“What did Mama have to say?”
“She didn’t say much at all, actually.”
“I’ll wager she thinks as I do.” Louisa sighed and cast a glance around the sitting-room. “It’s a pity they aren’t here. I should like to have seen them.”
“They, and the demonic duplicates, are due back from Myddleton tonight. Why don’t you stay over?”
Louisa laughed at Julian’s reference to the twins. “Don’t call them that!”
“Why not? It suits them. I simply cannot wait for their debut into society. Lord knows what kind of antics they’ll get up to. I suspect they’ll be in disgrace within a week of their arrival in London and the Northcott name will be forever tarnished. Your little episode in Richmond’s salacious study will pale by comparison.”
“Oh, I suspect Aunt Eleanor and Cousin Catherine will keep them in check.” She took a sip of tea. “And thank you, but no, I can’t stay. I told McKinney I’d be back before dark. If I don’t show, he’ll organize a search party. Besides, as much as I love it, Highfield is no longer my home.”
Julian frowned. “Highfield will always be your home, Louisa.”
“You know what I mean.” Not liking the sudden lump in her throat, she changed the subject. “I must tell you! Maxwell and I recently had a lovely trip to Knaresborough.” She then proceeded to describe their day and mentioned the visit to St. Giles House.
Julian looked unimpressed, perhaps even a little horrified. “What on earth would possess Harlow to take you to a place like that?”
“I wanted to see it. And it’s quite a nice place, all things considered.”
Julian huffed. “I still don’t think he should have allowed it. Those institutions are breeding grounds for illness. What if you’d caught something?”
“Well, I didn’t.” She drew breath to steady herself before continuing with her account. Maxwell had not been wrong when he’d said the visit had affected her. “It’s not your typical institution, Julian. Far from it. I did have a bit of an upsetting experience there, though. I can’t stop thinking about it.”
Julian sputtered and almost choked on his mouthful of biscuit. “Bloody hell, Louisa. Did one of them hurt you?”
“Oh, goodness, no, nothing like that. None of the residents are dangerous. Quite the contrary.” She told him the story of Samuel. “It truly was the strangest thing. To weep as he did, and then to speak to me when he’d never spoken to anyone before. It defies explanation.”
Julian pondered. “Do they get many female visitors at this place?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. I don’t think so. Family members, perhaps. Some of the volunteers are women, I think. And Jane visits regularly.”
“I suspect most of these women are well past their prime.”
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning, you’re probably the first attractive young woman he’s seen in years. Hence his reaction.”
Louisa shook her head. “I don’t think that’s it at all. He simply seemed happy to see me. There was no impropriety.”
“You said he held your hand.”
“Well, briefly, yes, but—”
“There you are then,” Julian said. “The poor fellow was thrilled to have some attractive female company. So much so, he shed a tear of gratitude and found the wherewithal to utter his first word in years.”
Louisa frowned at her brother’s flippancy. “Two words, actually.”
“What was the other one?”
“Gray.”
Julian set his cup down and brushed crumbs from his trousers. “Used in what context?”
She shrugged. “He just put both words together. Playgray.”
“Makes no sense.
