Girthsome

Minutes later, Molly found herself seated inside the stagecoach with a rather girthsome gentleman occupying the opposite bench. Grateful to be spared the experience of spending a night in Sulfur Falls, she situated her satchel—the single piece of luggage the driver, a Mr. Lewis, had said he could accommodate—on the seat beside her.

Indeed, who would marry me? There was no one to steer me. I had only ever been good at one subject—art. Sir Jeremy, growing too girthsome to do any more harm to young protégées, and feeling rather sorry for me because I had turned out chinless and dumb, declared that I would go to the Slade School.

Pippa just nodded and took a swig of her wine. “You know I'm not one to feed rumors, but... I had no idea! I mean it's been a good decade since I saw that thing, and I sure don't remember it being quite so girthsome.”