He obliged, assisting her to her feet. The contrast between them was stark. Her clothing hung loose on her thin frame, the black silk bringing out the gray pallor of her cheeks. It suddenly occurred to me that she knew Duke’s departure meant she’d never see him again.
But it was Duke who blinked back tears as she tilted her head to look up at him.
“Mr. Barratt is right,” Miss Glass said, her voice as frail as her frame. “I give you my blessing, Duke. May you find what you’re looking for in America.”
He bent to kiss her cheek. “I promise I’ll write every week, although I don’t reckon my words will be as pretty as Barratt’s.”
Oscar nodded thoughtfully. “It was quite a rousing speech. Gavin, will you write it into your travel diary for me so I don’t forget it?”
Duke helped Miss Glass sit again, then released her just in time so he could catch Willie as she flung herself at him. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. I suspected she was silently crying, but it wasn’t until she lifted her head that I saw the evidence of tears on her cheeks.
She poked his shoulder. “I give you my blessing, too. You can go and find yourself a nice wife in America and have babies with her. But I expect one of them to be named Willie.”
Duke laughed. “I knew there’d be a condition.” He hugged her fiercely.
Lord Farnsworth removed a crisp white handkerchief from his pocket with a flourish and dabbed at his eyes. “Am I happy or sad?” He flapped the handkerchief in front of his face. “I can’t tell!”
We talked a while longer, until it was time for us to leave. Oscar and I had someone else to call on before the day was over. As we said our goodbyes, Oscar asked India how her grandfather, Chronos, fared.
“The same,” she said, a measure of resignation in her voice. “The doctor says there isn’t anything to be done. We can only make sure he’s comfortable. We’re returning to Rycroft Hall tomorrow to be with him.”
Oscar patted her hand in sympathy then kissed her cheek, under the close scrutiny of her husband. He then shook Matt’s hand. “I’ll send through our account of expenses. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the price we paid for that book.”
We all looked at the copy of A Treatise on the Laws of Witchcraft and Maleficium in Scotland by His Majesty’s Lord Advocate George Mackenzie. It was an insignificant looking volume for such a seminal work.
Matt placed an arm around India and tucked her against his side. “It’ll be a worthy addition to the collection.”
She placed a hand over his at her waist. “You’ll be pleased to know that Lord Coyle’s collection had some real gems in it, Professor. They’re currently in the attic. You can come and read them at any time.” She gazed up at her husband who smiled back at her. “Taking possession of Coyle’s books feels like a final ending, as if we’ve turned the page of the last chapter and there’s no more of the story. It’s a relief. Although we will see Hope and Valentine at family events from time to time.”
Willie made a sound of disgust in her throat, but refrained from commenting.
She, Farnsworth, and Brockwell walked outside with us. “Join Willie and me for a chop later?” Brockwell asked. “Let’s say eight at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. I want to hear how you found those girls.”
Willie nudged Farnsworth in the ribs. “He really just wants a report on his Edinburgh counterparts. The stupider you can make them seem, Barratt, the better.”
“I’m coming for a drink, too,” Lord Farnsworth piped up. “You know I like these rambunctious inns you find, Willie. They’re full of interesting folk.” His face brightened. “We can plan the next book-hunting expedition. I think we should go to Transylvania.”
Willie rolled her eyes. “Ignore Davide. He likes the gothic penny dreadfuls. I reckon we should go to America. We can help Duke settle in while we’re there.”
“He can settle in on his own,” Brockwell said gently. He put one arm around her waist, as Matt had done with India, and kissed her cheek, knocking her hat askew in the process.
She removed it altogether and leaned into him.
“We’ve already decided on Italy,” I told them.
“And neither of you are coming with us,” Oscar added.
A hansom cab pulled up alongside us, carrying a familiar passenger. I stumbled in surprise at the sight of her and felt quite foolish about it when Oscar remained composed. After all, he should be more startled than me at the sudden appearance of his former fiancée.
“Bloody hell,” he muttered under his breath. Louder, he said, “What are you doing here?”
Lady Louisa looked as pretty as always in a green-and-white-striped waistcoat over a white chemise. Her fair hair was artfully arranged in ringlets that framed her face, giving her an almost childlike appearance. She crooked a gloved finger, beckoning him to approach the carriage. He did not, so she got out and approached him.
“May we speak in private, Oscar?”
Brockwell steered Willie away, much to her irritation, and Lord Farnsworth trotted along after them. I remained, since Oscar and I had another call to make, but I gave them space. Not so much space that I couldn’t hear their exchange, however.
I watched on as Louisa grasped Oscar’s hands between both of hers and gave them an imploring shake. “Oscar, I need to speak with you.”
