“What is it, James?”
“You’re wanted, Miss. We’ve been searching all over for you. Mr Lomax is here.”
“Very well, James. Go back to the house and tell them we are on our way.”
“Shall I leave the umbrella for you, Miss? It’s still raining pretty hard.”
“You keep it, James. I am already wet, and there is no point in you getting soaked through as well.”
He went off, and Winnie turned to Walter. “We shall have to go, at least, I shall. If he is here, I must see him, I suppose.”
“Yes, it cannot be avoided now, but…” He looked suddenly anxious. “You will not… take him back?”
“Heavens, no! I should not have done so, no matter what, but… everything is different now, is it not?” She blushed, for some reason overcome with shyness.
He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her. “Everything is different. The world is a fine place this morning, I find. Whatever your parents may think about it, we are engaged to be married, I have the woman I love in my arms and I could not be happier. If I were to cut myself, I think I should ooze happiness instead of blood. Oh, Winnie, to think I never realised what I was missing until Lomax came along. I shall be forever grateful to him for that.”
“Then so shall I be, too. I suppose we cannot be married soon?”
“No. Your father is quite right about that. I still have an allowance from my father, and the house he made ready for me when I was betrothed to Bea, but it is not enough to support a wife in comfort. I should hate you to have to scrimp and go without anything, my dear one. Your uncle thinks he can arrange employment for me. He is very pleased with my progress, you know, so it seems I am not useless at everything, after all. In time, I shall be earning enough for us to marry. Can you wait, do you think?”
“Walter, I have waited ten years for you, so another year or two is neither here nor there. But I must go and face Mr Lomax.I cannot keep him waiting any longer. If we run all the way, perhaps we will not get so wet?”
They ran, holding hands and giggling like children, their joy so irrepressible that it could not be contained. They raced up the steps to the front door, which stood open, and burst into the hall, still laughing.
Maynard smiled paternally at them, but Mama stormed out of the book room on wings of wrath.
“Wherever have you been, Winnie? Mr Lomax has been here for nearly an hour. And look at the state of you! Quite disgraceful! Upstairs with you at once, and make yourself respectable.”
By this time, Winnie had extricated herself from her dripping cloak and handed it to James. “Is Mr Lomax in the book room? I shall see him at once.”
“You will not go near him in that disgusting state. I am quite ashamed of you. Go upstairs and change. Martha has laid out the green twill for you, and Harding will help you dry your hair. As for you, Walter, you are not wanted here. Kindly remove yourself from the hall. Go, Winnie, go! At once!”
“No, Mama. It would be unconscionable to keep Mr Lomax waiting any longer. What I have to say to him will not take long.”
“Winnie, go upstairs this instant! I insist.”
“I am very sorry to disobey you, Mama, but no.”
And so saying, she marched, head high, straight past her appalled mother and into the book room. Her father jumped up, relief written plainly on his face. Mr Lomax leaned against the mantel, just as he had before he had proposed to her. Then she had thought his pose suggested eagerness or perhaps nerves. Now she thought it predatory. Still, she need not fear him, and his shock when he saw her, drenched from head to toe, was amusing.
Before she could speak, Mama rushed in. “I must apologise for my daughter, Mr Lomax. She is too eager to see you to take the time to make herself respectable.”
“I can apologise for myself, Mama,” Winnie snapped. “Mr Lomax, pray forgive my dishevelled appearance, but I would not for the world hold you here a moment longer than necessary.”
“I should not mind waiting,” he said faintly. “Whatever has happened to you, Winifred? You are normally as neat as a new pin.”
“My name is Winnie, and no, this is very much my usual appearance. Perhaps not quite so unkempt, and definitely not so wet, but I am not as a rule a tidy person.”
“But it was what first drew my notice to you,” he said plaintively. “So neatly dressed, and stylish, too, yet that gown…”
“Has seen better days, yes. It is one of my old morning gowns. I usually change before you arrive. What does it matter? Clothes are not important.”
“Clothes are not important?”
For a moment, she was in genuine fear that he might swoon away altogether, for he swayed alarmingly and his face was unnaturally pale. Where were the nearest smelling salts? Mama might have some… or Lily…
“Winnie,” Mama said, tugging at her sleeve, “now that you have seen how your appearance distresses poor Mr Lomax, will you not consider his feelings and tidy yourself a little?”
