Bridget nodded, and Nate’s heart wrenched for her. Betrayal from someone close to your heart was a cruelty no one needed to endure.
“The other guests will be leaving,” Nate said. “Why don’t you stay up here while I see them off?”
Bridget squared her shoulders and stood up. “No,” she said. “Let’s do this together.”
*
“Well, this placeis simply marvelous.” Madam Bouffant’s sapphire and diamond floral brooch sparkled on Lady Eamont’s bosom as she sashayed toward her awaiting coach with her husband and daughter in tow. “It’s exactly as Wordsworth described it. Isn’t it, darling?” She flashed a smile at Lord Eamont as though they were the happiest couple in the world, one who’d just been on a lovely holiday together.
Lord Eamont nodded, but his face and voice remained impassive. “Yes, my dear. Wonderful.”
“It’s a pity we must leave so soon,” she addressed Nate. “But as you know, Lord Eamont and Lord Dodsworth are summoned by the king to Lady Caroline’s trial, and I have a wedding to plan.” She grabbed Lydia’s arm and pulled her close, while making no mention of Adelia. “It is going to be the wedding of the century. Only the best for the future Lady Dodsworth.”
Lydia gave her a tight smile and nodded in agreement. “That’s right, Mama.”
Bridget marveled at the woman’s ability to live in a fantastical bubble of her making. If life was not what she wanted it to be then she simply made it so, and sadly for them, her family appeared to play the same game.
She watched Nate as he bowed to his guests, and they climbed into their carriage. Together, it seemed, they breathed a sigh of relief when it pulled away. Then they turned to the next guests.
Mrs. Harley hung her head as she approached her carriage, still ashamed of her actions. She’d followed Bridget and left her injured and bleeding in the thicket overnight. Still, Bridget held no animosity toward the woman. The poor creature had been treated abominably by Lady Darby. Besides, Eliza’s anger and venom toward those she viewed as the enemy made Bridget want to steer clear of vengeance and grudges. So, she reached for Mrs. Harley’s gloved hands and said, “I do hope you will come see us again.”
The woman raised her head and gazed at Bridget. “You are too kind, but you can’t mean that—not after what I did to you.”
“I do mean it.” Bridget squeezed the woman’s hands. “What you did was wrong, but I believe you acted under a great deal of stress.”
Mrs. Harley swallowed. “Thank you. I don’t know what will happen to us now. Lady Darby is sure to disown us.”
“You mustn’t let her bully you. I am no expert, but I am certain that if someone were making such demands of me, not to mention berating me on a daily basis, my womb would shut down altogether. What you need is time away from Lady Darby. I do wish you’d consider staying a bit longer.”
Mrs. Harley’s face lit up and she turned to her husband who, in turn, glanced at Nate.
“I think she’s right,” Nate said. “Youshouldstay.”
Bridget smiled, pleased to see that after all the death and darkness, Nate had chosen to forgive his friend.
Mr. Harley straightened his back like a man who’d just had a heavyload taken off his shoulders. Then he turned to his wife and said, “There’s no need for us to return. Indeed, it would be oppressive to do so. This is not London. We have enough to survive on out here, at least for the meantime.”
“How wonderful!” Bridget embraced Mrs. Harley.
“What’s going on here?” Frederick said as he and Lord Dodsworth approached in their traveling clothes.
“Harley and his wife are staying,” Nate said. He looked up at the driver. “Turn the coach around and unpack their trunks,” he instructed.
“Staying?” Frederick said. “Do you mean—is the housemaid Sarah…”
“No,” Mr. Harley snapped.
“Sarah has been sent home to her family,” Nate said. “The ordeal was too much for her. Not to mention her behavior—she is gone. We intend to hire more experienced and reliable servants going forward.”
“Well, I’d like to say you’ve become boring, old boy. But our stay at Villa De Lacey was anything but tedious. I daresay, all of London will soon be abuzz about Windermere’s infamous ‘murder inn.’ Half the ton will beseech you with requests to come and stay once the king is finished with his trial.”
“Well, we don’t intend to have a repeat performance.” Nate embraced Frederick and turned to Dodsworth.
“I do hope Lord Westerly will allow you back in London to attend my wedding,” Dodsworth said.
“Then you intend to go through with it?”
“Of course. I promised Lydia her freedom and shall give it to her, just as she has given me mine. She and her sister will live as Lady Dodsworth and Mrs. Jefferson under my roof, and they shall want for nothing, including children if they so please. They no longer need to fear their mother, and Jefferson and I will no longer need to fear persecution.”
