A Sibling's Interference

Chapter Twenty

Voices in the hall caught my attention. "I really must make my way back home, Philippa," I heard Miss Darkin say. "It has been lovely to see you again, but I cannot stay any longer."

"But you must stay!" came Philippa's protest. "I need someone to keep me company."

Holding back a sigh, I left the library to join them. "Philippa, you know that isn't reasonable," I called out. "It would ruin her reputation if it were to get out that she, an unmarried lady, stayed overlong in the home of a bachelor without a chaperone."

"Chaperone?" Philippa sputtered without looking at me. "That is ridiculous! Am I not chaperone enough?"

"No," Miss Darkin and I said at the same time. Her gaze caught mine for a moment and there was a smile that quickly vanished. Miss Darkin continued, "It is better if I return home."

She had her bonnet on her head and was in the middle of buttoning her spencer jacket. Her maid carried a small trunk towards the door.

Crossing her arms, Philippa pouted. "Just because I am eighteen shouldn't mean that I am not qualified," she argued. "I'm certain I can make sure you both behave yourselves just as well as any matron."

It was on the tip of my tongue to say that she could barely behave herself, but I knew that would only irritate her. "You know said matrons would have a different opinion on the matter," I said instead. "As my sister, it is nothing if you are here. Miss Darkin is not family."

"And I was not expected," Miss Darkin said, her tone much kinder than mine had been. "I can see that you are well, Miss Bywood, so I am not needed to nurse you back to health."

While she might not be needed to nurse someone, she would have filled a different need. I desperately needed someone with sense and reason on my side, and Miss Darkin had shown herself to be both of those things. However, I would never do something that would ruin her just for my sake. I was not that selfish.

"I need you," Philippa said, her tone pleading. "You cannot leave me alone with no company!"

"You really should have thought about that before you ran away from home," I told her, unamused. "You can't expect us all to just do whatever you please just because you want it that way."

Philippa bristled, her eyes flashing with anger. Miss Darkin sent me a sharp look. "Miss Bywood," she said, reaching over to put her hand on my sister's arm. "I do enjoy spending time with you, but it is obvious that your brother was not prepared for guests. It would be rude to put a strain on his household any longer."

"But you cannot just leave me alone with only gentlemen for company," Philippa protested. "How am I supposed to endure having Mr. Talbot in the neighborhood? I told you how he ignored me last night!"

Had he? I wouldn't have thought him capable of such a thing. Did he realize that it was the fastest way to get Philippa's attention? Or was he realizing that my little sister wasn't worth the effort?

"I know it will be difficult," Miss Darkin was saying, somehow managing to sound soothing and sympathetic. "Gentlemen can be so unfeeling and thoughtless sometimes."

Thoughtless? Unfeeling? Me? I was neither of those things and I resented that she said so. Or was she just trying to soothe Philippa's hurt feelings? All I seemed to do was annoy my sister.

The lady turned to me. "Thank you, Mr. Bywood, for your hospitality," she said with a smile. She offered her hand. "I look forward to seeing Pearsend when it is brought back to its original glory."

"You'll be the first I show," I told her as I took her hand in mine. Wait. Maybe that was too personal. "But I wouldn't hold your breath. I imagine it is going to take several years before Pearsend is ready for entertaining."