The Last Eligible Bachelor - Ashtyn Newbold Page 0,42
already gathered, with Mr. Hill at the center of the room. All eyes watched me as I took my first step into the room, then the next, the stares of all the ladies growing more intense with each movement. What had I done now?
“Miss Sedgwick,” Mrs. Ollerton said, breaking the heavy silence. “We are so pleased you could make it to dinner after the ordeal you suffered today.”
Considering the lack of surprise from the ladies in the room, it seemed Mrs. Ollerton had already told them all what had happened.
“Oh, it was no great ordeal,” I said in a quick voice.
“Well, you have Mr. Hill to thank for that. He rescued you in a most gallant manner.” Mrs. Ollerton cast him a grateful smile, and he met my eyes, his lips twitching upward, as if tempting me to agree with her.
“I did not require rescuing. It was my maid who was injured, and Mr. Hill helped her to safety.” I looked at Miss Downsfield as I spoke, hoping my words would erase the scowl on her brow.
“Well, rescuing a maid is not quite as heroic, but I still believe he deserves praise for it.” Mrs. Ollerton gave a sweet smile that contradicted her words, which grated on me. It had been the fact that Mr. Hill dirtied his boots to rescue Jessie that had given me the greatest cause to admire him.
“I must disagree, Mrs. Ollerton,” I said, unable to stop my tongue. “I think rescuing a maid is far more heroic than rescuing a lady.”
Miss Benham scoffed, sharing a smile with Miss Downsfield. One narrow eyebrow lifted. “How so?”
Mr. Hill’s gaze burned on my face, but I avoided his eyes. He was just as curious to hear by explanation as Miss Benham seemed to be. Perhaps more so. Why had I not kept my mouth closed? I wrung my hands together. “Well, I believe the true goodness of a person is determined by what they do when they have nothing to gain. Mr. Hill might rescue a lady in the hopes of winning her affection or her high regard, perhaps to uphold his reputation, but when he rescues a maid, I believe it shows a genuine desire to help her—to see all people safe and taken care of. What could a gentleman have to gain from that?”
Mrs. Ollerton seemed to be pondering my words, a deep furrow in her brow, contrary to Miss Benham’s disdainful smirk.
“Very interesting thoughts, Miss Sedgwick.” Mrs. Ollerton tapped her chin. “I must agree that Mr. Hill has a very genuine desire for goodness, both in himself, and in his choice of a wife.” She smiled at each lady in turn, and Miss Benham’s smirk subsided into something far sweeter. I was not the only guest who knew how to put on an act. If Mr. Hill had seen through mine, did he see through hers? Did he see all of us for who we truly were? There was no way of knowing. I caught his gaze by accident, glancing quickly down at my gloves.
A few minutes later, we were all seated in the dining room, and I listened silently while I ate my soup, unwilling to accidentally compliment or defend Mr. Hill again. All the other ladies had already seemed to have selected me as their greatest enemy. Did they think I had orchestrated my fall in town that day?
At one point in the conversation, Miss Coppins took a delicate sip from her glass, careful not to shatter it, as she had often warned me against, and smiled at Mr. Hill. “Do you have any relatives in Kent? I have heard there is much to see there.”
He nodded. “Indeed, I do. An uncle.”
“Who is your uncle?” Mrs. Ollerton asked. “I do know some families in Kent, including Miss Sedgwick’s family.”
Mr. Hill glanced in my direction, his gaze hovering on my face for a moment before returning to Mrs. Ollerton. I listened carefully, holding my spoon above my bowl so as not to miss a single one of his words. I had been raised in the same county, so it was quite possible I would know his uncle.
He set down his glass before answering. “Mr. Joseph Baker.”
My breath hitched, and I nearly dropped my spoon. Icy fingers seemed to grip the back of my neck. The coldness of my skin spread to every inch as I lowered my spoon with a shaking hand. Had I heard him correctly?