10. Chapter Ten #3
Mabel held her breath as Lady Marcham carefully threaded her needle with light green silk.
“Are you suggesting I’m undermining him?”
“It might appear that way,” Mabel said carefully. “Although I’m sure Colin knows he has your complete support.”
“He knows he doesn’t have that, nor can I give it to him.”
“Why not?” Mabel blurted.
Lady Marcham raised her eyebrows. “Because he has yet to prove he really means any of it, dear. You’ve only known Colin for a few months; whereas, the rest of us have dealt with his inconsistencies since he was born.
He’s never settled to anything, and in fact, caused his father severe palpitations on many occasions when he got in with the wrong crowd. ”
“I get that, but don’t you think people are allowed to change and learn from their mistakes?”
“I’m sure there are examples of such men. I’m still not convinced Colin is one of them. In a month’s time, once he thinks he’s got the basics under control, he’ll disappear again—probably with you.”
“I don’t agree,” Mabel said, again being careful with her words. “He’s a different person now. I wish you could see that.”
“I’ve learned not to invest my hopes in any man reforming himself, dear girl, and you should do likewise.”
“That’s a harsh thing to say.”
“And I’ll be genuinely sorry when he lets you down, because that is the essence of his flighty nature. You’re very pleasant and deserve better.”
Mabel rose to her feet, her knees shaking. “All I’m asking you to do is bring your concerns to him in private. Surely, he deserves that?”
Lady Marcham held her gaze and slowly nodded. “Yes, perhaps he does. I will try and remember that.”
“Thank you.” Mabel couldn’t manage to smile.
She left the room, closing the door quietly behind her, and walked without really noticing where she was going toward the main hall. Attempting to understand any family dynamic was hard, and she’d jumped into Colin’s family issues with both feet and found out more than she’d bargained for.
Sure, Colin could be impulsive—she’d seen that side of him when they’d connected so quickly in California, but he didn’t read as flighty to her.
She knew too well what flighty looked like after being abandoned by her father when she was a few years old.
And even her dad had allowed himself to have his wings clipped in the end...
If anyone was behaving in a flighty manner right now it was probably Mabel. She reminded herself she was a practical, analytical, person, and just because she cared for Colin, she still had to use her brain. Was her judgement as sound as she thought it was?
She paused to stare out over the unmowed lawns that swept down in undulating waves toward the lake and wooded areas.
Was she accidentally recreating or seeking a man in her father’s image?
Was her infatuation with Colin an attempt to rewrite the past?
She wrapped her arms around herself, aware of sudden chill seeping through the old glass panes.
Was she trying to be the one who succeeded in taming the unattainable?
God, she wished her therapist lived around the corner, because she had a lot she wanted to discuss with her.
“Mabel?”
She started at the sound of her name and turned to find Felicity hovering awkwardly behind her. Mabel realized that Felicity hadn’t been present for the tour or the meeting afterwards.
“Are you all right?” Felicity asked.
“I got lost in my thoughts.” Mabel smiled. “It’s such an amazing view.”
Felicity joined her by the window. “It’ll look even better if Freddy gets his way and puts a herd of goats out there to keep the grass nice and short.”
“What a great idea. Colin will love it!”
Even as she said the words, Mabel wondered if they were true. Did she really know Colin well enough to comment?
“He will,” Felicity said. “He was always the one to question every tradition. It drove my father mad.”
“Your grandmother doesn’t think Colin will stick around.”
Felicity looked down at her for a long moment. “I disagree.” She paused, a thoughtful look on her face. “He seems different this time. More mature, less angry, although that might be your influence.”
“I can’t take credit for the new, improved Colin.”
“Obviously, but I’m sure you helped. You make me feel brighter just by being here.
” Felicity smiled. “I’m beginning to hope that I’ve got my brother back, and that is the most wonderful feeling in the world.
” She patted Mabel lightly on the shoulder.
“Mrs. Reynolds was looking for you. She said something about two hundred pots of strawberry jam, so you’d better hurry up. ”
Mabel nodded and went on her way, her thoughts skittering off in all kinds of directions.
Colin had once joked with her about running away to California with her—but had he meant it?
Or was it simply that he ran away from everything?
Dipping her toe into the murkiness of the Marcham family waters had uncovered ripples that she hadn’t anticipated and depths she didn’t want to delve into.