“Do not worry about my mother. It is all in hand.”
“If you say so, but I do worry about… her.”
He tapped her on the nose and gave her one of his devastating smiles. The type that made the blood whoosh in her veins and her body hot all over. What was this effect he had on her?
What was it he wanted to give her? And why did it have to be given to her in private? Had he found out something about her father that he thought no one else should know about?
He left her at the stairs, and she made her way up to her room. There was a letter on her dressing table. She picked it up and examined the handwriting. It was from Miss Covington. Opening it she went over to the window where the light was better.
Dearest Lucinda
Thank you for writing to me to let me know you are well. I must admit I was not happy about the way you were taken from us. Why could he not have knocked on the door like a civilized person would do? The girls were in quite a state, not to mention poor Pamela. She thanks you for returning her clothes. I am glad that you have found yourself a guardian who is willing to help you with your future and wish you nothing but happiness.
In answer to your question, Captain Markham did not give me a letter or any other message to keep for you. You were always a good girl, and I will always feel a tenderness towards you. If in the future you wish to write to me about your adventures in London I would be happy to receive them.
Yours sincerely
Lidia Covington
Lucinda sighed and folded the letter. Such a short letter compared to the six pages Lucinda had written to her. Sheshould not have been so surprised; Miss Covington had always been a woman of few words, but she was always kind in her own way. Her mentor had been her last hope that her father had left any kind of explanation for his actions. Lucinda would likely go to the grave without knowing and she had to come to terms with it.
When May arrived, it was time to change for the musicale. Lucinda liked music and looked forward to experiencing new things. Despite only having a pianoforte, Miss Covington still managed to create a lovely evening of singing and dancing, all for educational purposes.
The maid weaved some lovely violets into her hair to match her dress that had tiny violet flowers embroidered on it. It was a color she had never worn before but there were so many colors she had yet to discover would go with her hair.
Lady Belvedere was the hostess tonight, and her house was just around the corner, and as it was a mild night Marianne and Lucinda had persuaded the dowager to walk the short distance. Two footmen accompanied them and left once they were safely inside. The large parlor had been filled with chairs and there was a four-piece string ensemble arranged at one end. They greeted a few people before finding a seat.
“Lord Dunstan is not here,” Marianne said. “I would have thought music would be something he would be interested in.”
“Perhaps it is but he had other commitments tonight. Do you think your brother will turn up tonight?”
“I do not know. He is very unreliable at times. To be honest we hardly see him when we come for the season. This is the most I have seen of him in years. He is usually off somewhere on business, but no one ever knows what that business is. I really do not understand why he must be so guarded about the whole thing. Sometimes he travels and we do not hear from him for months.”
“His position is quite odd. Do you think he will ever settle down?”
Marianne smiled. “And marry? I suppose anything is possible, though I doubt it.”
“He told me he would make a terrible husband. Do you think that is true?” Lucinda fiddled with her reticule so that Marianne could not read her expression, lest it give away her emotions on the subject.
“He is a handsome man, I suppose. He can have any woman’s attention, but he chooses to stay away from the debutantes as a rule.”
“Yes, he is very handsome.” His strong jawline and commanding nose were in total alignment with his mouth and chin. Symmetrical in every way, but it was his eyes that captured her every time he looked at her.
“But not as handsome as Lord Dunstan.”
Lucinda blinked, taken aback. “I thought you didn’t like him?”
Marianne looked at the flyer for tonight’s concert. “I do not, not like him. I have concluded that I was most likely mistaken about him. It was a long time ago. He has been nothing but a gentleman and seems quite taken with you.”
“Do you think so? Sometimes I am not sure who of us he is courting. He seems to like you as well.”
Taking up Lucinda’s hand, Marianne said, “I would never stand in your way if you have set your cap for him, Lucinda. Have you?”
“I have not made up my mind. He is very nice and a worthy suitor.”
“Is there someone else you are interested in?”
“I cannot say. You will think me a ninny.”
