“Oh, everything is perfectly fine, ma’am!” she insisted in a cheery voice. “I have just been so enjoying my time with Miss Lily out here. She has been having such fun playing and spending so much time with the Duke and Duchess. It has been such a joy being around her. I find I cannot stay away.”
When Mrs Radcliffe did not reply right away, Victoria glanced back up at her and found the lady studying her closely. She chewed her bottom lip, looking thoughtful for several moments before she finally spoke again.
“It is a bit odd,” she began slowly. “Edward has also been rather busy since we arrived. He has been out of the house so much…I wonder what might be going on with him. The countryside is supposed to be more relaxing than the town, and yet you both are so much busier than you seemed to be in London.”
Victoria blinked. She had not realized Mrs Radcliffe was so observant. Had Victoria truly been that obvious? If both she and Lord Harford were acting strangely, of course, someone would notice. Victoria silently berated herself for not thinking of that before.
“That is odd,” she quickly agreed with a nod. “Lord Harford is not usually so busy when he comes to the country? I have noticed he has not been around as much. He has missed several dinners.”
Mrs Radcliffe raised her brows as though surprised by Victoria’s response.
“Well…that is true,” she nodded. “I suppose it is just a coincidence that you both are apparently so busy, then?”
“Of course,” Victoria replied, her voice squeaking. “Why would we have anything to do with each other, ma’am?”
Mrs Radcliffe pressed her lips together, and Victoria worried she did not believe her.
At length, however, Mrs Radcliffe released a long breath and said, “No reason, I suppose. You are right. What reason could there be for you two to be connected? It must be a coincidence. Of course.”
Victoria forced a bright smile and shrugged. “Odd indeed, ma’am. I had best return to Miss Lily. It will be time for her nap soon.”
“Yes, you are right,” Mrs Radcliffe murmured, appearing preoccupied. “Let us talk again soon, Miss Clifford. Yes?”
Swallowing, Victoria nodded and replied, “Yes, most definitely. I would be happy too.”
Before Mrs Radcliffe could say another word, Victoria turned and hurried to catch up with Lily and her grandparents, desperate to avoid speaking any more about Lord Harford.
***
Sighing, he paced back and forth in front of the study window, shuffling through papers he had been neglecting the past few days as he had avoided staying in the house as much as possible. Edward knew he could not put off some of the work any longer and so he had woken early that morning in order to complete some and still have time to slip from the house before anyone else got up for the day.
It was difficult for him to focus, however. No matter how hard he tried to stay away and put her from her mind, he could not stop thinking of Miss Clifford for long. She lingered on the edge of his thoughts, haunting him throughout his waking hours and owning his dreams in the night.
No matter how hard he tried, how intent he was on keeping away from her, Miss Clifford had apparently dug her way so deep within him that he could not expel her completely. It did not help that when he returned to the manor after everyone had gone to bed, he stood outside her bedroom door and grappled with the thought of knocking.
So far, he had not done so…but he was beginning to worry that his willpower was waning.
With a frustrated groan, he dropped the papers on the desk next to him and turned to gaze out the large window. The sun was beginning to rise, which meant the house would be stirring. If he wanted to avoid running into Miss Clifford, he had best leave at that moment…
Movement down below caught his eye, and he looked to find Miss Clifford as though his unending thoughts of her had somehow summoned her. She was hurrying from the manor and making her way down the drive toward the road.
What in heaven’s name was she doing?
She glanced over her shoulder as if checking to see if anyone was following her. Edward was tempted to do so himself but knew he could not. She would no doubt spot him. However, he was going to lose sight of her soon as she would be blocked from view by the row of trees lining the end of the driveway.
Curiosity had him turning from the window and hurrying out of the room. He made his way down the hall toward a back staircase that led up to the attic. He climbed the narrow steps until he reached the very top of them and stepped out onto a landing with a door in front of him. He opened it and slipped into the attic.
He crossed the large, cluttered room to the arched window overlooking the front yard and driveway. He was high enough up that he could see past the trees to the road and spotted Miss Clifford standing and looking this way and that as though she were waiting for someone.
The question of who she was waiting for was answered a few minutes later when the postman came riding down the road. She spotted him and waved him over to her. Edward watched as the man stopped his wagon beside her and listened intently as she spoke to him.
After a few moments, the postman handed Miss Clifford something. Edward could not quite see what it was Miss Clifford had received from the man, but he remembered the letters she had been trying to hide when they were in the village together. Was she possibly receiving replies to those letters?
That was very likely the case, but why would she be going to such great lengths to hide the fact that she was receiving letters? Who was she corresponding with?
The postman continued on down the drive, presumably to deliver the rest of the estate’s mail, and Miss Clifford turned to follow after him, tucking whatever he had handed her into the pockets of her skirts.
Edward watched her for several moments more as she walked back toward the manor. When she disappeared from sight, he stayed standing at the window for a bit longer, considering what he should do next. There was a part of him that wanted to go and confront her. Demand to show him the letters. He knew, though, that he really had no right to do so. What had she actually done wrong? Was she not entitled to her privacy?
