Winchester Abbey

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Of this MCat was mostly certain, she thought as she sprawled across her bedspread that afternoon - both of the Thomas brothers - if they were brothers, which she also doubted - had to be actors. Otherwise, neither of them would be as lenient with affections as they had proved to be. Surely Charlotte didn't trust James. She didn't herself, and she most definitely didn't trust Matthew, not after what Char had told them. 

There was Timothy, she reminded herself, but he was so...so... quiet. And reserved. And everything that she had never actually been fond of in a man. 

She reprimanded herself for thinking of the men so much. 

"I've got to get out of this room." she said aloud, glancing up at the window. All of the other girls were elsewhere, outside. She would've killed to ride a horse right then, but her ankle still proved too unstable. 

"Blast." 

She pulled on a coat over her dress and cursed boredom for being so boring. The afternoon sun shone brightly over the hillside as she stepped down the corridor, soaking in its warmth. 

What to do, what to do....

She felt like punching someone in the face. Perhaps Jack Harries' would be a good candidate. 

Unfortunately, the first male she saw was not Jack, but Timothy, who was sitting in the parlor with a book, looking very attentive. She ducked behind a column on sudden impulse, realizing she didn't really want to deal with talking. 

"Ms. Loftis?" 

Too late. Timothy stood up hurriedly, setting the book on the armrest of the couch. 

"Yes. Hi - I mean, hello; I'm sorry to bother you, I didn't know anyone was in here." she curtsied clumsily - moreso because of her ankle - and then just stood. 

"Not at all. I was just very immersed in my book." 

"Which book?" 

He picked it up awkwardly and handed it to her. "Persuasion." 

MCat suppressed a snicker. "I shouldn't even be surprised, should I?" she handed it back to him. 

"Would you like to see the library?" he said after a moment or two of silence in which MCat stared at the floor and Mr. Danhurst fidgeted with a button. 

"Love to."

He then offered his arm and she took it, letting him escort her to the other side of the house. "It's a lovely day." she remarked, trying to make smalltalk without much success. She had always been horrid at it. 

"Indeed." 

"Have you been outside that much?"