“Janet is wrong about him, Hattie, totally wrong,” she said, with solid conviction. “And frankly, even though we’re currently residing beneath her roof, my relationship with him is none of her business. I think her opinions and fears are misplaced, and I cannot help but wonder why she refuses to believe otherwise. Might it have something to do with what happened to her all those years ago? I confess I find it odd that she never remarried.”
Hattie’s cheeks colored slightly. “It’s possible. It’s a bit of a long story, to be honest, and it’s not my place to elaborate on it. Suffice to say, certain events took place which broke her heart.”
“Which is sad, indeed,” Annie replied. “But it makes no sense to assume that what happened to her will also happen to me.”
“When it comes to heartbreak, it already has, pet.” Hattie shrugged. “Well, in a way.”
Annie shook her head. “Leo’s behavior shocked and disappointed me, but he didn’t break my heart. The collective circumstances of that awful day broke my heart. In any case, I refuse to believe that Julian Northcott is anything less than an honorable man, and while I’ll be forever grateful to Janet for allowing us into her home, I think it’s time to consider moving back to the city.”
“Oh, no.” Hattie pressed a hand to her chest. “No, please, Annie, it’s not what you… I mean, I’m certain Janet doesn’t want you to leave. I have no doubt the inspector would urge you to stay here as well, for the time being at least.”
Frowning, Annie rubbed her temple. “Forgive me if I sound ungrateful, Hattie, but I’m getting a little tired of being herded. So far, I’ve followed everyone’s well-meant advice and done exactly as I’m told. I’ll grant you, it was probably all for the best, but things have been said today that lead me to believe we’ve outstayed our welcome here. Besides, all this nonsense really isn’t fair on Janet. She’s done more than enough, I think. That being so, I intend to write to Archibald Mason and ask him not to renew the lease at the end of September, so we can move back home. In the meantime, I’ll ask him to find a suitable place for us to rent in the city.”
“Annie, love, please reconsider.” Hattie moved closer, her gaze intent. “It’s been a strange day. An extraordinary day. Not a day to make rash decisions. I guarantee you’re not thinking straight right now and neither is Janet. At least wait till there’s news on the whereabouts of Leopold De Witte before you even consider returning to London.”
“Wait for how long?” Annie threw her arms wide. “How much time should I allow before I consider it ‘safe’ to return to London? A month? Six months? A year? No, I’m sorry, but I refuse to be cowed by an irrational fear. And I totally resent the implication I’m not good enough to be taken seriously by a man like Julian Northcott.”
“You misunderstand, pet,” Hattie replied, softly.
“If I do, it’s only because the reasoning makes no sense.”
“Janet is worried about you. That’s all.”
“Well, she has an odd way of showing it.” Stifling a sigh, Annie wandered over to the rain-spattered window, hugging herself as she gazed out at the lane and the fields beyond. Despite Janet’s assumptions, Hattie’s opinions, and Inspector Taggart’s suspicions, Annie’s optimism would not be subdued. Extraordinary didn’t quite sum up the day. It had been unimaginable. Pivotal. A day she would never forget. The persistent shadows of uncertainty and apprehension had all but dissipated. In their place was a promise of happiness and a future she’d only ever dreamed of. Right now, as earlier, she wanted nothingmore than solitude. A quiet place to revisit, over and over, all that had happened since that morning. Specifically, her time spent with Julian Northcott and his family.
“I need to think,” she said. “I’m going upstairs for a while.”
“But luncheon is almost ready.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“But you haven’t eaten since breakfast.”
“I’m not hungry, Hattie.”
Hattie scowled. “Now you’re being childish.”
“No, I’m simply doing what I actually want to do.” Annie went to the door and opened it. “You’re right. It’s been an extraordinary day. That being so, I’d like some quiet time to consider all it has held. I’ll be down for dinner, I promise.”
Chapter Fifteen
Friday dawned ina more agreeable mood than its Thursday predecessor, though gray skies lingered. The endless crunch of carriage wheels on gravel began mid-morning as a variety of guests arrived at Myddleton House, resulting in a fluctuating wall of wooden and leather luggage outside the confines of the portico.
Julian, who’d barely slept a wink, stood in the window of his aunt’s private sitting room and observed the proceedings. Or at least, that was the impression he gave. In truth, his mind was otherwise occupied with thoughts of Annabelle. He wondered if she’d lain awake as well, and what she might be doing at that moment, and was she thinking of him as he was thinking of her.
Evie’s voice, laced with a hint of impishness, meandered into his ear. “Are you waiting for someone special, brother dear? You’ve been standing there for ages.”
“Not particularly,” he replied, and then corrected himself. “Well, actually, since you took the time to ask, yes, I am. I’m looking forward to seeing Uncle Edmund and the cousins. We haven’t all been together since Christmas. What about you, Evie? Is there a secret beau’s name somewhere on Aunt Eleanor’s guest list? There better hadn’t be.”
“Wouldn’t admit it if there was.” She wrinkled her nose at him, turned back to the window, and parted with an exaggerated gasp. “Oh, now, justlookat this next arrival. What an impressive conveyance! The matched set of grays is absolutely splendid, don’t you think?Mmm, that crest is awfully familiar, too. I’m sure I’ve seen it somewhere before. Whose is it, I wonder? Help me out here, Jules.”
Julian watched as the Whitcombe carriage drew to a halt beneath the portico. “You’re beyond help, Evie,” he replied, somewhat surprised Miss Aitken’s arrival had not stirred his conscience in some way. Then again, he’d done nothing to justify any kind of self-castigation. No promises made, no obligations pending. If anything, he felt a measure of relief knowing he had not committed himself, despite the subtleties of parental and peer pressure. He had little doubt there’d soon be a private discourse between the respective parents, during which time a certain situation would be made clear.
“Seriously, though,” his sister continued, “aren’t you looking forward to telling Miss Aitken she’s no longer suited?”
“Evie Beatrice Northcott, for shame!”
Julian glanced over his shoulder to see his mother approaching, her face wearing a rarely-seen scowl. “Oh, you’re in for it now, missy,” he muttered, giving Evie a nudge. “And rightly so.”
