Jane, as I knew she would, reacted instantly. ‘Flissy!Whatever is it?’
‘The baby—I think it might be on its way. Owwww!’ I cried, hoping I sounded suitably anguished. Everyone gasped.
Elizabeth, by now realising that I was creating a drama on purpose, flapped around and gathered her guests into motion, saying it was bad timing, but that they would have to leave immediately as Mrs Fitzroy appeared to be in labour. Henrietta looked most put out, but how could she argue with an impending birth?
‘Mr Hart, please can you assist me in taking Flissy upstairs?’ asked Jane.
‘Of course!’ They both took an arm and led me through the midst of the ladies, who murmured ‘Good luck!’ and ‘Hope it goes well’.
For dramatic effect, I let out a loud garbled scream and bent over as if another contraction was hitting me, and everyone drew back. If it wasn’t so imperative that Mr Hart was extricated, I thought I might burst out laughing at the looks of horror on their faces. But I managed to keep a straight face. All of them had children, so they obviously knew what I was in for.
I kept up the act until I was safely in my room as some of the ladies had ventured into the entranceway and were calling encouragement—‘Stay strong’ and ‘The pain is worthit’—up the stairs.
When the door closed behind us, I was practically lifted onto the bed by an anxious Mr Hart. He stood there, wringing his hands. ‘Shall I ride for the doctor, Mrs Fitzroy? Or I can ask the maid to boil some water? Oh, do let me know how I can assist!’
Lying on my back, I looked over at Jane. ‘Can you unlace my corset? I’m having a hard time breathing,’ I gasped.
Mr Hart turned away as she helped me to remove the padded garment. Taking a few gulps of air, I felt a lot better and several stone lighter without that bulk on top of me.
Turning back, Mr Hart saw me now sitting up and decidedlynotwith child. ‘What on earth!’ he exclaimed.
‘As you can see, Mr Hart’, said Jane, ‘Flissy isn’t expecting. She is only giving the illusion of it. Excellent acting, by the way.’
‘Thank you,’ I said, smiling at her. ‘That was rather fun.’
‘B-but why?’ Mr Hart looked at us as if we were both mad.
‘There is a good reason for it,’ I said. ‘But we cannot tell you.’
Mr Hart shook his head. ‘Oh no, not after that performance. If you can pull a stunt like that, I’ve a good mind not to believe you about Lucinda returning to York. Ireceived a letter from this address written by her very hand. Sheishere, isn’t she? Is she ill? I demand to know and will not leave the room until you tell me. And if you do not, I will search the house and grounds until I find her!’
Striding across the room, he stood in front of the door with his arms folded, effectively barring it.
Oh dear, I thought.Shades of Dorian indeed.
‘Calm yourself, Mr Hart,’ I said. ‘Lucy is well, or she was this morning when I checked on her. You can see for yourself shortly. We just have to wait until Elizabeth’s guests have gone.’
Jane stared at me, and I shrugged. ‘If he is determined to search the house and grounds, he will find her anyway.’
Mr Hart brightened. ‘Aha! I knew it! So she is here?’
‘Yes,’ I told him. ‘But you should prepare yourself. She is not the same Lucy as when you last saw her.’
He had to be content with that as I would not say any more. A short while later, Elizabeth knocked on the door and called out that it was all clear. Reluctantly, I had Jane lace me into my padded corset again in case there were curious servants around. I could notwaitfor Lucinda to give birth so I didn’t have to keep waddling around like this.
Mr Hart relented and let us leave the room, and we met Elizabeth on the landing. ‘Your ruse worked, Felicity,’ she said. ‘Everyone was most impressed. Mark mywords, it will be the talk of the county: the woman who gave birth at a tea party!’
I frowned at her. ‘We are supposed to be avoiding society, not giving them a reason to talk about us!’
She inclined her head towards Mr Hart. ‘What have you told him?’
‘Nothing. But he knows I’m not expecting. He wants to see Lucy.’
Elizabeth pulled a face.
‘It is fine. I said he can. And it appears she wanted him to find her. Otherwise, she would not have written to him.’
Elizabeth sighed. ‘Well then, you had better come with us, Mr Hart.’
