“No,” Carina said repressively. “Are you so anxious to be rid of me so soon?”
Orchid jumped up to give her a fierce hug, for which, in her sudden desolation, Carina was ridiculously glad.
Chapter Nine
It was a couple of days later when, as they strolled in the garden with the children, Harriet said to her suddenly, “You do know you are invited to attend the wedding and the breakfast?”
“Oh no,” Carina said. “It would not be suitable, and I have nothing to wear.”
Harriet took her arm. “It is perfectly suitable. I would just ask that you keep an eye on the children. Lily will be my maid of honour, but all the girls will attend me, and they are prone to excitement as you know... As for a gown, we still have time to find something you would like. I know nothing of London fashions myself.Mygowns are all made from Lady Grandison’s daughter’s! We could easily do the same for you...”
Although uneasy, Carina could hardly refuse the request. And she thought she could probably manage, sitting unobtrusively with the children. Lord Durward had not been mentioned again, so she hoped this meant no one had been able to find him.
Or at least, she told herself that was what she hoped. In fact, she worried where he was, and in spite of herself, a corrosive disappointment seeped into her heart that she would not see him again, even at a distance.
The following day, she received a long-awaited letter from her father. It was brought to her during morning lessons in the schoolroom, and since the children were all quietly at work for once, she sat down at her own desk and read it.
It was written in a straight hand, his sentences coherent if mundane. He commented on a few of the stories in her own letter, and talked about the weather, telling her little of his own life, except a minor repair to theMarie, which he had carried out successfully on his own, thus saving much of the cost. This served only to sharpen her anxiety, for he mentioned nothing about sobriety or work. And then came the sentence that almost undid her.
I have seen nothing of young Durward, and I find I miss the scamp.
She set the letter down hurriedly and found all four children watching her.
“It’s not bad news, is it, Miss Jasper?” Alex asked.
“Oh no, nothing like that.” She rose quickly and went to see how they progressed on their assignments.
“ALEX!” LILY EXCLAIMED, shocked to find him bent over Miss Jasper’s desk. She had come back from their trail through the nearby wood, looking at different trees, flowers and insects, in order to find her sketch pad. “Aren’t you supposed to be with Snake, learning about horses and sports?”
“He said to give him five minutes,” Alex replied, colouring. He straightened, revealing Miss Jasper’s recently received letter lying open in front of him. “I am not sneaking,” he added quickly. “I’m just worried about Miss Jasper.”
“Why? Because of that letter?”
“It made her sad. More than sad. Orchid likes her.”
No doubt a stranger would not have seen the connection between his sentences, but Lily understood immediately. Orchid’s affections were rare but fierce and she liked Miss Jasper. None of them wanted her to leave.
“I know,” Lily said, “but we have no right to read her letters.”
His blush deepened. “No. And I wouldn’t have, only she left it there, and the words sort of leapt up at me. And in truth, I can’t find the reason for her sadness. It’s only from her father about weather and ships.” He gave a quick grin. “And he said we sound delightful.”
“Well, that is encouraging, but Alex—”
“I know,” he said, irritated and shame-faced at the same time. “I won’t do it again. Only...why did she look so sad?”
Lily struggled with her conscience. “Did the letter mention no accident or death in the family?”
“No. It didn’t really mention anyone at all, except this Durward character. Why do I know his name?”
“Snake was talking about him the other day, as his possible groomsman... Then Miss Jasperdoesknow him? I thought so... I sense a mystery, Alex. I’ll talk to Harriet later. You ask Snake about him.”
Alex nodded and started for the door while she unearthed her sketch book. “Lily? You won’t tell Harriet, will you? Or Miss Jasper? I really won’t do it again.”
“I know,” Lily said. He wasn’t a sneak by nature, but hewascaring, and it was done with the best of intentions. He was right that they should do what they could for Miss Jasper. She gave a quick, conspiratorial grin. “They’re not likely to ask, are they?”
Alex grinned and sped off for the stables.
DURWARD WAS LEARNINGfirst-hand the problems of largely absentee landlords. He had quite clearly failed to see when things began to go wrong at Gullaine Park and the steward he had appointed began to abuse his position. Worse, when Durward failed to do anything, the steward had been emboldened and began to feather his own nest with increased rents and unauthorized fines.
