“He is gone?” I could hardly believe it. This had all happened so fast.
Father nodded. “He is gone.”
Mama’s lips parted in disbelief. “We must write letters to your wedding guests before any further plans are made.”
“Yes, Mama.” I would do anything she asked. Accomplish any task. Attend any appointment. Sing any aria.
“And we must brace ourselves for a very long summer,” she said. “There will be talk. Ceaseless gossip. Our names will be in every paper.”
“That should be an exciting life experience, eh, Ros?” Ben elbowed me. “How do you feel?”
I thought back to that not-so-long-ago day when I’d found my list in the bottom of my trunk. When I’d dreamed of Aunt Alice’s wedding and longed for one of my own. To my first meeting with Charlie, when he’d frightened me and offended me, only to have him save my life in more ways than one.
I took his arm and said, “I feelfree.”
Mama wiped a tear from her cheek. “I imagine you shall want to go and tellLizathe news.”
The look in her eyes told me she did not meanLizaat all. But I did not wait. After embracing my family, I raced out of the drawing room and out the entry door, down the stairs, and into the endlessly green pastures toward Ivy Manor.
“Derricks.” I nodded breathlessly to the footman as he greeted me. “Good day.”
“Not today, Miss Newbury. The house is again closed to visitors. And with dinner almost served—”
“We’ve been through this.” I keeled over, begging more air to fill my lungs.
“The family has been through a lot these past few days, as you are well aware, and needs time to recover.”
I straightened and searched frantically for any source of inspiration. I looked to the side toward the stables. “Should your horses be roaming freely?”
“What?” Derricks stepped outside, eyes searching the grounds for horses he’d never find, and I took my opportunity. Bounding in the house, I raced straight to the drawing room.
“MissNewbury!” Derricks cried.
“Liza!” I called. The drawing room was empty.
“What is this about?” Their butler, Mr. Hudson, appeared out of the dining room. “Miss Newbury, what is the matter?”
“Rosalind?” Mrs. Ollerton held a hand to her chest as she descended from the upstairs floor with Liza on her heels. “What is the meaning of this?”
“The house”—Derricks’s face turned fiery-red up to his ears—“is closed.”
“Quite right,” Mrs. Ollerton agreed as they met me in the foyer. “And I saw the duke and duchess leave. We assumed you’d have gone with them.”
“Not today,” I said weakly. “Not ever, actually.”
Both women froze.
“You cried off,” Liza said with astonishment. “You really did.”
The words seemed to sink into Mrs. Ollerton much more slowly. Her chest suddenly puffed up and with a flash of her skirts and a wave of her hands, she said, “Where is your mother? I must go to her at once.”
“At home,” I said to encourage her.
The front door opened and closed and Mrs. Ollerton was off.
I turned to Liza. “May I please,” I started, but I almost lost my breath. “May I please speak with Charlie?”
“Charlie?” Liza’s shoulders sank. “His mother came yesterday. They departed early this morning.”
