“Don’t be ridiculous. I am coming in with you.”
She was hit with a flurry in her bosom, part gratitude, part apprehension. “There is no need, I assure you.”
“I’ll be the judge of that. Come.”
He picked up her hand and tucked it into his arm perforce. Why in the world he should take it upon himself to assume responsibility, Felicity could not imagine.
“I can’t think why you must needs be so masterful about it.”
One of his wry laughs came. “Am I being so?”
“Decidedly.”
“Long habit, I expect.”
She did not answer. They were approaching the rear entrance to the inn, and his lordship’s lackey slipped ahead to open the door, affording her a glimpse of the very different lifestyle a marquis held to that of a lowly schoolmistress. But the thought was fleeting as remembrance of her predicament returned.
The landlord was apologetic and obsequious, a circumstance Felicity at once attributed to the presence of Lord Lynchmere. Her room, it appeared, was no longer available for her use.
“I regret infinitely, madam, but I had not anticipated your return. I assumed, when his lordship paid his shot, that the whole party had departed.”
Aghast, Felicity stared at the man. “But my belongings! I had not packed. You cannot have allowed another to occupy the room!”
The landlord, a portly fellow, spread his hands. “Unfortunately, madam, this is indeed the case. I apprehend Lord Maskery appropriated anything left in your chamber since he and the — er — lady sent down several portmanteaux.”
The words began to dance in Felicity’s head, making no sense. She could not think. An image of the room as she had left it at the start of the evening played in her head, her personal accoutrements, meagre as they were, scattered about, her valise standing near the dresser, less than half its contents having been taken out.
“Allow me, Miss Temple.”
She had forgotten her escort, who had remained in the background while she questioned the landlord in the vestibule below the stairs. He moved past her to confront the landlord.
“I presume you have a lady wife? Fetch her, if you please.”
“Of course, of course, my lord.” The landlord bowed himself out of the vestibule, disappearing down a narrow hallway.
Felicity was beyond asking what Lord Lynchmere would be at. Numbness threatened to rob her of every faculty. She was hardly aware of speaking. “My things! If they are gone, I have nothing but the clothes on my back, and they are not mine.”
“How did you come by them? Maskery?”
There was no vestige of sympathy in his tone and, curiously, Felicity found its matter-of-factness bracing. The feeling of unreality began to recede. “Mrs Sprake furnished the gown. My undergarments are my own. The cloak too. But that is nothing to the purpose, sir. Clothes may be replaced, though how in the world —” She broke off and started again. “What I mean is there are personal items, mementoes, articles I cherish.”
The miniature of her mama and the locket with the curl of her own infant hair; Papa’s journal, which was all she had left of him now. If these were lost to her, then she was lost indeed.
“It may yet prove that your belongings have not been removed, Miss Temple. Or if they have, perhaps Maskery had at least the decency to secrete them somewhere. The landlady will know.”
The rise of grief engendered by the thought of her loss receded. “You suppose he may have left my valise with her? I cannot think it. The landlord must have known if he did.”
“Let us wait and see. One thing at a time, Miss Temple.”
It made sense, but all too many things were crowding into Felicity’s head all at once. If her valise was gone, she had no money either. What little coin she possessed was secreted in an old leather glove and a couple of stockings, pushed to the bottom of the case. She had now no means of travelling to Bath, let alone anything suitable to wear for the journey. Where was she to sleep? How was she to eat? The hideous truth came home to her.
“I am destitute.” She did not know she spoke aloud. “Why has he done this to me? To what end? If he meant to abandon me, why fetch me from the academy at all? Why not leave me there to earn my keep as I could? Instead, he has lured me with false promises and reduced me to penury. Why? I don’t understand.”
Two strong hands took her by the shoulders and Lord Lynchmere’s harsh tones struck at her. “Enough! Falling into hysterics will not help. All these questions may be addressed in due course. For this present, let us find out the position of affairs and then we will decide what to do.”
The panic began to leave her. She drew a breath and pulled herself out of his hold. “You are right, sir. I am glad you are here. I fear I have no choice but to throw myself upon your mercy. Or rather, that of your cousin, if she will be so good.”
“Now you are talking like a sensible woman. Angelica will be delighted. Nothing pleases her more than to run other people’s lives. She will embrace the challenge with alacrity.”
