“The majority anyway. They are all the rage, I assure you.”
“Oh well, then send them, as I aspire to be all the rage.”
Mary turned in her saddle to look at Beth.
“I don’t remember you being sarcastic before. I find I like it.”
She had very little in her life to laugh at, but she did, and it felt wonderful.
“You were a bit prim and perfect.”
“I was?”
“Yes. And then you fell in love with Mr. Deville, and he seemed to return that love, and you were even more perfect together.”
The smile fell from her lips. They had been perfect together. Too perfect? She’d had time to think about that during the long hours of solitude she spent in her rooms longing for him. Had she been wrong to try to be everything Nathan had wanted her to be?
“I’ve made you sad, I’m sorry. I missed you, Beth.”
“I missed you too.” She said the words before she could stop them falling from her lips. “I’m sorry I left without a word, Mary.”
“Why did you?”
How did she answer that?
“Can you not tell me the truth?”
She looked through her horse’s ears, trying to work out what to say.
“It’s all right.” Mary reached across to pat Beth’s hand. “I am just pleased you are back. Perhaps one day you will tell me what happened.”
She wouldn’t weep. Lucas was not the only one who disliked tears.
“Do you smell that?” Mary sighed. “Roasted nuts. We must have some.”
“Mary, can you not spend at least an hour without thinking of your stomach?” Phillipa gritted out.
“No, just as you cannot spend an hour without a mirror.”
Mary bought several bags of nuts, handing two to Beth.
“Do I need two?”
“Yes,” Mary replied as they started moving again.
“Well now, would you look at Miss Cappers,” Phillipa said. “She is wearing puce with salmon.” She shuddered.
“Scandalous,” Mary said.
“Exactly,” Phillipa replied, unaware that her sister was using sarcasm.
“And what of Lady Basterhill?”
They let Phillipa gossip about anyone passing as they rode slowly through the London streets, the warmth of the day easing into late afternoon. There was no more beautiful sight than London when the skies were blue and the weather warm. They passed a flower seller, the blooms sending sweet scents into the air.
Nathan had loved to bring her flowers.
Her mother had wanted her to put aside her worries for the day and be the woman she’d once been. It was an impossible task with the thunderous black cloud that hung over the Carlow family, but she would endeavor to enjoy Mary’s company if nothing else.
