I blinked and re-read the letter. Four days! What could be so blasted important that Henry would willingly leave for four days? My heart revived somewhat from the remainder of his letter, if an anxious jolt could be classified as such. What sort of news? Once Henry returned, we would discuss his sparseness of words, first in regards to Cate and now with the expected news. Until then, all I could do was follow Cate’s advice to hope for the best, while preparing for the worst. With a sigh, I tucked the letter into my pocket and continued to the drawing room.
Lucy sat in an armchair, her face lively as she spoke to a dark-haired gentleman who occupied the sofa with his back to me. If I hadn’t been so distracted from Henry’s letter, I would have recognized the guest and left the room at once. Not yet perceiving my peril, I walked on, catching both of their attention with my sudden appearance.
“Good afternoon, Selah,” Lucy said, giving me a pointed look. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yes—” I came to an abrupt halt when my eyes settled on the dark-haired gentleman.
Julian stood and walked over to me, his gaze fixed on my face. “It is very good to see you again, Selah.” Taking my hand, he brought it to his lips for a lingering kiss.
I stared at him, dumbfounded by his presence. “What are you doing here?”
He lowered my hand from his mouth, but refused to let go until I pulled it away. “I came to see if you were recovered from last night.”
Heat crept up my neck, into my cheeks. “I am sufficiently recovered, thank you.” I looked at Lucy. “Do you know where I may find Nora?”
A smile chased the sternness from Lucy’s face. “Oh, Selah, the most amazing thing has happened this morning.” She clasped her hands together, displaying a giddy excitement quite foreign to her usual stolid disposition. “Please sit with us and I shall tell you every detail.”
I opened my mouth in protest, only to snap it closed for lack of a good excuse. And I really did want to know Nora’s whereabouts.
Julian placed a firm hand on my elbow. “This way, Selah. You may sit next to me while Lucy recounts the events from this morning. I’ve heard only the beginning and am anxious for the rest.”
My body stiffened with anger, but I followed him all the same, having little choice under Lucy’s watchful eye.
He didn’t let go until we were both seated on the sofa, much closer than I expected. Then again, the unexpected seemed to be how it went with Julian. Not once in my wildest dreams did I think him brazen enough to call on me so soon. Yet here we were, sitting side-by-side like intimate acquaintances.
Turning a contemptuous eye to him, my breath caught from the sight of the linen bandage wrapped around his left hand. I continued to stare, my eyes growing round as saucers. Last night I convinced myself that he had received nothing more serious than a strong shock from my outburst. But the bandage said otherwise.
Heavens above! What have I done?
Julian leaned closer and flexed his hand. “As you can see, I am still recovering from our encounter,” he murmured.
I yanked my eyes away from the bandage and pinned them on Lucy. “So, what is the wonderful news?” I asked, in a voice as tight as my smile.
“You won’t believe it!” Lucy’s face glowed with excitement. “Right after breakfast a young lady called here for Nora. At first we thought it must be Jane Saxby, so you can imagine our surprise when we found a Quaker woman waiting in the drawing room.” Lucy clasped her hands together again.
“I have heard the beginning twice now,” Julian laughed, “and I still do not know the identity of this mysterious woman. Pray tell, Lucy, what is her name?”
“She is none less than Margaret Fox, the great niece of George Fox.”
That name made me sit up a little straighter. “The George Fox?” I asked, my astonishment now matching Lucy’s. “The one who founded the Quakers?”
Lucy nodded. “The very one. And she asked if Nora could accompany her today on her service rounds.”
The sofa cushion shifted as Julian crossed one leg over the other. “You are so newly arrived to London, it is astounding that Margaret Fox knew where to find you.”
Astounding, indeed, unless Nora’s name had been added alongside mine in the local gossip. “Did they meet somewhere?”
“At the apothecary on our second day in town,” Lucy said. “I had stopped to listen to a street preacher when Nora went into the shop to fetch some headache powder.”
“How odd,” Julian said, “that she didn’t mention the encounter until today. I would not have kept such a name secret.”
I glanced at him and saw the shadow of doubt in his face.
Lucy waved a dismissive hand. “Fox is a common surname in England. Nora didn’t make the connection at the time, and so felt no need to mention their meeting.”
“Well,” Julian said, “that is a lucky twist of fate if I’ve ever heard one.” He turned to look at me. “What do you think, Selah? Are you as astounded as I by this revelation?”
“Most certainly,” I said, in direct contradiction to my real thoughts. Nora’s good fortune was my misfortune as it left me friendless for the day. “When do you expect them to return? I would love to meet Margaret.”