“No, I took a carriage. I’m still not feeling myself. Summer colds are the worst. I’ll get Lady Shrewsbury to ensure Ashbrook comes to the dinner. You’ll clear up the confusion. Maybe then he will set an appointment to discuss everything. But we must be careful. Gossiping Lady Bodonel will be there.”
I’d watched him playing with his daughter or reading in his study. Why did he have to be a man with secrets? “I’ll keep writing him.”
“Jemina, trust me. You’ll have truth and anything else you want. You made my dreams possible. It’s time for yours to come true.”
“I don’t want my dreams, Patience. I want to be wrong. The only part of my life that I can recall can’t be loss.”
She held the reins steady, readying for me to mount. “The truth will be yours, Jemina. I’ll be here to love you through it.”
If Ashbrook wouldn’t cooperate, I wasn’t sure what to do next, but sitting around waiting wasn’t something I could stomach anymore. I didn’t know what I was capable of, but the truth wouldn’t be denied, even if I had to become ruthless to get it.
CHAPTER 17
DANIEL—WAITING FORPAPA
Asigh laced with doubt steamed out of his soul. Daniel sat back in his carriage, hoping Mr. Anthon could hurry his arrival to Finchely. It was ten thirty.
Missed story time, and Hope could be balling in her crib.
The Lord Mayor again had Daniel in his chambers for two hours. Rumors were rampant about illegal releases of patients from Bedlam. The man browbeat Daniel and three other barristers.
The Lord Mayor could piece together Daniel’s involvement with the Widow’s Grace if more noise was made.
Who was stirring up trouble?
He stroked his watch fob, then looked to the darkened road. It would be another ten minutes before he arrived at Finchely House.
“I have a capable housekeeper. I just employed a diligent nanny-nurse, one who Hope seems to take to. My little girl is fine.”
Well, his daughter sort of ignored the new nanny after her first day of employment. She didn’t want to share her toys with the woman, which was highly unusual for his moppet.
Yet, with two women managing his household, perhaps it was time to find something for himself. Or perhaps doing something about the widow who stayed on his mind.
Jemina St. Maur.
Her notes kept coming, even after their kiss. Her latest note made him fret, then laugh, then enjoy the fact that he’d been caught in a rumor as a rake. The carriage lantern illuminated the stationery that he pulled from his pocket.
Finchely House,
London, July 26, 1814
Dear Lord Ashbrook,
I will say sorry in advance.
Lady Bodonel, the Duke of Repington’s mother came to tea. She delighted in gossiping about an earl and his widowed client. It was horrible keeping a straight face as she said we’d had at each other and rolled all over the floor.
You seem to do good work standing. Why would a floor make for better gossip?
The Duchess of Repington and I are going to the market. If you were thinking of coming to Sandlin Court to help strategize our way out of the rumors, I suggest that you wait another day.
Mr. Gerard told me in confidence that the butcher confirms you and I are having a raucous affair full of mirth and decadence. I’m not sure how to end this faux alliance or if we should, since we seem to be having so much fun.
Surely that wouldn’t be right.
J. St. Maur
Sandlin Court, London
