She lay in bed and examined the ring through her tears, running her fingers over the worn gold band and the three diamonds set in it. He hadn’t wanted to give it to her. It was one thing for Verity to worry that promising marriage to Nathaniel McClure had been a mistake. But it was crushing to imagine he might think the same thing about her. Over and over, she revisited her behavior at the party. Had she been flirtatious with the doctor’s apprentice? It was true she found him easy to talk to—much easier than her intended. He had an affable manner that put her at ease, while Nate was just so stiff! What was she to do, in any case? Break off the engagement? Tell her father that she’d rather not wed the young man he wanted to take on as his partner? And do what instead? Return to Worcester, a burden on her foster parents until somebody more pleasing took an interest in her? When the morning light could no longer be denied, she rose from her bed and dressed. For a long time, she sat at her dressing table, turning the McClure ring round and round on her finger.
