“I suppose you’ve heard of all the marriages we’ve had lately?” William said, laughing to himself. “Henry got married, Aunt Bridget.Henry. And Alexander, and Kat. I wonder if you remember the Rutherfords, Aunt Bridget? Well, Katherine married Timothy Rutherford.”
Bridget’s face relaxed into a smile. “Yes, indeed, I recall. The oldest boy, yes? What a fine match that will be.”
“Uh, no, not the oldest boy, the other one. Timothy was always my friend, and Kat’s too. He is, of course, the second son.”
There was a brief pause. “Katherine threw herself away on a second son?” Bridget said, laughing incredulously. “A plain oldmister? Goodness. If my brother were alive, he would never have allowed such a thing.”
There was an uncomfortable silence after that. Lavinia and William exchanged quick, meaningful glances. Pippa pinned her gaze on the ground, red with mortification on her mother’s behalf.
“Timothy is my friend, and he adores Kat,” William said, carefully. “And she loves him. It’s quite a good match, Aunt.”
Bridget recovered herself, smiling tightly. “Of course, of course. Pay me no mind. I am happy for her, of course. Are they all here?”
“Not at the moment, but I’m sure they’ll be keen to meet you. And…” William glanced at his wife again, “… and my mother is here, too. She generally lives with my brother, Alexander, but at the moment she is staying with us. I sent a footman to find her and tell her that you’re here.”
With impeccable timing, footsteps echoed in the hallway again. The door opened, and a pale, faded woman entered.
She was a little older than Bridget, but much smaller and thinner, with long, bony hands that she wrung together. Her gown was a good one, but old-fashioned, and did not sit right on her thin frame. She said nothing, only glancing between them.
William got to his feet, edging over to his mother.
“Mother, this is Aunt Bridget and Cousin Pippa. You remember them, don’t you?” he said, his voice a little brighter than was natural, as if he worried his mother might not understand.
She cleared her throat, cloudy eyes landing on first Bridget and then Pippa.
“Of course, I remember,” she said at last. “You have grown up beautifully, Pippa. And Bridget, it is very good to see you. I’m glad you’re here. Shall we walk? I’d like to speak to you.”
Bridget nodded slowly, glancing at Lavinia and William for permission.
“I shall write to my brothers and Kat, to let them know you’re staying with us,” he said. “Lavinia, would you show Pippa to her chambers?”
Lavinia nodded, and smiled at Pippa, gesturing for her to follow.
This is it,Pippa thought, heart hammering.My life is changing, again. I wonder what the future holds for me now?
Without giving herself a chance to think twice, she followed Lavinia.
Will it last, though?
Pippa tried to keep her worries to herself, as she followed Lavinia down endless, winding corridors.
The house was vast, worryingly so. Even the house they’d lived in when things were good was smaller than this one. When Pippa had visited to play with Katherine, they’d stayed in the nursery, and somehow the place had seemed smaller.
Now, she lived in fear of losing her way.
How will I find my way around?
“We’ll put you in the Blue Room, and your mother in the Grey Room, across the hall,” Lavinia said, twisting around to smile at her. “There’s a morning-room beside the Blue Room. It needs airing, but I shall have that seen to directly, and then you can use it as a parlour. I hope you’ll be comfortable here.”
“You’ve very kind,” Pippa burst out. “We… We shouldn’t have come without warning. I apologise.”
Lavinia threw her an odd look. “I thought you said you’d sent a letter ahead, only for it to go astray?”
Pippa reddened further. “I did. That is, we did. Perhaps we should have waited, since you’ve only just gotten married.”
“I don’t mind,” she responded with a shrug. “William’s family is a little… well, I’m sure you know about the old duke already. The man was something of a monster. All of his children had strange relationships with him. His poor wife, Mary, adored him, but he never treated her well. She misses him so badly, but he was never worthy of her. Perhaps I ought not to speak so openly of it, but there has been so much trouble between William and his family because of this. It’s been… it’s been difficult. Have you any siblings, Pippa?”
She shook her head. “I always wanted siblings, though.”
