“He will,” Alex assured her. He gathered up the reins and mounted his horse.

“Are you returning for dinner?” she asked.

He smiled. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

Laura stood at the gate as he rode away. When she returned to the house, she found the vicar seated alone in the parlor. Magpie was curled up on a sofa cushion, watching him.

“Your aunt has gone to fetch a book for me from her room. But do sit, Miss Hayes. This gives us an opportunity to talk.”

Laura had a sinking feeling that she was in for a lecture. She perched on the edge of the sofa next to Magpie.

The vicar wasted no time in getting to the point. “Your aunt tells me this is to be a marriage of convenience.”

Her spirits sank further. Why on earth had Aunt Charlotte felt the need to tell him that?

“You’ll forgive me mentioning it,” he went on. “I was under the impression that it was by way of being a love match.”

She stroked Magpie’s head. Her words, when she spoke, were far calmer than she felt. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

“You have no fortune, Miss Hayes. It’s common knowledge in Lower Hawley. Yet Mr. Archer—a man who is best described as a fortune hunter—has betrothed himself to you. What reason could he have other than love?”

“My reputation was at risk. After what happened at Margate—”

“A fact which would be of no concern to a fortune hunter. Certainly not a man unscrupulous enough to take advantage of a drink-addled boy like George.”

“I beg your pardon, sir, but…George isn’t a boy any longer.”

The vicar waved his hand. “Oh, I know very well my son isn’t blameless in this. At the same time, I have to wonder what sort of man would be so lost to finer feeling as to exploit a weaker creature to his benefit? To lure that creature into deep play, and deeper drink, only to hold it over his head for months on end? To torment him and make his life a misery?”

Laura stared at him, stunned. He made Alex sound like a monster. A true villain, incapable of kindness or compassion. “That isn’t quite what happened. Not in the way I understand it.”

“Then I thank God you don’t know the worst of it. Nor should you, a young lady such as yourself.” His brow creased with concern. “I fear you have a tiger by the tail, my dear. Such a creature isn’t capable of being tamed.”

“I don’t wish to tame him.”

“But you think to keep him here with you after you marry? To make a house pet of him, as you have of this one?”

Laura’s hand stilled on Magpie’s back. “No, I—” She broke off. “I believe Mr. Archer can be happy here.”