Seraphina allowed the ghost of a smile now that things were slotting nicely into place. She inclined her head to me.Yes, you may like me now after I have made the effort to arrange everything for Lucy and will be raising your grandchild,I thought snarkily. But I kept my opinion to myself. Seraphina being somewhat pleasant to me was an improvement on her biting my head off.
‘That is excellent news indeed. We are making progress,’ Mr Chadwick concurred. ‘I have also been busy drafting a contract. After it has been reviewed, all that remains is for everyone to sign it.’
‘Thank you for your quick work, Mr Chadwick,’ said Max. ‘There are of course some finer details that need to be discussed about what happens next. Felicity will be writing to her family to let them know of her “condition”—her sister, Harriet, who is currently staying at Ashbury Manor in Steventon and her father and aunt, who live nearby. Since her aunt is good friends with the postmistress there, I have no doubt the news will spread quickly around the town.’
I nodded in agreement. ‘Mrs Sutton isnot known for her discretion.’
Lucinda clutched my arm in concern.
‘But it is nothing to be worried about. Indeed, any attention Fliss receives diverts it nicely from you, Lucy. You will not be suspected in the slightest,’ Max said, and her grip relaxed a little.
‘Yes, all you need to worry about is keeping well and taking care of yourself when we are back at home, darling,’ interjected Seraphina from the opposite couch. ‘But I can make sure of that.’
Lucinda’s grip tightened on my arm again, and I felt a bit sorry for her.
‘You should not go out of your way to be concerned about Lucy’s health,’ I warned Seraphina. ‘Otherwise, Tobias will start asking questions.’
‘Speaking of which’, said Max, glancing at his sister-in-law with a frown, ‘howareyou going to manage Tobias? I personally think you should tell him.’
I thought she should too. But again, I kept my mouth closed, not wanting to break the fragile goodwill between us.
Seraphina didn’t say anything. But from her drawn brows, firm-set mouth, and heaving bosom, she seemed to be struggling internally.
‘Youdo not have to decide now, Mrs Fitzroy,’ said Mr Chadwick, his calm voice acting like a soothing balm. Seraphina took a deep breath, and her countenance relaxed slightly. I realised then that she outwardly liked to appear strong, but inside, she was actually quite afraid.
‘I assume the reason that you wish to keep Miss Fitzroy’s condition from your husband is that he will be very angry?’ the lawyer asked, astutely ascertaining the situation. ‘And that he might take matters into his own hands, to his detriment?’
Seraphina nodded. ‘My husband is like a snorting bull when he becomes angry. There is no telling what he will do. I’m worried that he’ll track down Mr Hart and strangle him with his bare hands. I do not want my last glimpse of him to be swinging from the gallows, Mr Chadwick.’
‘Ah, I understand. So it is not surprising then that you wish to keep his daughter’s condition a secret from him. But as her condition advances, it becomes more risky,’ Mr Chadwick explained.
‘What if Seraphina and Lucy come to us for several weeks before we journey to Godmersham?’ I suggested. ‘That is something not too out of the ordinary.’
‘But what if Tobias wants to come too?’ said Seraphina, looking doubtful.
‘Then you will have to think of something to put him off,’ replied Max. ‘Tell him I am going to visit a friend for a couple of weeks and will not be at home. I doubt he will want to come if it is only women here.’
Seraphina nodded slowly, appeased.
Lucy spoke up. ‘What about Harrington?’
‘What about him?’ asked Seraphina irritably, like he was the last thing we should be concerned about.
‘I should like to be honest with him, Mama, about my condition. To remain quiet is a deception I cannot bear.’
‘Are you mad, girl?’ exclaimed Seraphina before any of us could get a word in. ‘I thought we had settled this. If you tell him, you will lose him. There is no doubt in my mind. And he may notify his scoundrel brother to take responsibility. Do you want to be married to a good-for-nothing rogue? No, it is out of the question! Harrington, like Tobias, can never find out.’
‘B-but what if he proposes?’
‘Then you shall accept. And speak nothing of the past—it is your cross to bear. You will not be the first woman to keep a secret from her husband.’
Seraphina did not direct her attention to me upon saying this, but I shifted uncomfortably on the sofa nonetheless, feeling like she had.
‘And if you “cannot bear” it, as you say, then you shouldnot respond to his letters,’ she continued. ‘He will soon take the hint. Not having him as a husband at all is preferable, especially with his connections to that abominable scoundrel. I will find you someone more suitable in York once this is all over. Perhaps one of the young men I initially passed over will do.’
Lucinda bit her lip and looked away.Oh dear,I thought.Seraphina might have a struggle on her hands if she tries to separate them.
However, the subject turned to when they should come to us.
