“You are a wicked old woman,” Aubrey said in admiration as everyone dissolved into laughter.
Hatherley Hall, Little Valentine, 19thJanuary 1816
Aubrey did not linger over breakfast, eager to call upon Alice. The more he considered the idea of her breaking into Lord Jefferson’s house, the less he liked it. She might have more experience of these matters than he liked to consider, especially as she’d stolen the diamonds from his uncle’s house single-handed, which was grander even than Jefferson’s, but he still felt sick at the idea of her putting herself in such danger. Yet, if Silas Mourney got there first, they would lose the diamonds and Alfie would be implicated. That could not happen.
“Howard, my grandmother said you had post for me?” Aubrey mentioned as the butler brought out his coat and hat.
“Indeed. Here, sir,” Howard replied with a smile, handing over a small stack of correspondence. “Your father collectedthem from your rooms in town as you requested and sent them on.”
“Jolly good, thank you,” Aubrey said, glancing at the top envelope which looked to be a bill from his tailor. At a glance, the others were invitations, but he’d take a proper look later and stuffed them into his coat pocket. For now, he wanted to see Alice.
The pretty town looked lovelier than ever to Aubrey’s gaze as he strode down the hill past the rows of little half-timbered houses, the ever-present expanse of blue sea a stunning backdrop on such a day. Nodding at now familiar faces, Aubrey wondered what it might be like to live in such a place. He had assumed he would move to the country when he married, for in truth he preferred such a life, though regular trips to town for the theatre and such entertainments as he enjoyed would mean he’d prefer not to go too far afield. A sudden image of him and Alfie out on the town in London made him grin, what larks they might kick up together. He could easily imagine going for a drink with Alfie, or to the music hall, and the idea was more than a little appealing, but living in town all year was not. Alice and Lill had settled in Little Valentine after all, and it might be just the place to remain. Especially as Nat had decided to build a house in the area. That might be the best idea. With Alfie a regular part of their lives, they would do well to live in a more secluded location, a little apart from the village. He wondered what Alice might say if he broached the subject and expected she’d get all cross and agitated, still disbelieving he meant to court her in earnest. Well, she would discover for herself that he was a man of his word and did not change his mind on a whim.
Laughing inwardly at his own foolishness, Aubrey knocked on the green door of Ocean View Villa, feeling like a giddy schoolboy. He could not remember having felt such sheerhappiness and optimism since he was a lad, running wild with his cousins with the long summer holidays stretching before them.
His good mood plummeted, however, a few moments after Lill opened the door.
“She ain’t here,” she said blankly.
“Oh.” Aubrey stared at her, the wind taken from his sails. “When will she be back?”
Lill shrugged, crossing her arms, her gaze focused on the promenade where a stall was setting up to sell cockles and mussels. “Didn’t say. Late, I reckon. But I can’t be sure.”
Aubrey winced, an unpleasant stab of pain in his chest at the realisation he hadn’t merited a moment’s thought. “Did she not leave a note?”
Lill glanced at him, her expression softening as she shook her head. Aubrey stared at her and she looked away again, seemingly far more interested in the cockle stall than talking to him.
Aubrey considered how Alfie had been last night when they’d parted, teasing and happy, blowing him a kiss before disappearing into the night. What had happened between that moment and this morning?
“If you’ll excuse me, sir. I am sorry, but… but I must get on. I’ve things to do.”
Aubrey looked back at Lill. Shedidlook sorry. Indeed, she looked pale and worried, not her usual bold and robust self. “What’s wrong?” he asked, a niggling sensation of anxiety making itself felt even through a fog of hurt and self-pity.
“Nowt,” she snapped. “Only I sat up half the night worried about Alfie and got little sleep. If you’ll excuse me.”
With that, she slammed the door in his face.
Aubrey stood there, wondering what to do. Seagulls cried overhead, their raucous shrieks making his nerves jitter. Something wasn’t right. He couldn’t stand on Miss Marwick’s doorstep all morning, though, so he took himself off to the tearoom where he could sit and think in peace.
The bell jingled merrily as he entered, and a pretty young woman with a warm smile invited him to sit where he pleased. He nodded, ordering a pot of tea, and discovered the place was quiet this morning. The only other customer was the Reverend Honeywell, who looked up and smiled.
“Good morning, Mr Seymour.”
“Reverend,” Aubrey said politely, moving away and taking the table he had sat at with Alice, what felt like a lifetime ago now. He knew he ought to have joined the reverend, who had been about to invite him to do so, but he needed to think. There was an odd sensation in the pit of his stomach, one of deep foreboding.
The young woman came over with his tea and asked if she should pour for him, but Aubrey shook his head and thanked her. He made the tea, hardly knowing what he was doing, and took a sip, wincing to discover he’d made it too weak and added sugar by mistake. Setting the cup down, he sighed and felt the rustle of paper in his coat pocket.
He took out the letters Howard had given him and looked through them half-heartedly whilst the nagging sensation of doom grew stronger. He was on the brink of returning to Lill and demanding he know what was happening, when an invitation caught his eye.
His stomach performed a most unpleasant somersault, and suddenly he knew what he was afraid of, and with good reason.
The invitation had clearly been delivered some time before his father had forwarded to him. Lady Jefferson was giving a ball to celebrate the birth of their son, Rufus, tonight. The ball wastonight.
Alfie had stolen the diamonds from his uncle on the night of his aunt’s ball.
Terror held Aubrey immobile as his heart thudded erratically, then he surged to his feet, threw the necessary coins on the table, and ran from the room like it was on fire.
He was back at Ocean View Villa seconds later, hammering on the door.
