Clara wondered precisely what that meant, but she had no time to examine the thought further as a set of keys was produced and a young lad flagged down to take them up to their chamber. Marianne went outside to fetch Nell and the children.
Once the door was closed behind them, Clara turned to Julian. “Giacomo. That is the name of the servant we already deduced. Do you suppose she has married him?”
Julian shook his head. “No. If he helped her escape, he is likely staying close to protect her, and to do that without drawing attention, they would have had to pass themselves off as husband and wife, much as we did.”
“I imagine so,” she replied.
“As to what we do now… tomorrow, I will speak to Frederick again and get the exact date of their arrival. Then we will go down to the docks and speak to someone there about which ship they came in on. We’ll look at the passenger list and see if any name stands out, anyone we might be able to ask. Perhaps someone from the ship is still working at the docks and remembers something.” He paused. “I should also speak to Frederick in more detail. He was too excited to see Marianne this evening for us to get very much out of him.”
“That is true. He does seem very fond of her.” Clara sat on the edge of the bed. “I wonder what the story is there.”
“As do I.” He crossed to the window. “Why do you suppose she did not mention our titles?”
“This is not the sort of inn where people of quality tend to stay. I imagine there may be some resentment towards people like us. I have heard people speak of the ton in rather displaced terms.”
“As have I. And frankly, not always without cause. There are a great many of our class who look down upon these people. I will not exempt myself from that. I have been guilty of it myself.”
“As have I, even when I did not mean to.”
They sat for a little while in silence, and then he surveyed the room. His eyes settled on the narrow chaise in the corner.
“Well,” he said, “it is fortunate there is a chaise. I will not have to sleep on the floor again.”
“I can take the chaise,” she offered.
He laughed. “What sort of man do you take me for? You will not be taking the chaise. You will sleep in the bed and I?—”
A knock came at the door. He opened it. Marianne stood there with one child on each arm. Clara took David from her, and the little boy yawned.
“He wanted to say goodnight. I thought it might be better if he stays with me tonight. That way, I do not have to disturb you when it is time for him to eat.”
“I think that would be best.”
“Very well. We are staying one floor above in a chamber for Frederick’s friends and family.”
“I see,” Clara said.
Marianne smiled. “You thought I was staying with him. You really do think me a loose woman.”
“I did not think that at all.”
“It is quite all right if you did. After all, I do have a child with a married man.” She said it without self-pity and without apology, and Clara found herself thinking back to the conversation she and Julian had had in the carriage earlier.
“Will it be all right for you to be here?” she asked carefully. “I mean Molly’s father…
Marianne shrugged. “I doubt very much that he still cares to find me. He was a passing merchant. What are the chances he would be here? Very small.” She paused. “In any case, I am glad we were able to find out something about Arabella.”
“Julian intends to speak to Frederick again in the morning,” Clara said.
“That is very sensible. At this hour, Frederick is generally well into his cups, but I think if there was anything truly important he would have told us.”
Clara and Julian bade David a good night, not that he took much notice of it as his eyes were mostly closed already. Clara handedhim off to Marianne who dipped her head. “Good night, My Lady. Your Grace.”
“I shall get ready for bed,” Clara said and stepped behind the screen to change.
She did not feel the same awkwardness she had felt the first time she and Julian had been forced to share a chamber together. And that, she thought, was almost as concerning as the awkwardness itself had been.
CHAPTER 23
