] And isn't it a strange coincidence that Mr. Parrish has courted two different women in such a short period of time, whose fathers were once in business together?

Gosh, Tori, this is one angle that hadn't registered with me yet (it's hard to view all angles when one's head is spinning with theories). :-) Was there ever an explanation (lame or otherwise) about why Mr. Parrish dropped Miss Kendall?