They rode back together.
“Do you suppose there are those among our acquaintances who have those second households, Stratton? Only so discreetly most are unaware of it?”
“I expect so. I always wondered about Brentworth, for example.”
“No.I can’t believe that. We would have learned of it.”
Stratton shrugged. “There was that period before I left for France when he had no female companionship that I saw. He adopted his severe code of discretion for a reason, don’t you think? His father was still alive then, and if the woman was unsuitable . . .”
It startled Gabriel to consider that one of his best friends might have lived an entire part of his life in secret. “I find that hard to believe. I am sure you wondered about nothing.”
Stratton just smiled and shrugged again.
Chapter Twelve
The leave-taking from Lady Farnsworth proved emotional. Amanda spent the day at her desk, completing a few tasks so nothing would remain unfinished. They shared some tea in the afternoon, and Lady Farnsworth did not even acknowledge it was the last time except to reassure Amanda that she would explain all to Mrs. Galbreath. Only when Amanda went to say good-bye did they face the day’s importance.
“Please sit with me a moment, Miss Waverly. Amanda.”
She sat on the damask bench and Lady Farnsworth examined her. Then she handed over a folded paper. “This is the reference I promised you. You can give any prospective employer my address and they can contact me, should this letter be questioned.”
“Thank you. You are too kind.”
“I doubt I will replace you immediately. At least a fortnight will pass. Should you discover that your mother does not need you as long as you fear, you must write and let me know and I will hold the position longer. Please write in any case and tell me you arrived safely and give me a place where I can direct letters to you.”
Amanda did not have it in her to speak another lie, but of course she would never write to Lady Farnsworth.
“Thank you for having faith in me,” she said. “I have learned much from you, and seen fascinating things and important people. You are a rarity among women and I will forever treasure knowing you.”
“And I you, Amanda dear. I will miss you sorely.” Lady Farnsworth opened her arms. Amanda went over and accepted her embrace and kiss.
She held back any tears until she left, but as she walked away from the house, her eyes blurred. She swallowed the swell of emotion and worked to steady both her nerves and resolve. She had two more such painful good-byes to endure. That with Katherine, and that with the Duke of Langford.
* * *
He assumed she would enter at the back of the garden. He unlocked the portal so she would not have to try another way. For all he knew, she would climb the wall.
He had no idea when she would come, so he made himself comfortable on a stone bench inside a folly set deep among the plantings. The small structure resembled an Asian tea house, only constructed of painted stone instead of wood. The roof with its sloping lines had been carved of stone, and required more supports than any real tea house sported.
It was not, he decided, the landscape architect’s finest achievement.
He wondered if she would like that house he was letting. Was Stratton correct, and one day they would agree he should buy it or another for her? He had never done that before, but then he never had mistresses very often. Lovers, yes, but not the more formal arrangements that some men preferred. Even among his lovers, the longest liaison had been less than a year. As he grew older, they lasted shorter periods all the time.
The problem was that inevitably the new excitement grew old. The mysteries were all solved. One then was left with the question of whether this woman was someone you liked in a way that would urge one to spend further time in her company. The pleasures might remain strong, but time’s passage introduced other considerations.
Would it be different with Amanda? He had no idea. One thing would be different, however. In the past, his women had been well born. They had husbands or brothers or fathers to take care of them. Some had independent fortunes. With Amanda, he took on obligations. He could not walk away if it ended without ensuring she had a secure future. He would find a way to do that.
Any woman who had left that locket on the carpet might resist his efforts in that direction. He suspected she would never ask him to buy her a house, or any of the other things a kept woman received. When he’d spoken of arrangements, she had not presented a list of expectations. That impressed him in good ways, but her independence could prove inconvenient.
The shadows beneath the trees moved. He sensed her presence in the garden. “Over here,” he said quietly.
More shifting shadows. She emerged from them and stood right outside the folly. She tilted her head and peered up at the structure. It stirred a memory of another woman doing that in front of a house.
“It is hard to see, but appears to be rather awful,” she said.
“It is far nicer inside.”
She heard the invitation and stepped in under the roof. He could not tell what color dress she wore, but its form did not flatter her. He guessed it had been remade in some way, not created for her by an expert. He would like to buy her a wardrobe. Perhaps in a few weeks she would allow that.
