filled with such shame when he’d first seen his friend. He didn’t want Emma to think he wasn’t taking his task seriously. But then, was he? Because if anyone else saw him alone with Miss May, surely talk would occur about August and Miss May instead of August and Emma. Truly, what had he been thinking, agreeing to Mr. May’s request?

There was nothing else to be done. He would speak with him tomorrow. The man seemed to deeply love his daughter, so once Mr. May knew how she loved the Mount, there would be no chance he would still wish to convince her to leave. All truly would be well.

Or so, at least, August hoped.

All he needed to do now was explain himself to Emma. “I was only speakin’ with Miss May,” he assured her as she maintained her silence. “But I won’t do so again, least not alone. I can see ’ow it would look to others.”