Page 71 of Holly & Folly

He might have written the hope himself.

As for the prediction, well…

He stole another glance at Miss Orston. In marrying her, he certainly would not remain as he was. He would be a husband. It would be precisely the type of marriage he had wished for: practical, respectable, safe. Where there was no love, there could be no pain.

He read the paper once more and glanced at Nell. Was he merely assuming it belonged to her because he wanted to believe it? Wanted to believe that somewhere in those words was a confession of her feelings for him?

It was a presumptuous hope, for she had rejected him.

You are under no obligation to me, nor I to you, she had said.

Those last four words had wounded him in a way he had never before experienced.

And yet he still wanted her.

Perhaps in time he would forget.

He folded the paper. He should return it to the grate, where it had been cast. The author had not regarded the contents as worthwhile; why should he?

And yet, he wanted to know whether it was Nell’s.

Needed to know.

The sermon ended—finally—and people began to file out of the church, Nell some five feet behind Archie.

“I shall be out in a moment, Mother,” Archie said as they reached the door.

She squared him with an unusually perceptive gaze, then nodded and continued outside with Miss Orston.

Archie retrieved the paper from his pocket and, grasping it in his fist, turned toward Nell, her brother, and Miss Hollis.

All three of them stopped and looked at him.

“Might I have a quick word, Miss Prescott?” he asked.

Nell’s eyes fixed on him, wide and alert in contrast to their sleepy drooping just minutes ago. She glanced at her brother.

Mr. Prescott was watching Archie, but he met his sister’s gaze.

“I shall be only a moment,” she assured him.

He nodded. “We will wait outside.” He and Miss Hollis passed them, disappearing through the door.

Archie’s hand tightened on the paper as Nell looked at him expectantly.

“Miss Prescott,” he said, “I⁠—”

“Lord Dalmeer. Miss Prescott.”

Their heads turned as Mr. Tomlinson approached with quick feet.

“Vicar,” Archie said, trying to mask the exasperation in his voice.

“I have been wishing to speak with you,” he said. “Both”—his eyes moved between them—“of you. With the unfortunate cancellation of last week’s services due to the snow, I have not had the opportunity. In fact, I had prepared that sermon with the two of you in mind. I would have delivered it today had it not been requisite that I speak on the topic of…” He put out a hand, inviting them to supply the topic.

Archie looked at Nell for assistance, but she could be of no help.

Mr. Tomlinson’s lips pressed together in displeasure. “Repentance. New beginnings.”