Claire and Bonnie blinked at her. “You do?” Claire said. “You never said anything.”
“Instead I will do what I am best at—helping the poor and needy. I may not be a vicar’s wife, but that does not mean I cannot lend aid where I am able.” A rush of pleasure ran through her body at voicing that to her friends.
“If that is what you wish,” Claire said, hesitation in her voice.
“You cannot remain here then,” Jacob broke in, his voice hot. All looked at him in surprise at his tone. He pointed an accusing finger at Nathan. “Did you consider that? You have ruined her reputation; even marrying her will likely not repair the damage. If she remains here in Taft, she will be ostracized, unable to do what she desires, her help thrown back in her face. You are taking her from her friends, her family, all because you couldn’t keep your bloody pri—”
His wife interrupted him. “Come, let us sit down and discuss this like reasonable adults. I’ll order tea, shall I?”
The group reluctantly took to the sofas, Sara sitting close to Nathan, her hand still protectively on his arm. Jacob remained standing a safe distance away from him. “Now,” Claire continued. “What is this all about? When did all this happen? Forgive us, dear, but we are trying to understand. This is entirely unexpected.”
“Perhaps we should wait for Louisa,” Sara said. “Nathan and I wish to start on our journey soon and I do not wish to tell this story more than once.”
Claire blinked. “Louisa?”
Bonnie chimed in. “I haven’t seen her in some time. Where is she?”
Claire shook her head. “She was there at the church. She said she would see to Mr. Pomeroy. I haven’t seen her since.”
“I thought she came back with you,” Jacob said to Bonnie, who shook her head. “It was just Stephen and me in the gig.”
“This is ridiculous,” Claire said. “She must be upstairs, although why she would not have come down when you returned, Sara, I don’t know.”
“She looked calm at the church,” Stephen offered. “She did,” he repeated with a shrug when Bonnie looked at him.
Anna entered in response to the bell pull. Claire spoke to her. “Find Miss Hurst, please, and ask her to join us here.”
The maid shook her head. “I’m sorry, mum, I can’t.”
Claire raised her eyebrows. “I beg your pardon?”
The young girl looked nervous. “She’s not here. Her trunks were carried down this morning during all the hullabaloo getting ready for the wedding. She’s gone.”
“What is this?” Bonnie exclaimed. “Is it some sort of epidemic of unexplained disappearances?”
Louisa was gone?
To where?