Explaining the perils facing herself and Charlotte.
In truth, she was not certain Worthington would answer. He and George had not been getting on for some time before her husband’s death, and Pippa had scarcely seen or heard from him, aside from his obligatory presence at George’s funeral. Yet again, she wondered at the reason.
“Pippa, this man—whoever he is—will likely return.” Tilly’s eyes searched hers, worry evident in her countenance, her voice. “You cannot remain here alone with Charlotte.”
That was precisely what Northwich had said.
She had ignored him.
“The Scotland Yard detectives have poked about in George’s study, and they have not found anything of further use,” she said. “Chief Inspector Stone has also requested a stronger police presence in the area for the evenings. All shall be well.”
If only she believed those words.
“But what if whoever it was that forced his way into your home returns?” Tilly pressed. “What shall you do then?”
“You sound like Northwich,” Pippa grumbled, shrugging away from her friend’s touch and moving deeper into the gardens.
Her skirts snagged on the thorns of the rosebush, and in her haste to escape, she jerked them. The sound of rending fabric filled the air.Oh dear.But then, the gown had been one of George’s favorites. Perhaps she ought to see it cut up and fashioned into rags.
“You have torn your lovely gown,” Tilly observed, coming to stand at Pippa’s side yet again. “And if I sound like the duke, it is merely because I am concerned about you and Charlotte. He is concerned. As is Adrian. Everyone who cares about you is.”
Perversely, Pippa did not like that her friend held Northwich in such high esteem. And Northwichcaringabout her… She did not believe he did. Not some five years after they had first met. Perhaps he pitied her. That was far more likely.
But he had not kissed her as if he pitied her. Nor had he looked upon her as if he did. And his nonchalant suggestion they marry, could that have been spawned by pity? She wondered now, lost in a confused muddle of thoughts and fears.
As for caring for her?
Northwich had claimed to have lost his heart to her in Oxfordshire. But then he had gone on a lengthy trip to America to visit family, and although he had begged her to wait for his return, she had not. The remainder of the summer spent with George courting her, coupled with the truth he had revealed to her about his friend, had quite changed her mind. George had always known what to say, and she had fallen in love with his easy charm.
The despicable liar.
She wondered if he had even been capable of telling the truth at all.
She jolted herself from her musings.
“None of you need to worry,” she told Tilly, banishing the wayward thoughts, the unwanted longing, “and least of all the duke. As for the gown, it shall be mended.”
Her heart, however, would not.
Oh, George. What did you do?
“But we will continue to worry,” Tilly countered, her tone as stern as her expression. “Whomever George was involved with, and however they have discovered there may be evidence here incriminating them, you must take this matter very seriously. You do not have just yourself to fret over, but Charlotte as well. Will you not consider coming and staying with us at Haddon House for a time?”
And possibly endanger Tilly and her husband and their son? Never. She had already caused them far too much harm by failing to realize that George had been secretly aiding the Duke of Longleigh in his hideous desire to see Adrian sent to prison.
“I thank you for your offer, dearest friend, but I cannot accept,” she said. “You have endured far too much, and that partly down to my husband’s involvement in what befell your husband. I would not dream of imposing upon your hospitality now that I know the intruder was likely tied to George.”
“But Pippa, you know you are like a sister to me,” Tilly argued. “And Robby adores Charlotte. Only think of how much fun they would have together.”
Tilly’s son Robby was near in age to Char-char, and they did indeed get on together. However, Pippa knew she could not relent. The letters were gone from George’s study, in the hands of Scotland Yard where they belonged. There was nothing left for anyone to find.
“I do appreciate your concern and your offer both,” she told her friend gently. “And of course you are as dear to me as a sister as well. However, I do believe that whoever was here searching George’s study has already realized there is nothing left for him to find. He shan’t be back.”
If only she believed those words. Unbidden, the warnings of Chief Inspector Stone returned to her. He had advised a visit to the country.
“I am not so certain about that.” Tilly was frowning. “Pippa, please—”
“ButIam certain,” she interrupted. “Now, please do tell me more about the annual meeting of the Lady’s Suffrage Society.”
