Miss Burrell loudly cleared her throat, even as she stared out at the waves rolling ashore.
After a moment, Matthew got up, assisted his fiancée to her feet, and dusted both of them off before they sat again, holding hands, looking as pleased as cats who’d got into the cream pot.
“I’ve been trying to locate your father, so we can have the banns read as soon as possible.”Matthew caressed her hand.“But not even the vicar knows where he lives.”
Miss Ebrington’s face fell.“Oh.About that…” She gave a beseeching look to both of her former teachers.
“The Ebrington family does not reside in Sidmouth,” Sophia admitted.
“She ran away rather than wed your cousin,” Miss Burrell added.
“Just as I thought,” Vincent said.Everything made sense now.The ghostly figure walking on the beach.Seeing Sophia and Miss Ebrington running in the storm.Faint footsteps behind him when he escorted Sophia through the passageway back to her chamber.Melted wax on the cave floor.The disturbed blanket on the outcropping.
Good heavens, what an adventurous bride his friend was acquiring!
“You knew?”Matthew accused him.“And didn’t tell me?”
“I suspected.”Vincent squeezed Sophia’s hand.“For such a petite person, Miss Walden demonstrates a prodigious appetite, yet always seems underfed.”
She gasped in outrage.Good thing there were no candlesticks nearby.
“But what made you connect that to procuring food for a runaway?”When Miss Ebrington also gasped in outrage, Matthew kissed her cheek.“That is what you are, my dear.”He raised their joined hands to kiss her knuckles, and her expression softened to one of adoration.
Vincent flashed back to when they were about to be rescued from the cave-in.“I did not safeguard my reputation this long only to ruin it protecting a foolish former student.”He could hardly share that she had let that slip, as it would not reflect well on Sophia or Miss Ebrington.
Or himself.He wanted Sophia as his wife, but their marriage would have a rocky start if she felt forced into it, if anyone but Matthew suspected Vincent had been awake rather than unconscious while they had been trapped together all night.So far they’d even managed to hide Sophia’s presence in the cave from Aunt Gert.
“What we need to do now,” Miss Burrell said, blessedly changing the subject, “is figure out how to alert Mr.Ebrington that Mildred is now amenable to the marriage he arranged for her, without ruining her reputation in the process.”
“He thought he was marrying me off to a wealthy earl,” Miss Ebrington said, gazing at Matthew.“Is he?Are you?”
“No, and yes.”Matthew kissed her hand again.“My cousin Giles was on the brink of ruin from his gambling debts and excessive lifestyle, and counted on his bride’s dowry to rescue him and his estates.The steward I hired is helping me rescue the estates, a project that is coming along nicely without Giles draining them dry for his gaming and wenching.”He plowed his fingers through his hair.“Unlike my cousin, I invested most of the inheritance I received from my grandmother and live a much more modest lifestyle, so I am free to choose a bride without consideration for the size of her dowry.”
“Except that, as the new earl, you’re locked into the arranged marriage to which your cousin agreed,” Vincent reminded him.
Matthew nodded, still gazing adoringly at Miss Ebrington.“Throw away the key.”
The girl sighed and melted against Matthew, clinging to his arm, their fingers intertwined.
“We could write to your parents,” Sophia said.“Explain that you’ve been a guest of Mrs.Digby—”
“Or my parents,” Miss Burrell interjected.
“—and let them know to have your vicar begin reading the banns.”Sophia turned to Matthew.“And you can let your parish vicar know.”
Matthew shook his head.“I don’t want to wait three weeks or more.Let’s just invite your parents to the wedding.I’ll procure a special license.”He stroked the back of his fingers along Miss Ebrington’s cheek.“Where would you like to get married, my darling?At your parents’ home, or—”
“Here.”
“I’m sure Aunt Gert and Aunt Agnes would be thrilled to host a wedding breakfast,” Vincent said.“And Mr.Middlebrook would officiate in the village church.”
Miss Ebrington pointed at the sand beneath her feet.“Right here.On the beach.”
* * *
Later that afternoon, Sophia set aside a completed sheet to dry, grabbed a blank sheet of vellum, and continued transcribing Major Digby’s latest act of heroism.
After they’d come back to the house from the beach, Fairfax, Mr.Huntley, and Mildred had adjourned to the drawing room with Mrs.Digby and Mrs.Royston.Sophia and Theo had both wanted to be there, but Mildred assured them she’d be fine, and this was something she needed to do on her own.With her betrothed.
