"Clairegotoo?" the child asked, brightening.
"No," Jane said, kissing her. "Claire has to stay to keep Amy and Papacompany."
Claire stared backa her. Her thumb crept to her mouth. Jane smiled and set her gently down on the floor again. The child trailed after her when she crossed to the table where Amy sat looking at her.
"Aunt Jane," she said, "I don't want you to go."
Jane stooped down so that she was on a level with the child. "I have to go, Amy," she said. "But you will remember what I said last night, will you not? You are a very special little girl, and you are going to grow up to be a handsome lady."
"And you love me?" Amy asked, gazing anxiously up into Jane's eyes.
"And I love you, sweetheart." Jane laid a gentle hand along the child's cheek. "And remember that Papa loves you too.Even when he is sometimes cross with you.Papa will never stop loving you, no matter what happens."
"I don't want you to go," Amy said again, and her bottom lip thrust out and began to tremble.
Jane put her arms around the child and lifted her up. She could think of nothing to say that was both true and soothing. "I love you, precious," was all she said eventually as she put Amy down again and turned to leave.
"Amy cry?" she heard Claire say as she closed the door behind her.
Finally they were on their way. All their good-byes had been said, and the carriage was moving down the shady driveway. Jane closed her eyes, discouraging talk, though the move seemed unnecessary; Honor was unusually quiet.
She did not feel any pain. Not yet. She knew she would soon. And it was going to be a dreadful pain because there was no hope in it. No hope for anything but a long and dreary future. But she could feel nothing now. There was just too much to be felt. Her mind and her heart could not cope with the load, but had mercifully decided not to function at all.
There was the good-bye she had said to the children, the final parting from Joseph. And of course there was the fact that she had not seen Michael that morning. She had known she would not see him. It would have been too dreadful if she had. But still there had been the threatening panic when the time appointed for the arrival of the carriage approached and he had not appeared. And then the carriage had been there, and Joseph and Joy and Lord Dart had crowded around them, the men handing them inside.And then the departure.And no Lord Fairfax.
Well, it was over now. Better to have it over, the worst known and in the past. However bad the pain would be when it finally hit her, she was at least on the road to recovery. Nothing could possibly happen to her in the future worse than what had happened in the last few weeks. That knowledge was some comfort, Jane supposed.
She pulled off her bonnet and tossed it onto the seat opposite. At least they would travel in comfort.And in safety.Lord Fairfax was sending two servants as outriders in addition to the coachman and footman who rode with the carriage. She looked around her at the opulent luxury of the green velvet interior.His carriage.She would still have this slim contact with him for the rest of today and much of tomorrow. She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes again. He must have sat in this very place numerous times.
Honor sat very still, her hands clasped in her lap, her eyes watching the trees outside the window.
Sedgeworthtapped on the library door and opened it to peer inside. "Are you busy, Fairfax?" he asked. "Oh, Amy is here, is she? Is this a private interview? Shall I take myself off?"
"No," Fairfax said. "Come in, Sedge." He was sprawled in a leather chair close to the marble fireplace, Amy on his lap, her head against his chest,onehand playing with the buttons on his waistcoat. "Are you feeling better, poppet? Do you want to go back upstairs while I talk with Uncle Joe?"
She buried her face against her father for a moment but climbed obediently from his knee and left the room.
"I feel like a fish out of water already,"Sedgeworthsaid. "You did not come out to see them on their way, Fairfax?" It was a quite unnecessary question.
"How could you let her go on her own with only her cousin for company?" Fairfax asked. "I fully expected you to go too, Sedge."
"With whom?"Sedgeworthasked guardedly.
"She is your betrothed," Fairfax said. "I would have thought your place was with her, especially on a long journey, even if you do feel some obligation to stay with your sister here."
Sedgeworthfrowned, puzzled. "You are talking about Jane?" he asked. "She did not tell you?"
"Tell me what?" Fairfax went very still.
"She asked to be released from our engagement yesterday and decided that she must leave today,"Sedgeworthsaid.
Fairfax was sittingfowardin his chair. "Your betrothal is at an end?" he said. "Why, for God's sake?"
"I naturally assumed that Jane would have told you when she came to inform you that she was leaving today,"Sedgeworthsaid. "What reason did she give you?"
"She didn't," Fairfax said. His face was tense."Why the end to the betrothal, Sedge?"
Sedgeworthgave his friend a measuring look. "I rather gathered that she loved another man," he said.
