Page 71 of Miss Vincent’s Vow

“So that’s it. I wasn’t rich enough for you,” Alexander said, his tone increasing in rancour as the wretched woman antagonised him.

“Of course. What else did you think? That I didn’t love you anymore?”

Jethro cringed at the woman’s poisonous words, and was not surprised that Alexander raised his voice in response, drawing several pairs of eyes in their direction. “How dare you talk to me like that? If you had an ounce of decency—”

“Good day to you, Mrs Frampton,” Jethro said, looping his arm through Alexander’s and holding it close to his body. He would not allow his brother-in-law to disgrace them all.

“Walk away,” he growled in the captain’s ear. “Now.”

Alexander gave Eugenia a curt nod, and let Jethro lead him down the road, toward the harbour.

As soon as they turned the corner of St Mary Street, the captain ripped his arm from Jethro’s hold. “Why did you do that? I had the matter in hand.”

“If that’s what you think, I pity those who serve on your ship,” Jethro retorted. “You accused Mrs Frampton of lacking any sense of decency, yet you are somewhat deficient in that area yourself. Why didn’t you just leave? You were embarrassing your sister as well as yourself. Mrs Frampton is not worth your time. You’re better off without her.”

Alexander lurched toward him, as though he intended to hit him, but Cassandra moved between them.

“Gentlemen, please,” she said, giving them each a pleading look.

“Tell your husband to mind his own business,” Alexander said.

“Tell your brother I will mind my own business, but if he behaves in that manner again, I will drag him away by the collar as if he was an errant schoolboy.”

“I’d like to see you try—”

“Might I remind you both that this is the Lord’s day?” Cassandra said, as they arrived back at the house. “A day of rest.”

“What a timely reminder, sister. I’ll spend what remains of the morning in my room—resting—meditating on my broken heart in private, where no one will criticise the way I choose to express my disappointment.”

The captain disappeared upstairs, and Jethro heaved a sigh of relief.

“I’m sorry that woman was so vile to Alexander, but he shouldn’t have let her words rile him so badly. He should have just walked away.”

“Yes, but as you know, that is far easier said than done, isn’t it?”

Jethro agreed, but he had the nasty feeling Cassandra wasn’t only talking about her brother.

Chapter 38

The following evening, when they met at the dinner table, Jethro resolved not to let Alexander provoke him—for Cassandra’s sake.

It was an uphill struggle. The captain launched into a discussion of Jethro’s affairs, quizzing him about his family background and connections, as if he was determined to prove his sister had married beneath her.

When his pointed comments failed to provoke a reaction, Alexander changed tack and asked him about his business instead, making it clear what he thought of a so-called gentleman who was engaged in trade.

Jethro endured his brother-in-law’s jibes, restraining the words that leaped to his mind in retaliation, glancing at his wife’s face to encourage him to stay calm every time he felt his patience running out.

“It must have been such a blessing when Cassandra accepted your hand in marriage,” Alexander said.

“It was indeed.”

“And how did you meet? At church, of course. I daresay you have known each other for ages.”

What was the man trying to prove? Alexander was well aware of the fact that they hardly knew each other when they wed, but Jethro refused to give his brother-in-law the satisfaction of admitting as much.

“We have worshipped together at St Mary’s for some years.”

“Ah. Your attachment is of long standing. I’m surprised you didn’t court my sister whilst my father was still alive—or did you fear it wouldn’t be successful?”