Page 41 of The Work of Art

“I thought her nothing very special,” Caroline said languidly.

“Oh, she’s no rival to you, of course,” Forsythe said at once. “Can’t even compare.”

Arthur collected his package and prepared to take his leave.

“You’ve seen us both, Captain.” Caroline’s mouth curved into a feline smile. “How do you judge? Is Mr. Forsythe, right? Or do you think Miss Satterthwaite my rival?”

Arthur briefly met her gaze. “Phyllida Satterthwaite has no rival.” And before either could recover from his assertion, he bid them a curt good day and walked out of the shop.

Philly’s escape from her uncle’s house on Friday morning didn’t go as smoothly as it had done the morning before. After dressing in a sprigged muslin gown and blue spencer robe, she’d wasted quite a bit of time trying to arrange her hair. It was so thick that no sooner had she put in a hairpin than it popped right back out again. Following several attempts, she finally had it in some semblance of order. Only then did she pack as many clothes as she could carry into a valise and make her way downstairs with her dogs.

Just as she was preparing to descend the last flight of stairs and creep quietly out the front door of the townhouse, she heard the unmistakable sound of voices in the entry hall.

Upon further inspection, she discovered it was Evans reprimanding William.

“As that may be, sonny boy,” Evans was saying in an accent far less genteel than the one she usually heard him use. “But you don’t work for Mr. Townsend’s niece, do you? You work for Mr. Townsend. There won’t be no more ducking out to the garden. If she wants her dogs to be looked after, she can bloody well—”

“Good morning!” Philly called cheerfully. She came down the stairs and into the hall. “I’m just going to walk my dogs out onto the green.”

Evans turned to look at her. His gaze flashed to the traveling bag in her hand. “Miss Satterthwaite, it’s half five in the morning.”

“It’s not so terribly early. I often woke at such an hour in the country. Besides, I can’t sleep and I’ve a mind for some fresh air. If no one is available to accompany me, I’ll be quite content to go out alone with my dogs—”

“Mr. Townsend and Mrs. Vale wouldn’t allow it,” Evans said. “I won’t allow it.”

She swallowed her growing anxiety, and with a purposeful stride, moved toward the front doors. “Enough of this nonsense, Evans. I’m resolved to go, and I shan’t wait a second longer.”

“Hold a moment!” Evans rushed toward her, as if he meant to bar her way or perhaps even grab hold of her.

Basil growled low in his throat. Fox joined in with a threatening snarl from his place in Philly’s arms.

Evans took a few cautious steps back.

Philly seized the opportunity. Tugging her dogs behind her, she hurried the rest of the way to the door and opened it.

“William!” Evans exclaimed. “Go with Miss Satterthwaite. Just to the green, mind you. She must come back directly.” His eyes darted from Philly to her dogs. “I’ll have to send a maid to wake Mrs. Vale. She and Mr. Townsend said you weren’t to leave the house—”

“Do whatever you think you must,” Philly said, and without waiting a moment longer, she went out the front doors of the townhouse.

Her pulse raced as she and her dogs skipped down the front steps and to the street. She didn’t say a word, only walked briskly toward the park.

“Wait, miss!” William caught up to her. “I thought we were walking to the green?”

“No, William, I’m going somewhere else. I don’t wish you to get in any more trouble, so you may turn back if you like. In truth, it’s probably better if you do.”

“And leave you here?”

“I’m quite all right with my dogs, as you can see— Oh!” Philly held tight to Jasper’s lead as he attempted to bolt off, nearly toppling her over in the process.

“Let me, miss.” William took charge of the three larger dogs, showing no inclination to leave Philly’s side. “Where are we going?”

“Just to the entrance of the park.”

“You mean to walk your dogs in the park? But I promised Mr. Evans we were only going to the green. If we aren’t back right away, he’ll have my head.”

Philly chewed her bottom lip. She contemplated how much she could confide in William. He’d always been good to her. Surely he wouldn’t betray her now. “I’m not going into the park precisely, only to the entrance of it. I’m…I’m meeting Captain Heywood’s carriage.”

“Captain Heywood!”