“No. He didn’t have time.”
Carrie pulled away from her. “Gwen, what is the matter?” She gasped. “It’s not Bella or Jeremy, is it?”
Gwen snatched up their reticules, shawls, and fans from their chairs and thrust them into Carrie’s arms. “No, he asked me to assure you it has nothing to do with them. But we must go home, Carrie. We’ll talk there.”
Carrie followed her, hugging her fan and reticule to her chest, her shawl trailing behind. “But I promised Monsieur Bettencourt the last dance. What will he think?”
“I don’t care what he thinks,” Gwen snapped. “You should not have accepted him. I am your chaperone, not your uncle.”
They complimented their host and hostess, Lord and Lady Fitzgibbon, on a wonderful ball where they stood at the door saying farewell to guests departing into the night.
Outside the mansion, Gwen urged Carrie into the waiting carriage as if they were escaping a fire.
They settled back against the squab as the carriage took them back to Gwen’s home.
“Nicholas acted strangely.” Carrie stared at her. “For goodness’ sake, Gwen. Please tell me what has happened.”
“I would prefer Nicholas to explain it to you, but as he isn’t here, I must. Your uncle is a dangerous rogue.” She related what Carrie’s father had told Nicholas about him.
“Uncle Simon might be a murderer? Why didn’t Nicholas tell me?” Carrie said aghast.
“Your father asked him not to.”
“But why?”
“You were too young to concern yourself with such a thing. And Jeremy and Bella were children. I suppose he hoped your uncle would never return to England.”
“But does Nicholas really think Uncle Simon wants to harm us?”
“He is not about to take that chance.”
Carrie sat forward. “If Nicholas isn’t concerned for Bella and Jeremy’s safety, why has he gone home?”
“He intends first to see your Aunt Penelope in Tunbridge Wells and ask her to come to Elm Park.”
“Then he considers this to be a serious threat. I want to return to Elm Park, Gwen. I should be there with Bella and Jeremy.”
“That was not his instructions.”
Carrie frowned. “Nevertheless, I will go. Would you take me? Or shall I go by mail coach?”
“Don’t be absurd, Carrie. Of course, you can’t go traipsing around the country on your own.”
“I won’t be alone. I’ll take Anna.”
Gwen sighed. “Leaving town will be frowned upon. I have accepted invitations to several…”
“That cannot matter now,” Carrie said firmly.
“I see there’s no arguing with you. Nicholas will be angry with me, and quite possibly Winston, when he learns of it,” Gwen said regretfully. “Very well. We will leave tomorrow.”
Carrie took her hands and squeezed them. “Thank you! You are very good.”
Gwen grimaced. “Yes, I am.” She yawned. “I declare I am growing too old to deal with all this excitement.”
Carrie kissed her cheek. “You are not!” She was going home again. A joyous feeling warmed her until she considered what might occur there. Was her uncle on his way to Elm Park? Did he have something terrible in mind? “Gwen, surely my uncle wouldn’t hurt Bella and Jeremy?”
“Not while Nicholas is there.”
