“Who?” she asked, holding her breath. He’d had to have received her letter—Cass’s letter—by now and read it. But he wouldn’t mention it to Patience Bunbury. No, of course not.
Julian stared at the painting for a few more moments, then he shook himself. “It doesn’t matter. I came here to ask for your help, actually.”
She pointed at herself. “My help?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“How could I ever be of help to you, Captain Swift?” She glanced away.Perhaps I could begin by telling you the truth.
He straightened up and came around to the front of the bench to face her. “I must find Penelope as soon as possible.”
“I know.” She couldnotlook at him.
“I was hoping you’d attempt to write to her, to ask her when she intends to arrive.”
Cass’s mouth fell open. “Oh, I couldn’t. I… I wouldn’t know where to begin. I don’t know how I’d get a letter to Penelope. She’s traveling.”
“Yes, I know that, but I thought perhaps you might know where she is. You mentioned that she was stopping to see friends. Do you know where? Which friends she might be visiting?”
Cass dabbed her handkerchief to her forehead. Was it hot in the conservatory all of a sudden? A stabbing headache had begun behind her right eye. “I’m not certain. I—”
“Please, won’t you help me, Miss Bunbury? It’s imperative I speak to Penelope as soon as possible. I’m out of options.”
Cass wanted to die. Here was Julian, begging for her help. Not only could she not help him, she would be deceiving him even more if she allowed him to think that she could. But she also couldn’t say no to him. She cleared her throat. “I’ll see what I can do, Captain Swift.”
He smiled. “Thank you.”
Julian strode away and Cass busily set about putting away her painting supplies. Julian wanted her help in finding Penelope as soon as possible? Cass had to find Lucy. It was time to end this farce.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Five minutes later, Cass spotted Lucy in the blue drawing room. She and Jane sat across from each other, Jane with a book in her lap, Lucy sipping tea and perusing one of her ever-present lists.
Lucy glanced up as soon as Cass came into the room. “Ah, Cass, there you are. Sit down. Jane was just telling me something I do not want to hear. You might as well hear it, too.”
Cass made her way over to the settee and took a seat. “There’s something I must tell you, also,” Cass insisted.
“Let Jane tell us her news first,” Lucy replied. “It’s about Garrett.”
Garrett? Was Garrett coming? Cass’s plan to tell Lucy they must tell the truth could wait a moment. She nodded her assent.
“Go ahead,” Lucy prompted Jane as soon as Cass was settled. “Repeat what you just said to me.”
Jane took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “Upton is coming.”
Cass blinked. “He’s coming?”
Lucy nodded. “That’s right.”
Jane nodded, too. “Yes.”
Cass made a whimpering noise in the back of her throat. “But Jane, we sent you over there to keep him from coming. What happened?”
Jane sighed. “It’s not as simple as it sounds, you know. Upton can be quite stubborn. He insisted. However, the good news is that he’s agreed to play along.”
Cass let her shoulders sag. “How did you manage to convince him to do that?”
Jane pushed up her chin. “I’d really rather not say.”
