“Darling, you don’t go once to a museum and consider it finished. You go again and again to study the paintings and remark upon them.”
“Some people go to see who is there and to be seen admiring great art,” Caroline said, hoping to dissuade her mother with the intimation it was a vulgar outing.
Her mother shook her head. “That sounds rather shallow. Something Lady Diamond might do. In fact, she’sprobably trying to figure out how to get her own portrait onto the wall.” Then her mother frowned. “Are you well?”
“Yes, why?” Caroline realized she’d gasped aloud.
“You paled suddenly.”
“Did I?” She’d been startled beyond reason by her mother mentioning the name of Diamond.
“And now you look flushed. Sit down.”
Caroline did as her mother said, finding a spot between the gowns just as there came a knock at the door.
“Come in,” her mother answered for her.
Caroline’s maid entered carrying her dark green redingote with its soft gray fur trim.
“Why have you brought that up here?” Lady Chimes demanded.
“Lady Caroline asked me to, my lady.”
Both pairs of eyes stared at her, and Caroline took a step back.
“I was going out because ... as I said, I was bored and I ... I thought seeing how it is cold, I would don my coat and hat while in the warmth of my room.”
“Where were you going?” her mother asked.
“Merely for a walk.”
“Then I shall accompany you. I can go to the museum later if you still don’t wish to go. I suppose some fresh air is a good idea, as long as we don’t stay out too long and risk catching a chill.”
Geoffrey paced LadyHollidge’s drawing room, but after waiting an hour and a half, it was obvious Caroline was not coming.
Had she changed her mind?
“My lord, I fear something has detained her,” Daphne Hollidge said, stating the obvious while bouncing her little boy on her lap.
Geoffrey feared it was not something butsomeone. He eyed the young Alexander Hollidge, knowing the boy wanted his mother’s attention. The totiken had arrived about twenty minutes earlier after awakening from a nap. And when he did, he’d made enough noise while entering with his nanny that Geoffrey had been sure Caroline had at last arrived.
He could not know for certain whether it was Caroline’s disinclination to elope that had stopped her or an external factor. He prayed it was the latter.
“I am sorry to have disrupted your household today and to have wasted your time,” he said, wondering if he would be spending another evening tossing coins at Caroline’s window to obtain an explanation.
A noise in the foyer snagged both of their attention.
“Daphne, is he still here?” came Caroline’s voice, and then she appeared in the doorway.
Her hat was askew, her cheeks were pink with exertion as if she’d been running, and she never looked lovelier.
“Oh!”she exclaimed upon seeing him, and then she burst into tears.
Not caring that Lady Hollidge would bear witness, Geoffrey rushed to claim her and wrap her in his arms. She collapsed against him.
“What’s happened? Are you well?”
“My mother thwarted me at every turn. I fear she suspects something since, in the middle of Hyde Park, I finally declared I needed to be alone and rushed straight here.”
