Lydia seemed satisfied with that response, but Emily continued to think about Lydia’s question long after the conversation had ended. It was true that her heart did not belong to another, but she felt without very much effort she could lose it to Mr. Williams. He was so very attractive. When she spoke with him she felt an excitement that she had never known before. Could she marry a man who didn’t make her pulse flutter like Mr. Williams did, whose eyes did not hold the sparkle and life that she saw in his? Then again, could she marry a man who did not even have a home to take her to, a penniless curate who seemed to be making little effort to advance? No. It was foolish to fall in love with such a man. Once Sedgewick’s attachment to Lydia was assured, she would have no need to seek out Mr. Williams’s company, and she would continue with her original plan of convincing Lord Wesleigh to have her as a wife, instead of Lydia.

Satisfied to have reached a proper conclusion to her dilemma, although unable to account for her sudden lowering of spirits, Emily sought out Lydia. It was time to convince her to walk with her to the village to buy some ribbons.

Emily had felt a pleasurable tinge of guilt the previous evening, making an assignation with Mr. Williams to meet him on the High Street in the morning, and she was experiencing a similar excitement at the prospect of seeing him again. She sternly told herself to stop being foolish, but she could barely school her features into an expression of calm disinterest when she saw him. Turning toward Lydia, she said as nonchalantly as she could manage: “Look there, Lydia. Mr. Sedgewick appears to be walking this way with his friend, Mr. Williams.”