“Poor orphans and all that, hmm?”

“Um.” Sara could see Mr. Pomeroy shift in the corner of her eye. He cleared his throat. “There is no orphanage in the area, but I could make inquiries into the closest one, if you wish to patronize one. Or one of a specific nature, if you have a particular cause in mind.”

“And what incentive am I to be offered?”

“Excuse me?” Sara couldn’t see the vicar’s face, but judging from his voice, the question surprised him.

“What will you offer to induce me to part with my money?” Mr. Grant asked, his voice remaining even and impersonal. Sara saw his fingers flex around his wolf’s-head cane. They gripped the head so tightly his fingers were turning white.

“The Bible teaches that good works are their own reward,” Mr. Pomeroy replied.

“So no private pew? No dedication in my honor?”

“Well, there may be—”

“Or perhaps some intimate time with a certain parishioner who is always willing to help out wherever she is needed?”

Sara’s head snapped up at that comment and she felt all the blood drain from her face. Heavens, she did not just hear that.

Silence reigned, Grant’s words echoing in the quiet, confirming that he had indeed said it. Mr. Pomeroy’s eyes darted to her, his eyes widening.

“Um,” he cleared his throat, visibly uncomfortable. Taking a deep breath, he drew himself up. “I did not say that. I would never suggest something so immoral.”

One side of Mr. Grant’s mouth tilted in a sardonic smile. “I have heard far more immoral suggestions from men of God.”

Mr. Pomeroy did not back down. “Yet I would never suggest something so immoral, sir, and it is inappropriate for you to make such a comment. I believe you owe Miss Collins an apology.”

Mr. Grant took a step toward him, the tap of his cane ringing in the room. “You enter my home uninvited with an unmarried woman, make vague innuendo with poorly chosen words, and you have the audacity to speak to me of impropriety? The apology is yours to make.”

Cold violence was seeped into his words, lowering the temperature even more. The innuendo he claimed Mr. Pomeroy had made clearly struck a nerve with the man.

Mr. Pomeroy was silent for a moment. When he spoke, it was with a quiet, calm voice, a vicar’s voice. “I do not know what occurred in your past to make you so cynical sir, but even in my short time in Taft, I have appreciated the innocence and sincerity of the area. People here do not have ulterior motives. When we offer something as simple as a neighborly welcome, then that is all being offered. I regret that you cannot accept this at face value and pray that you may find in this community the healing your soul needs.”

Mr. Grant returned his gaze to Sara, his mouth twisting into that sardonic smile again. “I daresay this is exciting for you, is it not? To have two men defending your honor?”

Sara did not answer; she could not. She had no words for such a situation.

He looked at Mr. Pomeroy. “You found your way in here; you can find your way out.” He spun on his heel and left the room, leaning heavily on his cane. The tapping receded down the corridor.

After several beats of silence, Mr. Pomeroy looked at Sara. “I deeply regret you were exposed to that, Miss Collins. Once again I find myself setting a new precedent for horrible visits.”

Sara dropped her head again, grasping her hands in front of her. She heard the vicar move and felt him draw near to her. His voice was gentle when he spoke to her again, his near presence a welcome warmth after the chill of the experience. “Come, I will take you home.”

She nodded and accepted his escort out of Windent Hall.

CHAPTER FOUR

* * *

It took a moment for Sara’s eyes to adjust to the darker lighting in the general mercantile. There weren’t many customers, for which she was grateful. She nodded greetings to those she knew as she made her way to the service counter. Mrs. Yardley, the church pianist, ran the store with her husband. Rather intimidated by the woman’s large husband, Sara waited patiently for Mrs. Yardley to finish with her current customer.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Yardley,” Sara greeted with a smile. “Has anything arrived in the post for us this week?”

Tags: Ellie Macdonald Billionaire Romance
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