“Quite ancient,” Mrs. Laverty said faintly, the feathers in her hat trembling.
Laura took them upstairs to the baroness’s suite.
Aurelia gasped. “It requires a complete renovation. I see the modern chintzes in here. Don’t you think so, Mama?”
Laura couldn’t bear them discussing renovating her mother’s bedchamber, although they had a perfect right to do so. “If you excuse me, I must see Cook. I’ll return in a few minutes.”
They barely noticed her leave as they discussed rugs and curtains.
Her mother had loved those damask curtains, which she’d made herself. Laura retreated to the landing and took several deep breaths, scolding herself for her foolishness. When she returned, she heard her name mentioned and held back from entering.
“Is Lord Netterfield’s sister to live here?” Mrs. Laverty had asked her daughter.
“Well, Miss Peyton isn’t married, so I expect she will.”
“She’s pretty enough. Why hasn’t she married? It isn’t natural.”
“I don’t know.” Aurelia sighed loudly. “Perhaps she lost her lover in the war.”
“You are such a romantic, my dear,” her mother said. “There is more than one man in the world.”
“Oh, Mama.”
“Well, you know my opinion of Lord Netterfield. You could have done much better.”
“I love Robert.”
“I know, foolish girl. He’s very handsome. Your father indulges you and is unaccountably pleased that his girl is to be a baroness.”
“Will you come live with us after Papa…” Aurelia’s voice grew hushed.
“Of course. You will need my help when the babies come. We must ask Miss Peyton to show us the nursery and the guest chambers. I shall require a better chamber fitted out for me. I refuse to spend a night here as things are.”
Laura had heard enough. She coughed before she entered the room. “Can I show you anything else, Miss Laverty?”
“We should like to see the nursery,” Aurelia said. She giggled. “It’s a little early to think of such things, but one must be prepared.”
Laura continued the inspection, taking them from room to room while trying to answer their questions helpfully. She could not view her home as critically as they did, and their comments made her exhausted by the time Robert appeared to escort them out into the gardens. It left her feeling fragile at the stark realization that she would soon leave her home.
“You seemed to get on well with Aurelia,” Robert said when he returned after seeing his betrothed and her mother leave in their carriage. “She is lovely, isn’t she?”
“Indeed, she is, Robert. And I see she thinks the world of you.”
Robert grinned. “She’s a very affectionate girl.”
He went about the house in remarkably good humor. But he neither made mention of their earlier conversation about Laura’s future, nor offered to rent suitable lodgings for her in London after he married. She tried not to fret, believing he would when the time came. She had no intention of remaining at Longworth. The very thought of it horrified her. At least living with Aunt Gertrude, she might have more freedom and subsequently make herself useful to her.
The morning post finally brought Debnam’s reply to her letter. Laura stared at the earl’s stamp, her heart beating wildly, and ran upstairs to her bedchamber to read it.
She broke the earl’s seal and unfolded the letter.
Dearest Laura, he wrote:
I trust this finds you and your brother in good health. I’m sorry I’ve taken so long to reply. Having returned from London, I’ve only just read your letter. What you learned from Mr. Wagstaff astonished me. And certainly gave me pause to think. After all this time, I don’t hold out much hope of discovering anything new, but I am determined to investigate further. Hearing from you warmed my heart, Laura. I remember every detail of your brief stay here, which I will never forget.
Fondest regards,
Debnam
