She nodded and turned back to the window. It hadn’t exactly been a conversation-filled journey. She’d tried talking to him on several occasions, simply to alleviate the boredom of travel, but he hadn’t asked any questions himself or volunteered any more information than was necessary, as if, like just now, he was reluctant to share certain aspects of his life. There had been a few times when she’d felt as though his eyes were on her, but every time she’d turned her head to confirm it, he’d been looking in another direction. Still, she was too grateful to him for bringing her to find fault, and his manner in general had been different since the evening they’d dined together. It still couldn’t exactly be described as warm, but it had thawed slightly. That was probably the best she could hope for.
Now that she was back in London, however, it was time to focus on the task in hand. She needed to start looking for answers, not just about the events leading up to their marriage, but about…well…the letters. As usual, her mind shied away from thinking about them, but with any luck she’d find some completely innocent explanation for their presence in her saddlebag. She really and truly hoped so, because otherwise…
Fortunately, their carriage slowed before her thoughts could start spiralling again, coming to a halt outside a honey-stonetownhouse. It was tall and elegant, much like the woman who came to greet them as they crossed the threshold, dressed in an elaborate peach and white striped day gown, her round face wreathed in smiles. It had to be Cassandra, Leo’s sister, Florence thought, although they looked nothing alike. Instead of dark hair, hers was a reddish shade of blonde, arranged in a tower of intricate plaits on top of her head that threatened to topple over as she sprang forward to embrace him.
‘There you are!’ The woman kissed him on both cheeks. ‘I was so surprised when I got your message. We didn’t expect you until tomorrow at the earliest.’
‘We made good time.’
‘And Florence.’ The woman turned to her with a concerned expression. ‘Leo mentioned your accident in his letter. What a dreadful experience for you. How are you feeling now? Has your memory returned at all?’
‘Um…’ Florence blinked uncertainly, taken aback by the woman’s familiar tone. ‘No, not yet.’
‘Then I ought to reintroduce myself. I’m Lady Brooke. Cassandra to my friends. Cassie to my family, which now includes you.’
‘It does?’ She blinked again. ‘I mean, yes, I suppose it does. Thank you.’
‘I just hope that your poor head hasn’t been jolted around too much by the journey. I can’t imagine what Leo was thinking, making you travel this far so soon after such a terrible accident.’
‘Oh, it was my idea.’ She interjected quickly. ‘I insisted. I thought that coming back to London might help me to remember.’
‘Well then, I shan’t scold him too severely, not about that anyway.’ Cassie smiled kindly. ‘Now come through to the drawing room and have some tea. My husband’s out at present, so it’s just me and—’
‘Uncle Leo!’
They’d barely gone a step before two identical small shapes came barrelling down a staircase, hurling themselves against Leo so violently, Florence was amazed the impact didn’t knock him off his feet.
‘Anthony! Patrick!’ Cassie clucked her tongue. ‘Honestly, anyone would think you were a pair of puppies, not young gentlemen. Let go of your uncle at once!’
‘Too late.’ Leo wrapped an arm around each of the boys’ waists, lifting them up into the air on either side of him. ‘I’ve got them now.’
‘Oh, for pity’s sake, you’re all as bad as each other.’ Cassie rolled her eyes before hooking a hand around Florence’s arm and drawing her onwards. ‘Those are my twins. They’re perfect monsters, always pretending to be each other to try and get out of trouble, so don’t let them fool you. Patrick has a small mark on his chin from when he fell down a step as an infant and Anthony can’t keep a straight face for more than five seconds at a time. I love them dearly, of course, but it’s a wonder my hair hasn’t turned white trying to keep them in line. Now, here we are. Make yourself comfortable.’ She stopped in the middle of a large, airy drawing room, decorated in assorted shades of blue, with a table in the centre holding a teapot and an impressive assortment of cakes. ‘As you can see, I ordered tea the moment I saw your carriage arrive. Do you care for milk or sugar?’
‘Both, please.’ Florence sat down on a turquoise sofa, her head spinning with bemusement. She’d spent the latter part of the journey growing increasingly anxious about the kind of reception she was going to receive from Leo’s family, anticipating hard stares and recriminations. Never in her wildest dreams had she expected cake, but Cassie seemed so warm and welcoming, so completely unlike her brother.
‘Why are you being so nice to me?’ she asked, blurting out the words before she could stop herself.
‘Why, what a funny question!’ Cassie picked up the teapot with a laugh. ‘You’re my new sister. Why wouldn’t I be nice?’
‘Because I’m not one of you.’ She jutted her chin out. ‘One of theton, I mean. My father is a gentleman farmer.’
‘And mine was a marquess.’ Cassie handed her a cup. ‘As well as a thoroughly unpleasant man. Believe me, I gave up caring about that sort of thing a long time ago.’
‘You did?’ Florence lowered her chin again. ‘Then what about what Leo says about me tricking him into marriage?’
‘Oh, yes, he told us about that on your wedding day, but it was all such a rush, I didn’t have a chance to question him properly.’ Cassie took a seat opposite. ‘We heard about the scandal at the Wadlows’ ball, of course, but he wouldn’t speak to anyone about it, just hid himself away afterwards. Then I was in the middle of eating breakfast one morning when he simply marched in and announced that he was getting married that morning. I barely had time to change my dress before we had to leave.’
‘So you came to our wedding?’
‘Of course. He’s my only brother.’
‘What was it like?’ Florence tilted her head quizzically. Somehow it had never occurred to her to be curious about it before.
‘Well…’ Cassie scrunched her mouth up for a moment, as if she was searching for the right words. ‘It was a little unusual, what with there only being the four of us: you, me, Leo and George.’
‘Oh.’ Florence dropped her gaze with a pang of dismay. She hadn’t expected Amabel to be there, but she’d thought the Wadlows might have been, if only for appearances’ sake.
‘But never mind that now.’ Cassie reached across to pat her knee. ‘I’m just so glad you’re back in London. You and Leo left so soon after the ceremony, we barely had a chance to exchange pleasantries. Now we can get to know each other properly.’ She gestured towards the table. ‘Let me recommend the Savoy cake. It’s absolutely delicious. My cook is worth her weight in gold.’
