“Yes, there is, and we will find it, I am almost certain. But it would seem that we must wait for the time being … though not likely to the end of your days.”
Lydia glanced up, about to admonish him for his inappropriate teasing, but the words never left her mouth. Instead, she stared, eyes widening as she watched him cross the room, each step bringing him closer and closer. Her breath caught, and all thoughts of villains and blackmail disappeared into a fog of tingling sensations.
And then—
There was another knock on the door.
Shodster had brought the post, and in it a letter from Shelley.
*
“I will stay until your departure and then accompany you to Bath.” It was a statement, not a question. Robert stood beside the mantel, an unreadable expression on his face.
“No, this is too fast. You cannot do it. I cannot do it.” Mama shook her head with so much enthusiasm that Lydia thought her mother might do herself an injury.
“Please, Mama. You know I rarely ask for your help. I am desperate.”
After scrubbing at the folds above her nose, her mother took a deep breath. She looked sightless at the far side of the library and then back to Lydia. “Rare, my dear? You never ask for my help. That alone tells me how important this is to you.”
“I asked for your advice just last week.… Or was it the week before? Mr. Selleck—remember?”
“Indeed, I do. But my role was to support your decision—”
“And you did an excellent job, I must say.”
“Yes. Thank you. I did, didn’t I? However, what you are asking now is more along the lines of moving heaven and earth.”
It was Lydia’s turn to scrub at her face and sigh … a little too soon, because an idea had come to mind as she did so. Lifting her head, she glanced at Robert and then returned her gaze to her mother. “We don’t need to move the entire household … no. It would be better if we didn’t … yes. There is no room for the necessities of seven ladies—and one gentleman—in a single travel coach and a family landau. Indeed, it makes perfect sense to accomplish the resettlement in two lots. You and I and Cora in the first group … the others to follow whenever they can gather their bits and pieces.”
“But Cora will be needed to see to the girls.”
“The whole point of leaving three weeks early is to distract Cora, Mama. We have to think of a plausible reason for her to join us while leaving Ivy and Tessa with Aunt Freya.”
“Yes, yes, of course … but four days, Lydia? We must leave in four days? Can you not tell me why?”
Lydia glanced toward Robert, observing his changed expression—unreadable was now stony.
Poor Robert. He must have been acquainted with the inconsistent emotions of young ladies; he did have two sisters, after all. Still, the change had been so abrupt that it had left him speechless. One moment they were drawing ever closer in a charged and heady atmosphere, the next Lydia was in his arms—crying. It wasn’t something either had expected.
Robert had held her as she explained and allowed a few tears to dribble off her chin. He made all the appropriate tut-tut and tsk noises and then sent Shodster in search of her mother. It had been his idea to transplant the Whitfields and Kembles to Bath immediately—the town house had already been secured and an early arrival would take only a little renegotiation.
“Experience has taught me that this kind of pain cannot be lessened by anything but time. So it is best to help time pass quickly,” he said. “Distraction. What could be more diverting than a change from a quiet country life to the bustling streets and entertainments of the city?”
Lydia thought it sound advice—and tried, very hard, not to find joy in the thought that they would also be closer together.… They would be able to see each other more often. No, she would not think those thoughts. They were disloyal to her friend. No, she would put them away and concentrate on Cora. Poor Cora.
“I have to give Cora some disturbing news, Mama. She has been waiting to hear…”
“About a gentleman?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so.”
“Oh dear, oh dear. Is she about to be heartbroken?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so.”
“Oh, no. Nothing worse. Dear. Dear. The poor, poor girl. Hmm. Yes. No, we can’t have that. I … yes, let me see. Yes, there has been some confusion in regard to your birthday ball.… We have to complete the arrangements; it is only three weeks away, you know.… And you need Cora to help you decide on a gown—yes, my advice is old-fashioned and our taste is at odds. Yes, well, who would not believe that one? And … let me see. Yes, we do not want to inconvenience everyone. There, that should be enough; those will be our excuses. The girls will quite enjoy a week or two away from their lessons. And now, I must go. Hurry, hurry. I have to be ready to leave in four days. Goodness.”
With that, Mama rushed to the door but turned back before she opened it. “How would you like me to act, Lydia? Play ignorant or offer sympathy?”
“Sympathy can sometimes make it harder to be strong.”
“Yes, all too true.” Mama turned and left the room, nodding as she disappeared.
Lydia glanced at Robert. He, too, was nodding but not for the same reason.
“There is a romantic tendency in your family, after all. Your mother is quite understanding.”
Lydia smiled weakly, despite the sadness that was weighing her down. “Yes, indeed.” She refrained from mentioning that she was not at all devoid of romantic thoughts and emotions as she had once supposed.… Best to let that one alone for now.
Instead, Lydia squeezed his forearm and left the library in search of Cora. She had a duty to perform, a terrible duty. She had to tell her friend that the love of her life was not going to be calling at Roseberry Hall. Gloria had spoken true. Mr. Lorne Granger was engaged to be married; the wedding would take place at Michaelmas.
Chapter 17
In which Bath provides more than its share of distractions
Robert had caught a whiff of subterfuge in Lydia’s account of Miss Shipley and Mr. Granger—not as described by Lydia but in the underlying tale. Something was not all on the up and up, and he had every intention of learning the truth behind this tragic story of unrequited love. And so it was that Robert could be found standing in front of Cassidy’s Circus town house, having arrived the day before in Bath with Lydia, Miss Shipley, and Mrs. Whitfield.
Cassidy had had fair warning—Robert had sent a note announcing his intention to visit from Roseberry four days earlier. As it was a working day, Robert had already stopped by the firm to question Mr. Lynch about various procedures and to speak to Mr. Cargoff. It was nearing eleven. All this meant that Cassidy should be up and waiting for him as soon as Robert presented himself at the front door … and made it past Cranford.