Life changing.
Had it been the same for him? How could it not have been? Only he was a man, and he’d obviously known what he was doing. Nerves replaced some of her euphoria as she descended the stairs of the small farmhouse.
Aubrey dismissed them. He would reassure her, most certainly, when they could be alone again.
Mr. Dog jumped at her legs as she entered the kitchen.
“Good morning, Mrs. Bateman. Let me get you some tea. Such a shame Mr. Bateman was called away. And on your wedding trip, no less.”
Aubrey shook her head, uncertain that she’d heard the woman correctly. “Called away?”
Mrs. Wooten nodded, but then turned to look at her questioningly. “Said he’d gotten word of problems at his estate. Surely he told you?”
Feeling as though she’d been punched in the stomach, but not wanting to be pitied, Aubrey nodded. “Yes, oh, yes, of course. I’ll just check with Mr. Daniels to see about the carriage.” She lifted Mr. Dog into her arms and almost as though she was in a daze, walked to the door and stepped outside. The small kitchen suddenly seemed to lack enough air for her to breathe properly.
He would appear from behind the barn or walk up behind her. Mrs. Wooten had to have been mistaken.
Preencess…
“I would not leave you without a word. I would not leave without saying goodbye, surely you realize this?”
She had believed him. Why would he leave her now? After the night they had shared.
It must be a mistake. It must be!
“I would not do that to you.”
She walked all around the house and around the barn and then inside the barn. She even walked into the field a bit, toward the road.
He was nowhere.
She would check the barn again. Mrs. Wooten must be wrong.
When she stepped through the large doors, this time she was greeted with sounds and her heart lifted until she realized it was Mr. Daniels who had returned with the repaired carriage.
“Is… Mr. Bateman with you?” She hated to ask. Hecannot have left.
Mr. Daniels glanced up. “He acquired a horse in the village. Left before sunup. Will you be ready to leave shortly, Mrs. Bloomington? We’ve a brand new wheel. Shouldn’t have any trouble with it.”
Mrs. Bloomington.
Her heart dropped to the soles of her feet.
Mr. Daniels paused in what he’d been doing and gave her a hard look. “You will be ready to leave today?”
What if he returned for her? What if he made it to London, and then to Margate, and then realized he’d made a mistake? An irrational part of her thought that as long as she waited for him here, there would be hope.
But he had never given her any reason to believe that he would promise himself to her. She shook her head. “He left without saying goodbye.”
The expression on Mr. Daniels face changed to one of pity. “Probably for the best, if you don’t mind my saying so. Wouldn’t have looked good for you to arrive in London, unchaperoned, with a gentleman companion.”
He was right. Aubrey knew that Mr. Daniels was right. Was he going to tell Winifred and Milton upon his return to Rockford Beach? Likely, he would. They would surely think she’d given herself fully over to the devil.
And perhaps, in a way, she had.
Chapter 13
Aubrey
