The guilt swelled in Margaret even more. For so long, she had told herself that Evelina would not have to continue to pick up the pieces of her broken life, yet it seemed such a resolution wasto be frustrated at every turn. Poor Evelina was having to put up with their father yet again.
“At least he’s sober this time,” Louisa whispered beside her, as if reading her thoughts. “This would be even worse if he was drunk.”
“Does it matter?” Alexandra hissed from where she sat on Margaret’s other side. She was practically Margaret’s spitting image, the same green eyes, the same brown hair, only her cheekbones were more like that of Evelina’s. “I have never seen him so angry before.”
“What can be done?” James raged once again. “A nunnery perhaps. Or a cousin’s house, yes, I have a cousin in Cumbria we can send her to.”
“Cumbria!?” Margaret spluttered.
“Is that far?” Penelope asked in a small voice.
“You could say that,” Margaret whispered.
“This is all a bit quick, Father.” Evelina tried to lay a calming hand on James’ arm, but he shrugged it off and began pacing in front of the marble fire. “Let us see what happens today first.”
I must take charge. Evelina cannot always clear up after me.
Margaret loosened her hand from Louisa’s grasp and stood. Her sudden movement drew both Evelina’s and her father’s attention.
“Yes, there is no sense in making a decision about my future now, Father. We must be patient. I do believe that the Duke of Thornfield will make an appearance today.” It was a wild stab in the dark.
She could see Evelina’s jaw drop. Clearly, Evelina knew as well as her that such a possibility was in fact impossible.
“He showed an interest in me,” Margaret said with much more confidence than she felt. “He may yet… propose.”
Evelina looked rather faint as she gripped the mantelpiece to stay standing. Fortunately, James didn’t notice her reaction. He was too busy nodding to himself, pacing up and down again.
“You think so?”
“I do,” she assured him, feeling her gut tighten with the lie.
“Yes, Margaret is right,” Evelina seconded all the same.
“So, we shall wait?” Margaret said. “We shall make no arrangements with a nunnery or our cousin just yet. Yes?”
Reluctantly, James nodded.
“Very well. I must see what I can do to stem the flow of whispers in the meantime.” He marched out of the room, hurrying into the entrance hall.
Margaret and Evelina ran after him, with Lousia, Alexandra and Penelope all running up behind them. James snapped his tailcoat off the hook.
“Evelina, you must do what you can, too. Go to your husband, see what contacts he has with the scandal sheets so that he can suppress this rumor.” James clicked his fingers, ordering her around as if she was a spaniel at his heels.
“Very well.” Evelina turned and embraced Margaret tightly. “You do not believe he will come… do you?” These words were whispered in Margaret’s ear, so that none but her could hear them.
“I’m not so great a fool,” Margaret assured her. “I know he will not come, but I had to buy time.”
Evelina stepped back and nodded. Clearly, she was not going to reveal the truth behind Margaret’s bluff. They had both seen enough the night before to know the truth.
The Duke of Thornfield had left Evelina’s house in a carriage that rode so fast, gravel had been spread everywhere and the carriage had looked in danger of tipping over.
“I’ll send you a note later,” Evelina whispered, before following their father out of the door.
“Father, where are you going?” Margaret called after him uncertainly.
“To talk to what friends I do still have in the city and beg them not to spread the rumors. The gambling house is calling my name, too.”
Margaret exchanged a worried look with Louisa.
