Page 9 of The Spring Promise (The Starlings of Starling Hall #1)

CHAPTER NINE

M olly wasn’t sure what to make of this new Will. He wasn’t the polite, reserved young man she grew up with, not in company anyway. He seemed determined to make his presence felt for all the wrong reasons, and people were certainly taking notice.

The music struck up again. Mark was still discussing his grandmother’s afternoon tea date, and they decided upon a morning in two days’ time. Sir Reginald rubbed his hands at the prospect of seeing Hunter’s rare plant, and Celeste eyed Will as if she wasn’t certain she recognised the stolid farmer who had proposed to her. There was a glint of interest in her blue eyes, and Molly wasn’t sure what to make of that. Was Celeste partial to the company of gentlemen with certain reputations like Mark Hunter? Perhaps now that Will was misbehaving, she liked him better?

But Molly preferred the old Will. The man she knew and loved, the man who would sit up at night to bottle feed a young lamb that others might have allowed to die.

The dancing was fun, and Will was still a good dancer, if a little stiff. Molly kept them on the floor as long as possible, but after three dances Mark had grown impatient waiting for a turn and cut in. Will frowned and for a moment, Molly thought he might refuse. She wasn’t sure whether to be amused or horrified by the tension between them.

“Will,” Molly said with a hint of warning.

Will smirked and stepped aside to allow Mark to take Molly in his arms.

Hunter gave her a wicked smile as they moved away from Will’s glowering presence. “It seems our friend is not happy. Am I treading on his toes? Metaphorically speaking, of course.”

Molly made a sound that could have been assent or denial, because she really didn’t know what to say. Although she had wanted Will to believe she was in love with Mark, she did not want Mark to realise she was in love with Will.

“So, you will come to tea at my grandmother’s? I apologise that my private invitation was commandeered by the Mortons.”

Molly looked up into his eyes. They were watchful and curious, but he seemed to be genuine in his wish to see her. “I don’t mind who else comes. I’m sure we will all enjoy ourselves. Your plant sounds interesting.” She smiled brightly.

He snorted a laugh but did not comment on her lie. For a moment, they danced in silence. “I will be returning to London soon,” he said at last.

“You must be looking forward to it.”

He hesitated. “I am, of course. But the thing is, I never expected to enjoy my stay in Barton Lacey so much. It was meant to be a punishment by my father and instead… Well, it has given me so much to think about.”

“Such as a new botanical hobby,” she teased.

He laughed. “Indeed. My friends will think I have run mad. Perhaps I shall not tell them just yet.”

“You shouldn’t let other people’s opinions of you rule your life,” said Molly.

They circled the floor once more. The dance was coming to an end.

“You are very forthright, Miss Lacey,” Mark said and then added quickly when she went to defer, “I like that in a woman. It is an unusual quality in my circles. I like you. If I thought you would welcome my attentions then I might have a proposal for you.”

“A proposal?” Molly’s voice rose an octave.

“Yes. I might offer to marry you. I need a wife. I think my father would be more inclined to loosen his purse strings if I had a wife, and you are just the thing.”

Molly stared. She forgot to move, and he had to do all the work if they were not to run into another couple. Then the music finished and before she could think of a reply, he stepped back and bowed low.

“I have succeeded in making you speechless,” he said with a smile. “That’s a start. You probably do not think me genuine, but I am. I have much to offer, and I want you to think about what I have said. We will meet again at my grandmother’s house, and I hope…” He bit his lip, but his eyes were teasing. “Well, I will be interested to hear what you think.”

He escorted her back to familiar faces. Grace was staring, dying to know why Molly looked like, as she put it, ‘a stuffed fish.’ Celeste was clinging to Will’s arm, chattering away, but he wasn’t paying attention to her. He was staring at Molly.

Molly had never been asked to marry anyone before, but she wasn’t about to accept Mark’s offer. And if she was somehow manoeuvred into such a position and made to marry him, then, well it would be all Will’s fault. Everything was his fault. She would never have embarked on this silliness if it wasn’t for him and his infatuation with Celeste. What a mess!

“You look alarmed,” Sir Reginald said, uncharacteristically observant for once and just when she would have preferred him not to be. “Did our friend say something you did not like?”

They all looked at Mark, who had left for the supper table and was chatting with another group.

“Not at all,” Molly said firmly, though she was definitely not going to discuss what was said. “It is just a little close in here. I might get some fresh air.”

“I will accompany you,” Will said quickly.

Celeste pouted. “I thought we were going to dance.”

Will looked torn. Molly gave an inner sigh. If Will still harboured feelings for Celeste, it would be unfair to take him away from the dance. And if Will accompanied her, he would want to know what Mark said, and that would become awkward.

She forced a smile and said, “I will manage. The two of you go and enjoy your dance.”

She made her way through the crush toward the doors that led to the Norris’s garden before Will could protest.

She was soon enjoying the heady scent of perfumed flowers, and the coloured light of lanterns strung among the trees. It was very pretty, and she wondered if she could manage something similar at Lacey Farm. Probably not. Their garden was too small and the farm animals were always getting into it. She imagined their milking cow with lanterns tangled about its horns and giggled to herself.

“Molly?”

Molly gasped, and her hand rose to her chest. Abby was seated in a rotunda, the structure barely visible among some lilacs. “What are you doing out here?” Molly asked, moving to join her. “Are you well?”

Abby took a deep breath. “I am. I’m just not particularly comfortable in there.” She grimaced. “You know I am not a social creature, Molly. I prefer my own company, or at least my own home.”

