Alicia shared a worried look with Morgan.
‘Is Mariette not joining us today?’ Norma asked in a desperate attempt to break the silence.
Morgan sucked in a breath to steady himself when he felt his temper begin to burn. ‘Mariette won’t be joining us. She is packing her belongings.’
Norma looked shocked. ‘Oh?’
‘Morgan thinks it is best if she goes to stay with relations of ours up in Scotland. They live rather remotely so I am afraid Mariette is rather less than keen to go but she cannot continue to conduct herself as she is. I am afraid her behaviour the other night was far beyond the pale. It isn’t acceptable in polite society to be so crassly spoken and it is high time Mariette understood that.’
‘But she is only saying what everyone else is thinking,’ Sissy interjected.
‘I know that gossips are the same everywhere, Sissy. They can be harsh and spread the most dreadful rumours but it is often the case that time allows the truth to unfold. Those who have taken part in spreading the most scurrilous smears are often revealed to be the most spiteful and tawdry. In the long run they only let themselves down. However, it isn’t becoming for Mariette to create scenes and risk people gossiping about her poor conduct. She is expected to behave in a certain refined way, but her behaviour of late has fallen far below it.’
‘On many occasions,’ Morgan growled in disgust. ‘The locals will gossip because they are curious. However, nobody has cause to question any of us today. There can be no crime in taking a picnic, can there?’
‘There is when people think I am your mistress,’ Sissy snorted quite inelegantly. She wished she hadn’t spoken the second that an uncomfortable silence descended on the carriage, and she found herself the focus of everyone’s attention. Rather than apologise for what she had just said, Sissy looked boldly at each of them. ‘I was informed rather pointedly by several people this morning in the village that my morals are questionable seeing as I have been spending time with Morgan. They all think it preposterous that I should have ideas above my station and be so bold as to consider myself worthy of your company.’
While Sissy kept her gaze on Alicia as she spoke, everyone knew her words were targeted at Morgan. He mentally winced and studied his mother for a moment. Alicia’s aristocratic features didn’t alter, but he saw that slight narrowing of her eyes and knew she was coldly furious.
‘Where did this take place?’ Alicia asked after a mile or two of silence.
‘In the grocery,’ Sissy replied. ‘The grocer’s wife thought it her place to tell me that I was being foolish for being seen with you although why she should consider me responsible for your decisions to call upon us only she will know.’
Alicia nodded. ‘Well, let’s leave it all back at the village for now. They can gossip as much as they like. They aren’t out enjoying a wonderful picnic like we are, are they? Leave them to spend their day being spiteful. We can enjoy ourselves.’
With that, everyone turned their attention out of the window for several miles until the carriage rumbled to a stop in the centre of a small meadow through which ran a small river.
‘How wonderful,’ Norma breathed as she stepped down from the carriage.
On the other side of the vehicle, Morgan handed Sissy down. When he should have released her, he bent his arm and placed her hand on the crook of his elbow instead. Placing his hand proprietorially on top of hers, he patted it and offered her an encouraging smile.
‘If you had to consider everything that had ever happened to you on a scale, the heaviest being the worst thing you had ever been through, how would you rate this morning? Was it incredibly heavy, a little uncomfortable, or a barely noticeable burden?’
Sissy had to think about that for a moment. ‘It was a little uncomfortable. At least I know what people are saying about me, and how little faith they have in my morals.’
Morgan nodded and knew then that Sissy’s morning had been incredibly bad. ‘Well, that being the case there is even more of a reason to enjoy the picnic, isn’t there? Let’s go for a wander down the stream. By the time we return the table should be set up and we can have something to eat.’
With that, everyone set off for a rather pleasant stroll along the riverbank.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
A week later, Sissy gathered her shawl and shopping basket and made her way to the front door once again. The small envelope she had tucked into her purse contained the money she owed the grocer for the groceries he had given her last week. As soon as it had been delivered, her business there was concluded. She fully intended to travel much further for the provisions she needed today, to the next village of Conley Bridge.
‘Where are you going, Sissy?’ Norma asked from the kitchen doorway.
Sissy paused on the doorstep. She had thought that Norma was still in bed. It was a surprise to find Norma up and about as if she hadn’t slept well either.
‘I am going into town to do some shopping,’ Sissy replied.
‘But we only need a few groceries,’ Norma countered with a frown.
‘I am not going to get them from this village,’ Sissy replied flatly. ‘Of course, you are more than welcome to go yourself if you want to.’
She hesitated and watched Norma sigh heavily. Her aunt never ventured into the shops on account of her not liking the gossips either. Until now, Sissy had been more than happy to go because she hadn’t cared at all what anybody had said about her, or so she had thought.
But then Morgan changed all of that.
Norma clearly wasn’t prepared to go herself today either. However, it now appeared that she didn’t want Sissy to go. Was that because Norma didn’t trust her, or didn’t want to encourage any more gossip? Whatever the case, Sissy doubted that Norma’s concern was for her niece’s welfare.