“The new rector and his family have arrived,” Sarah announced without preamble.
“I heard,” the magistrate told her. “I was on my way there.”
“To do what?” Sarah asked. “Watch as he removes me from my home? You guaranteed we would have thirty days’ notice after the living was awarded.”
“I know I did, Miss Eckersley, but when Lord Dunbridge temporarily ceded the living back to the Church, the matter was taken out of my hands.”
“That is no excuse,” Sarah protested. “You were charged with the responsibility of looking out for me and for Lady Dunbridge. We trusted you.”
“There was nothing I could do,” he said. “Bishop Fulton and Lord Dunbridge assured me that you and Lady Dunbridge would be removing to London. They assured me that you and Lady Dunbridge would not be evicted, but would have ample time to move out of the rectory.”
“They lied.”
The magistrate gasped. “Miss Eckersley, one should not accuse a viscount and a bishop of lying. Especially when one is speaking to a magistrate.”
“We are being evicted,” Sarah said.
“What?”
“Go to the rectory and see for yourself,” she advised. “Reverend Tinsley is tossing my clothing and all our personal belongings out the window onto the lawn even as we speak.” She stared at the magistrate who had failed to protect her, then held up Budgie’s cage. “I barely managed to save my budgerigar from a similar fate.”
“Does Lord Dunbridge know about this?” Squire Perkins asked. “Surely he wouldn’t allow his betrothed and his aunt by marriage to be evicted from the rectory he owns?”
“Of course he knows about it,” Sarah replied. “He arranged to temporarily cede the living to the Church so his hands would be clean. So he can bemoan the fact that there was nothing he could do to prevent our eviction. So he could force us into accepting his hospitality.”
“But he’s your betrothed,” the magistrate insisted.
“He’s not my betrothed.” Sarah’s voice vibrated with anger and frustration. “He never formally asked my father for my hand, he simply mentioned the possibility. Papa refused to consider it. And so did I. Believe me when I tell you that I am not going to marry Lord Dunbridge.”
After Sarah’s father died, Viscount Dunbridge had tried again. This time, he had spoken directly to Sarah, informing her that he intended to have her as his wife at the end of the season. Sarah had flatly rejected his offer, refusing to consider the possibility, but apparently Reggie hadn’t been persuaded that she meant it.
“You have to marry someone,” Squire Perkins told her. “It might as well be a young, wealthy viscount with connections to your family. Come, Miss Eckersley, surely you see the advantages to that? It’s a perfect match.”
“There’s nothing perfect about it,” Sarah pronounced. “And I won’t consider it.”
“You are an unmarried female with no male relation to look out for you except Lord Dunbridge.”
“He is related to my maternal aunt through her marriage to his uncle,” Sarah clarified. “He’s no relation to me.”
“All the better,” the magistrate said. “And as I’ve been charged with the duty of finding a husband or guardian for you.”
“You’ve already shown yourself to be negligent in your duty.” Sarah all but stomped her foot in objection. “I’ll find my own husband or guardian.”
Squire Perkins took exception to her tone. “And you’ve already shown yourself to be incapable of finding a husband.”
“Not incapable,” Sarah corrected. “Just unwilling.”
“Incapable or unwilling, you’ve had two unsuccessful seasons, Miss Eckersley. Do you wish to be permanently on the shelf?”
“I do if the onl
y alternative is marriage to Reggie Blanchard.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do mean it,” Sarah retorted. “Lord Dunbridge is evicting me from my home! He lied to you and a bishop in order to accomplish it. And you expect me to want to marry him? To think he’s a perfect match?”
“If he’s evicting you from your home, he ought to provide you with another one,” the magistrate stubbornly insisted. “And indeed, he promised to do just that. The viscount wants to marry you. That’s something to think about, Miss Eckersley. You may not have many more opportunities to catch a suitable husband.”