Free Complications by Clare Jayne Page B

that he had finally had the good sense to know where he was not wanted. “All
the more reason for you to make a resolution to start anew.”
    Lottie nodded. “Now that Benjy is
recovering I will try to do so.”
    “You are long overdue for happiness and you
will find it soon, I am certain.”
    Lottie gave a smile, at once looking more
like her old self.
    “I have some good news I hope you will be
pleased about,” Amelia said. “I am in love.”
    “With whom?” Lottie asked, eyes lighting
up, then guessed, “Mr Wrackley?”
    “Yes. Every time I have seen him he has
been attentive and admiring, last night most of all. We talked all evening and
he never took his eyes off me. It was perfect. I am sure he will propose soon.”
    “That is wonderful. I am so happy for you.”
    Amelia saw that Lottie really meant this
and suddenly felt sick as she recalled her own reaction to Lottie’s engagement.
She had always known that Lottie was a better person than her but she had never
wanted to correct her own shortcomings before. It did not seem fair that Amelia
should be on the verge such joy when Lottie had endured such misery.
    “Tell me more,” Lottie begged, animated.
    “It makes me so happy just to be near him. I
have never felt such things,” Amelia confessed. “It scares me at times.”
    “I could not be more glad for you. Do your
parents know how you feel?”
    “I believe my mother knows I have a
preference for him but I doubt she has guessed that I love him. Do you think I
should say something to them?”
    “I am sure you know best, but it might be
awkward if Mr Wrackley called to ask your father for his permission to marry
you and your father did not know that you would welcome it.”
    “Indeed you are right. I will speak to them
today.”
    “I am sure they will be delighted.”
    “I hope so. I have no idea of the size of Mr
Wrackley’s estate or of his wealth or otherwise and, Lottie, I do not care.”
    Lottie was, of course, well acquainted with
her feelings on the matter of money, and looked suitably astonished. “How
extraordinary.”
    “I know. I always used to think I was so
sensible but such considerations seem unimportant next to my love for him.”
    Lottie seemed in a far more cheerful mood
when she left and Amelia wished with all her heart that Lottie might soon meet
a good man who would make up for all this year’s disappointments.
    Amelia hoped she would see Mr Wrackley the
next day - she could not bear the thought of any time apart from him.
    * * *
    The weather was ideal for the excursion. Benjamin
and Mr Nathaniel Fenbridge had ridden at a good pace for several hours and now
stopped, in a spot Benjamin recommended, to look down over the city and
surrounding countryside while they ate the excellent picnic Mrs McInty had put
together for them.
    The day was a hot one, the sunshine
brightening the green of the long wild grass and the yellows and pinks of the
gorse and wild flowers amongst it. They sat in the shade of an oak tree and
Benjamin could not think that he had ever been more content.
    Mr Fenbridge sat on the grass on the far
side of the picnic cloth with a glass of ale in his hand. “Was your sister glad
to know that Mr Saverney is gone from the city?”
    “She was relieved and, once she has been
able to talk it all over with Amelia - Miss Daventry, I mean - I believe she
will be more like her old cheerful self.”
    “If I may ask an impertinent question, do
you believe she still loves him?”
    “I should hope not,” he exclaimed then
considered the question more seriously. “My sister does not easily talk of her
feelings but I believe that Mr Saverney’s character has been revealed to such a
disadvantage that she cannot still love him. Indeed I think she only ever loved
the man he pretended to be.”
    “Then in time perhaps she will think she
was lucky not to have married him?”
    “I am sure of it. It is more other people’s
comments that are difficult for her at present.