‘It’s from Max!’ I said joyfully, all thoughts of Mr Hart instantly forgotten (indeed they had never really taken root as the words of my husband were the true emotional nourishment I desired).
Wanting privacy, I said I would read it in my room and flew up the double flight, my feet pounding on the stairs so loudly it was like an elephant ascending.How lovely of Max to write before receiving mine, I thought, jumping onto the bed.But now he shall get my letter from this morning, and I won’t have replied to anything he has written in his!
Breaking open the red wax seal, I eagerly scanned the contents of the letter.
My darling Fliss,
You will be in Bath by now, so I wanted to write a short note for you to receive on your arrival. How was your trip, dearest? I trust you did not suffer too much. I know how much you detest long carriage journeys. Have you been out in society already with Jane and met some nice people? Has Lucinda been a help or a hindrance? Only time will tell perhaps!
It is evening here, and you have been away for three days, and I know not what to do with myself. I miss you more than I can say, and any words I write here will not do my emotions justice. I have taken a little red wine as solace these past nights, and I may take a little more tonight. But do not worry. It is only to soothe the ache around myheart, and I will not fall victim to dependency. I will write again when I have received your first letter (or perhaps your second as our letters may now have crossed).
Love your Max x
PS: George sends his best whinny. The stable boy took him for a ride yesterday, but he refused to go any farther than the second paddock. He is no doubt missing you as much as I!
I frowned in concern when I read that Max had ‘taken a little red wine’. Oh dear, that did not bode well. I hoped itwasonly a little as I knew exactly what happened when Max partook of red wine in excess. The servants would not be impressed if he stumbled around the grounds singing badly.
Oh, Max! His angst at my absence was loud and clear from his letter, and I wished I was with him right this second—my husband needed me, Bath and its balls be damned!
But short of packing up my trunk and leaping into the next passing carriage to head north, there was nothing I could do about it. And I could not leave Lucinda now thatshe had attracted attention from an eligible young gentleman—my duties as a chaperone were more pressing than ever. All I could do was pray Max would receive my letter shortly and that it would put him back on an even keel.
Chapter 5
Luncheon was served promptly at one o’clock; and I helped myself to the selection of meat tart, cheese, thinly sliced bread and butter, and dressed salad from the sideboard. Everyone else at the table was tucking in too, and for a time, no one spoke as they were too busy eating.
Then Lucinda enquired politely, ‘How is Uncle Max, Aunty Fliss? Is he well?’
I took a sip from my glass of lemonade and deliberated. Taking up my cutlery again, I said ‘Quite well. Thank you for asking, Lucy.’
I decided it best not to mention his wine tipple.
‘And missing you, no doubt,’ said Jane, smiling at me from the other side of the table.
‘Perhaps. But it is understandable. We have not been apart for this many weeks since we were married.’
‘You won’t be able to go off on jaunts so easily when you begin having children, Felicity,’ remarked Elizabeth with a laugh. ‘At least not until they have grown somewhat or you have a trustworthy nanny, like Edward and me. Of course, we also have Jane’s dear sister, Cassandra, who haskindly offered to lend a hand while we are in Bath. You should write back to Max and remind him that he should relish his freedom while he can!’
Edward nodded in agreement. ‘Yes, I love our children dearly, but being away from them is a tonic for my ears.’ He smiled at his wife knowingly as only a father with a number of small children under six could.
Jane and I looked at each other. I had told her of Max and my decision to remain childless, and she approved wholeheartedly and did not judge me. It was not a secret as such, and she had undoubtedly told Cassie, but neither of them had let it slip to Elizabeth. For that, I was grateful. But now it was awkward, and I felt obliged to say something. But I had a feeling Elizabeth might choke on the cherry tomato she had just popped into her mouth if I told her the true state of our situation.
Fortunately, Lucinda, who was not privy to the information either, had been sitting quietly and now offered her own solution. ‘Should I write to Mama and suggest that Papa visit Uncle Max for a time? He does so love to go fishing with him.’
‘That is sweet of you to think of it, Lucy,’ I replied. ‘Yes, please do. I am sure Max would be glad of his brother’s company.’
It was a good idea. Tobias was pragmatic and would keepMax from brooding.
Lucinda smiled happily and said she was glad to be able to help. Jane suggested then that we visit the circulating library after luncheon. Elizabeth was neatly distracted with the thought of getting a romance novel for herself and something for Edward. ‘Oh yes, he does so enjoy comic novels. Don’t you, dear?’
Jane winked at me, and I sighed in relief.
The day was fair and perfect for an afternoon stroll. Queen Square was most pleasing to the eye, and the streets were busy, but not so much that we were jostled. Passers-by smiled and nodded, and one young man even doffed his hat to us.
We strolled two abreast—Elizabeth and Lucinda in front, the former chattering and looking in shop windows and the latter listening quietly but offering decisive opinions when asked for them.
I was glad my young niece had been accepted so readily by Jane’s relations and was proving to be a help and not a hindrance, as Max had wondered in his letter.
‘Lucy is most agreeable,’ whispered Jane. ‘I can see why your sister-in-law thinks she should marry.’
