Page 32 of Miss Vincent’s Vow

“I did not realise we had visitors,” he said.

Cassandra forbore to remind him it had been his choice not to join them.

Gilbert seemed to sense the tension and rose from his seat. “I’m just leaving. There are other calls I must make this morning.”

“What a pity,” her husband said. “I’m sorry to have missed your conversation. It was, no doubt, enlightening. Let me show you to the door.”

Cassandra felt Jethro’s eyes on her as she shook hands with Gilbert. His expression verged on hostile, but the reason eluded her.

What had she done wrong now?

Couldn’t she even entertain a friend in their home without annoying her husband?

Chapter 16

Jethro struggled to keep the polite smile on his face. What was a man of the cloth doing, sitting alone with his wife, seducing her with his smooth words, tempting her with his sympathetic eyes?

Why did Cassandra need his sympathy anyway? Jethro had put a roof over her head, hadn’t he? Provided her with enough pin money to replenish her wardrobe three times over. Saved her from penury.

If the curate was in love with her, why hadn’t he stepped forward when Cassandra needed rescuing?

Jethro held the drawing room door open for Mr Barnes and followed him into the hall. It didn’t matter what the man felt. It was too late for him now. Cassandra had made her choice and married him.

He wished he had not absented himself from the drawing room. He should have been with his wife, sat at her side. That man would not have talked to her in such a familiar way if he had been there.

He wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

The footman was hovering by the front door, waiting to open it for their guest. With a nod, Jethro dismissed him. “I’ll see Mr Barnes out myself.”

Once the servant was out of earshot, Jethro turned to address the curate. “I hope you had an enjoyable visit with my wife.”

The man’s expression was guarded. Was he feeling guilty for what he’d said to Cassandra?

“I did, thank you. It is always pleasant to chat with old friends.”

If only Jethro could be certain they were just friends. “You have known my wife long?”

“About three years. Since I first became curate to her father.”

“Was she confiding the state of her heart to you?”

Mr Barnes stiffened. “I’m not sure what you mean by that.”

“I wish to assure myself that you would not take advantage of your position as a clergyman to discover my wife’s feelings.”

“Mr Hunt, I receive many confidences, and am a willing ear if a parishioner wishes to unburden themselves, but nothing more. I do not pry into the secrets of another’s heart.”

“But you listen.”

“It is part of my role as a minister of the Lord.”

“And I trust that your devotion to the Lord would prevent you from acting on what you learn.”

“It would.”

“Then I don’t need to warn you to stay away from my wife?”

The curate’s face flushed red, and Jethro wondered if he had overstepped the mark. Could he have misinterpreted what he’d heard?