Page 140 of A Story of Love

Freddie nodded.

“I suppose I thought so, too. It turns out that there is no safety. At least not if a woman wants to live in the world and not in a cave out in the middle of a swamp.”

Freddie smiled sadly. “What will you do now?”

“I’ll finish my new book and then try to sell it.”

“Please tell me you will continue living here while you do. You don’t need to leave because you’re not working for that dreadful Parker. You have always believed that I am doing a favor for you, but the reverse is also true. A single woman living alone is prey to—” She broke off and bit her lip, a scowl suddenly marring her ice queen façade. “That man who works for Lord Severn—”

“Has Mr. Gregg been bothering you?” Lori demanded.

A delicate flush spread across Freddie’s cheeks like a pink mist. “Well, bothering is rather harsh. But he does seem, er…”

“Interested in you?”

Freddie nodded.

“Has he been inappropriate or—”

“No, no. Nothing like that.” Freddie gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “In any case,” she said, before Lori could delve further. “I really wish you would stay.”

“Oh, Freddie. I just can’t be here right now—at least not for the next three weeks.”

Freddie knew what she meant without Lori having to put it into words. “Why don’t you go and visit Portia? Or I know Annis would love to see you.”

Both Portia and Annis were dear friends from their teaching days. Both women had often invited Lori to visit. But…well, right now she didn’t want to be with friends. She wanted to be alone in a cave, where she could lick her wounds. That wasn’t possible, but she would look for the next best thing.

Lori smiled at Freddie. “Now would be a terrible time to visit. Portia is caught up with the twins and Annis is all but a newlywed. So is Miles,” she said before her friend could suggest him.

But Freddie wasn’t beaten, yet.

“I have been thinking of taking a place in Brighton this summer, Lori. Perhaps you might go down there and investigate what is available in advance?”

Lori laughed. “I will not allow you to put yourself into debt leasing a house in Brighton just to save my pride. I am going to visit my brother. It has been ages. The girls will all be unrecognizable.” Indeed, it grieved her greatly how much of her nieces’ childhoods she’d already missed out on thanks to her avoidance of scaly men such as Lord Dorian and Daniel Fenton.

“Is that wise, darling? I know you were most unhappy there. And now, after you’ve told me the reason you fled Moorcross…Well, I cannot blame you for avoiding the place for so long. Are you sure you—”

“I need to face my demons. I can’t run every time I make a foolish decision.” She gave a bark of unamused laugher. “There will soon be no place left for me in Britain if I do that. Besides, you need to—to plan this wedding. And also finish launching the twins.”

“Oh, did I neglect to mention they have both accepted offers?”

“Freddie! Congratulations.”

Freddie smiled wearily. “I hope they are happy. Rose accepted Viscount Dorset—who is a kind, sweet boy. But poor Lily is marrying Baron Sterling.”

“Lord! Sterling must be forty.”

“Try one-and-fifty.”

Lori hissed. “That should be illegal.”

“Her fond papa is not forcing her. Lily wants the marriage, the social-climbing little minx.”

“Well, it must be a weight off your mind to have them both off your hands. Will you manage their weddings?”

“No, that I will not do.” She waved her hand. “But I don’t want to talk about the twins. When will you go, Lori?”

“Tomorrow.”