Abby, the eldest of the Starlings, was much loved by her siblings, who often came to her when there was a problem among them, but she was also uncomfortable in mixed company, especially among those she did not know well. This was exactly the sort of event Abby would prefer to avoid.

“I wouldn’t have come at all if it wasn’t for Breana,” Abby went on. “Someone needs to keep an eye on her.”

“And I see you’re doing an outstanding job of it.”

Abby chuckled. “Yes, well, I reasoned that if she were to get into any serious mischief, she would have done so by now.”

That was true enough. Breana was apt to behave thoughtlessly. What might have been considered charming when she was a child was more concerning in a nineteen-year-old girl. But tonight she had been reasonably well behaved.

“If I’d known you were out here, I would have joined you earlier,” Molly said. “I much prefer your company.”

Abby raised a doubtful eyebrow. “I don’t think I believe you. Before I left the ballroom, I saw both Will and Mr Hunter on the dance floor trying to secure you for the next dance.” Her blue eyes twinkled and Molly gave an uncomfortable laugh.

“It was a little ridiculous. And do you know the worst part? Mr Hunter made me an offer, though I’m still not sure if he meant it or not. Perhaps it was in jest? He says his father would like me and that seems to be all that matters to him. Anyway, I am to think about it and let him know my answer in two days’ time.”

Abby stared in amazement. “Goodness me!”

“I had been enjoying his company, too. Now I will have to avoid him.”

Abby thought a moment. “So he wants to marry you because his father would approve of you?”

“I think his father keeps him on a tight rein. Money-wise I mean. Marrying me would make him believe his son had changed his ways, or something like that.”

Abby gave her a curious look. “So you intend to think about his offer? His family is supposed to be quite wealthy. A catch, if one ignores his reputation.”

Molly was surprised. “Do you think I should?”

“No, of course not. Not if it’s just to satisfy his father. Though, I must admit, some days I am not sure if I would say no if a handsome man offered to whisk me away, regardless of his motives.”

Molly wasn’t sure what to say to that. Abby was not her usual self tonight. She knew Will’s sister did more than her fair share when it came to managing the Hall—she was so capable her mother left a great deal to her discretion. But Molly had not thought of Abby as unhappy with her life. Most of the time she seemed content. Had she missed something?

Before she could broach the subject, Abby said, “Never mind me. I am feeling a little low. No, I do not think you should agree to Mr Hunter’s offer.”

“I won’t,” Molly spoke decisively. “I don’t want to live in London, anyway. I couldn’t imagine leaving Barton Lacey. Besides, I love…” She stopped herself.

“You love Will,” Abby said quietly. Then, impatiently, “What a fool my brother is!”

Molly shrugged. “I don’t suppose he can help it. Miss Morton is very pretty, and Will isn’t the only one dangling after her.”

“Being pretty is all very well. I don’t know much about that,” Abby declared. This surprised Molly because she had always thought Will’s sister very pretty indeed. It was just that she rarely bothered to dress up, and her hair was usually untidy.

“Can you imagine the two of them at Starling Hall,” Abby went on. “With all of us gathered about the table, talking over each other and squabbling over the last serving of potato? I am very sure Celeste would take off before a month had gone by, to London, or back to Sir Reginald. She was not brought up for the simple life, while Will would be miserable anywhere else. You are far more suited to my brother, Molly. There, I’ve said what everyone in my family is thinking!”

Despite the truth of her words, Molly felt obliged to object. “Will and I are friends. We have been friends since we were children,” Molly insisted. “He doesn’t see me in any other way.”

Abby put her chin on her hand. “It is perfectly plain to me that you love Will. The shame is he is too foolish to know he loves you.”

Molly felt her shoulders sag. It was all very well for Abby to say such things, but what was the point? Will did not love her and she must accept it. Not that that meant she wanted to run off with Mark Hunter.

“He is very handsome,” Abby said, staring back toward the house, where they could see the dancers against the soft lighting.

“Will?” Molly asked.

“No, I meant Mr Hunter,” Abby said, and then got up. “I should go back and keep an eye on Breana again. I think it is time we went home. I need to be up early tomorrow. Wash day, you know.”

Molly stood and tucked her hand around her friend’s arm. “I don’t know how you manage it all,” she said.

“I have to. We don’t have enough servants, and the children are always getting their clothing dirty. I tell myself it isn’t forever. One day, they will be grown up and go their own ways, and I will have time to myself. Of course, by then, I shall be an old maid.”

But Molly wondered what Abby would do with her time then. Would she remain at the Hall to care for her parents, or perhaps Will and Celeste’s children? Women like Abby were often taken advantage of and taken for granted. It didn’t seem fair. Abby should have a life of her own, a home of her own. Molly loved the Starlings dearly, but in this they were being selfish when it came to their eldest daughter.

Once inside, Molly found that Grace was also ready to leave, and the two girls set off in their gig. They did not have anything as grand as a carriage, but they didn’t have far to go. Grace was quiet during the trip, but that suited Molly fine, because she did not feel like speaking.

Her silly plan had not changed anything when it came to Will. He might dislike Mark’s attentions to her, but that was just the sort of thing a brother would do, and Will had always thought of himself as her brother.

It was no use wishing for the moon. She would just have to learn to live in darkness.

“Molly?” It seemed Grace had found her tongue, and the look on her face was one of determination. “You’d better tell me what the matter is. You know I won’t stop pestering you until you do.”