“I wanted to ask him,” I told him, hearing the click of the lock being thrown back in place. “I wanted to ask Will if he knew anything about Miss Wallace or this girl in the asylum and end all of this ridiculous speculation.” I wrapped my arms tighter around my middle, trying to soothe the worry tying my stomach in knots. I shook my head. “But I couldn’t. Not seeing him like that, so tired and worn down. He could barely lift his head off the back of the chair in the end. It just didn’t seem fair to question him like that. Besides, what genuine proof do we have to involve him in these matters?”
Gage reached out to clasp my shoulders, forcing me to look up at him. “You were right to wait.” His eyes were kind. “There’s no reason to alarm William until and unless it’s absolutely necessary. As you said before, I think if he had something he believed he needed to tell us, he would do so. It can do no good to worry him over matters that may have nothing to do with him.”
I nodded, grateful for his reassurance.
“In any case, Michael would not have thanked us for questioning his brother without his being present, and though I’m cross with him right now, his wishes on that matter should be respected. Now, come.” He turned me toward the stairs. “I’m sure Cromarty and your sister are eager to depart and waiting for us to make an appearance.”
The expression on his face was grim as we turned the corner to the central staircase.
“You know, I can continue down myself,” I said, guessing at the source of his distress. “I’m sure they wouldn’t be insulted if you missed their leave-taking.”
He sighed. “No. I’m a gentleman. I’ll not snub your sister or her husband simply because we’ve had a disagreement.” His lips twisted, and he added under his breath, “Though I do hate it when Cromarty’s right.”
I had to agree, even though I didn’t know exactly what they’d argued about. Except that it had to do with me.
*
When I had anticipated Philip and Alana’s departure to be something of an emotional occasion, I had failed to account for the presence of the children. My nieces and nephew were simply not capable of making a peaceful good-bye, and for once I was grateful for it. Rather than my sister and I clinging to one another while indulging in a spate of needless worrying, our embrace was necessarily brief, as she attempted to assist the nursemaid in corralling her children.
Malcolm and Philipa were not eager to climb back inside a carriage after almost a week restricted to its confines. They were far happier chasing each other around the dooryard. Even Greer, who was still shy of sixteen months old, began to kick and fuss as her nanny carried her toward the coach door. Lady Hollingsworth did not help matters by complaining. Her declarations that her children had never behaved so shabbily only served to irritate my sister further, making Alana even shorter with Malcolm and Philipa.
Caroline seemed to be the sole person capable of ignoring them, wrapped up as she was in her own grief over leaving Michael, and her anxiety over the precarious position of their engagement. Philip had been able to convince Lady Hollingsworth not to break the engagement, but, as predicted, she had insisted on following her nephew and his family to Edinburgh, separating Caroline from the dangers of Dalmay House and its master. The only surprise had been Lord Damien’s insistence on remaining behind. Lady Hollingsworth had objected strenuously, but Damien proved to be just as stubborn as his mother. He intended to act as his family’s representative in the subsequent explorations of the soundness of Lord Dalmay’s mind and he would not be persuaded otherwise.
I felt a new respect for Damien at his determination to do right by his sister, and I knew I wasn’t the only one, if the gleam in Philip’s eye was any indication.
Caroline began to weep as Michael bent over her hand to kiss it, the pained look in his eyes telling us he was fighting a strong emotion of his own. My heart went out to the couple. If only Michael hadn’t determined that he must lie. I understood his caution in revealing where his brother had been kept over the last decade, but couldn’t he have called in Philip to ensure Caroline’s family would keep William’s secret when he asked for her hand? So much grief could have been avoided.
Lady Hollingsworth did not allow Caroline’s hand to remain in Michael’s grasp for long. She pulled her daughter away from her fiancé and dragged her out the door to the line of carriages, leaving only Philip to say his good-byes.
He watched his aunt’s hasty retreat, and then sighed and shook his head. I felt some pity for him as he turned to me with a tight smile. It would certainly not be enjoyable to spend the day dealing with an ill wife, a shrewish aunt, a weeping cousin, and three rambunctious children, even if they were his own.
“Are you certain you don’t want to join us?” he asked with such forced hopefulness that I couldn’t help but smile.
“Not for all the gold in the world,” I replied.
“Ah, well.” He shrugged. “I had to try.” He took hold of my hand and I pressed my other hand to his shoulder, holding him back before he could say good-bye.
“I have a favor to ask of you.”