“So soon! But what about my wedding clothes?” Winnie said fretfully.
“I imagine your Aunt Sofia would be delighted to help out there,” Walter said. “Yorkshire seamstresses are excellent in their way, but they cannot compete with a London modiste.”
“My head is in a spin,” Winnie said. “I had resigned myself to a long engagement, and now you are quite sweeping me off my feet, Walter.”
He chuckled. “Perhaps I shall do so in earnest, then, and get a licence from York. We could be married before the end of the week.”
“Oh, let me at least catch my breath! The banns will do very well. And now I must get back to the stillroom and see how my evil brew is getting on.”
“Very well, child,” her uncle said. “The post has arrived, so Walter and I have matters to attend to, but I shall not keep him for long. You will have much to discuss, I am sure.”
She reached up to kiss him on one cheek, then demurely curtsied before leaving the room. Her head was so agreeably occupied with her changed circumstances that she entered thehall at a rush, only to stop short in outright horror at the figure standing there, making a delicate adjustment to his cravat in the mirror above the fireplace.
“Mr Lomax! What on earth are you doing here?”
He spun round, seemingly just as shocked to see her. “Winifred! Miss Strong… I did not… I thought…”
“Truly, you are wasting your time, sir,” she said acidly. “I wish you would give up this idea and go home to Oxfordshire.”
His face drooped. “Do you think so? But I thought… ah, Sir Hubert!” He turned to Papa in relief as he emerged from the book room with Maynard.
“Ah, yes, Lomax. I have been expecting you. Do come in. Not to worry, Winnie, this is not about you.”
“Then what—?”
“Your mother will explain it all. This way, Lomax.”
The two men disappeared into the book room, leaving Winnie bewildered and not a little angry. What was he doing here, after she had sent him away so decisively? And what would Mama explain?
Behind her, Maynard gave a discreet cough. “You will find Lady Strong in the drawing room, madam, together with Miss Lily, and Mr and Mrs Plaister.”
The drawing room. Very well, then.
Maynard opened the door for her, and she swept in, quite prepared to do battle, but was disconcerted to see William Plaister stretched out on the floor in his shirt sleeves, rolling a ball back and forth to Prudence. On the sofa, Mama and Hebe sat side by side, poring over a newly arrived journal, while Lily worked on her tapestry. It was a scene of such domesticity that Winnie could not help smiling, her mood softening instantly. How could she be cross with Mr Lomax when she had her own lovely family about her, and a wonderful future in prospect?
So her tone was mild as she said, “Mama, why is Mr Lomax come—” But one glance at Lily’s sudden change of expression told her the truth. “Oh,Lily!So that was what Papa meant.”
“Is he here?” Lily said breathlessly. “You have seen him?”
“I met him in the hall. He is with Papa now. I suppose I can guess what is afoot.”
Lily jumped up, thrusting her tapestry roughly into her workbox and rushed across the room to take Winnie’s hands. “You do not mind, do you? You do not want him yourself, whereas I…” She blushed, and looked at her feet.
“You have always admired him, have you not?”
“Oh,yes!He is everything that a man ought to be, in my view. So handsome, so finely dressed, and so much elegance in his manner! He is wonderful, Winnie, and… and he seems to like me, too.” Again, she blushed.
“You will not cast any rub in their way,” Mama said, and it was not a question.
“No, not if you and Papa can overlook his previous behaviour. He called me… bad things, and insulted you, too.”
“Mr Lomax was overwrought,” Mama said firmly. “He has impressed me with his sincere repentance for his previous outburst. He was very shocked, that must be his excuse.”
Winnie could not excuse him quite so readily, but there was no point in arguing. “Then if he is what Lily wants… but, dearest, do you not mind that his mother will live with you?”
“No, indeed, I shall be very glad to have the benefit of her greater experience. You know how I have always depended upon Mama for guidance, and now I shall have a source of wisdom even when I am married.IfI am married! Oh, how long will it take? I cannot bear the waiting.”
Maynard came in to summon Mama to the book room, and as the door closed behind her, Lily turned pleading eyes on Winnie.
