Rosa looked from one to the other, then said, “Lady Celia did not stir while he was in her room, pawing through her desk drawers.”
Jasper came into the room then and demanded, “What is going on? What the devil are you doing in there, Jude?”
“I left something up here.” Mr. Dalby turned cool eyes on Anne. “I told you I’d forgotten something, did I not?”
“Yes, but—”
“There you have it. And as I have not found what I came for, I shall leave.”
Rosa pressed her lips tight, perhaps struggling not to lash out at the man.
Jasper said sternly, “I think that’s a good idea.” He turned back to Rosa. “Please forgive the intrusion, Miss Stark. And do not hesitate to let me know ifanyonebothers you again.”
Rosa managed a small, silent nod.
When the two men had gone, Anne looked at Rosa in concern.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, thanks to you. I am so glad you came when you did.”
“I was not sure you would appreciate the interruption, but you sounded distressed.”
“I was,” Rosa replied. “He did not appreciate the interruption, but I certainly did.”
“Tell me what happened.”
“I thought it would be a quiet evening. But first Miss Fitzjohn came up and began looking through her mother’s desk and side table. I was in here reading, but I’d left the door open to listen for Lady Celia, so I watched her though the gap. I didn’t know whether to say anything or not, so I remained hidden.”
“Did she find what she was looking for?”
“She took a small bundle of what looked like letters with her. And something blue. A cup or maybe a vase. I didn’t see it well.”
“Ah.”The letters and blue vase, Anne realized, then said, “She looked lovely by the way. You have quite a way with hair.”
“Thank you.”
“Then?” Anne prompted.
“She had been gone for maybe half an hour when the door to Lady Celia’s room opened again. I crept to the door and looked, and this time it was Mr. Dalby. At first I froze, wondering if he might be coming to tell me he’d changed his mind, or to apologize. Instead, he too began looking through Lady Celia’s desk. Then he stepped toward her bed....”
Anne’s stomach clenched. “What did he do?”
“He leaned down as though to speak in her ear, or perhaps to kiss her cheek. I don’t know because I accidentally leaned against the door and it creaked open. He jerked upright and turned. I suppose it was deceitful of me, but I pretended to be surprised to find him in the room and apologized for intruding. He did not explain what he was looking for. Said something about coming up to look in on his aunt as a guise for seeing me. For a moment, I was pleased. Then I saw the look in his eyes. I retreated, saying I had some sewing to finish, and he followed me. I promise it was not an invitation.”
“I believe you. Did you tell him about Robbie?”
“No. When I resisted his advances he grew irritated. In the mood he was in, I knew that news would not be well received. How naïve I was. I know I should not have given in to him before, but I sincerely believed he loved me.” She gave a bitter laugh. “Only later did I learn he was already married—that he had made all those empty, beautiful promises knowing full well he could not keep them....”
“All that, and yet you remain here. Why?”
Rosa shrugged, eyes distant. “For my son’s sake. In the slim hope that he might yet have a father. Now I realize how wrong I was to think a man who could lie so well, who would use someone so deceitfully, could ever be a good husband or father.”
“Now you know, will you leave Painswick Court?”
“Soon. But first I want to do something.”
Worry rose. “Do ... what?”
