Miss Farrow's Feathers by Susan Gee Heino Page B

the house and fully intended to lurk outside a window, just for the amusement of eavesdropping and seeing more of Miss Farrow when she was not intentionally ignoring him or purposefully making herself as unpleasant as possible. However, when Miss Farrow was let into the home by a round little woman, a fluffy white dog came out into the yard to yap incessantly in his direction. He had to leave, disappearing beyond the low stone wall that flanked the cottage and making tracks toward an apple orchard nearby.
    It was an easy walk to the posting house from there. He kept out of view from the road and remain undetected, arriving in time to use water from the pump to right his mussed clothing and wash his stinging hands. The little red welts were beginning to fade. He retrieved his small writing box that he’d left hidden behind a pile of timber stacked just out of view from the road and found a safe place to wait.
    Just as Miss Farrow, he hadn't completely lied about his need to come here today. He had indeed posted a letter and was glad when the innkeeper assured him it had gone out in the last post. He could expect to have a certain friend of his arrive here in Richington tomorrow. Then the fun would begin.
    He made himself comfortable on a bench outside the posting house and opened his writing box. Why look, he even had ink on his fingers, just in case Miss Farrow should have reason to question his alibi. Lord knew he was going to question hers.
     

Chapter 9
    Miss Bent was overly glad to see Meg. Chester, her little dog, seemed rather more interested in whatever rabbit must have been hopping about Miss Bent’s back garden, but he settled down eventually. It was good to see that other people had trouble with their pets, too, at times. Perhaps Bartholomew wasn’t such a freak of nature, after all.
    Then again, Chester didn’t screech out a full dozen verses to “Roll Your Leg Over” every blessed day.
    Meg kept her visit as brief as possible, but of course Miss Bent had much to say. Her widowed niece generally lived with her but was currently away at her sister's home in London. Miss Bent was quite happy to share each and every detail from each and every letter she’d received from her during her absence. As Meg discovered, the niece was exceptionally prolific. Fortunately the niece promised her visit to London would end soon and she’d return home to Richington so Meg would likely be spared another recitation of the letters.
    Finally she said her good-bye s. The sun had fully set, but she knew the roads well and was not worried about traveling such a short distance after dark. Besides, she’d be meeting Mr. Shirley soon. Of course she shouldn’t be quite as pleased to think of reuniting with him as she was, but she worked to convince herself it was simply relief that she was feeling. Her scheme had worked as planned and soon she would be done with these lies and deception.
    And should she have any worries about traveling alone after dark, she’d soon have Mr. Shirley with his broad shoulders to protect her. Although, her sensible side warned her that this was most likely the very thing she most needed protection from . While Mr. Shirley had only ever behaved in the most respectable way toward her, she was beginning to wonder if she ought to be worried for her own respectable behavior. The involuntary thoughts she kept having of the man were not respectable at all!
    But now there he was, waiting for her, waving as if he were nearly as happy to see her as she was to see him. Despite the shadows of the posting house yard she could see that his smile lighted his eyes. And what kind, expressive eyes they were, too. Even after sharing her home with the man for nearly a week she’d not quite gotten used to their earnest blue intensity.
    She would have to school herself carefully to keep from showing that she appreciated—very much—that these expressive blue eyes were fastened clearly on her. By no means did she approve