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Anna smiled back. ‘Why, yes, my lady. I think my brother will do very well without me for a while. There is a certain widow in our village who would make him a very good wife, but while I am there making him comfortable he is too lazy to—oh, what is the word?—to bestir himself to make court to her.’
‘Good, now you must promise me that you will say if there is anything you need.’ She hesitated. ‘I have no wish to offend you, but I am sure you set out without much money on you, given the nature of your journey. Would you consider acting as my daughter’s companion while you are with us and accepting the salary I would pay a gentlewoman in such a position in England?’
‘Why, yes, my lady, if Hebe is happy.’ Anna received a glowing look of agreement and said, ‘In that case, I accept for as long as Hebe needs me.’
‘Excellent. Then if I were to pay you a month in advance, would that suit?’ Terms agreed, Sara got up. ‘Now, Hebe, you are to stay in bed. I am going out to talk to the excellent modiste that has been recommended to me—she made my blacks in next to no time. I will arrange for her to call here tomorrow and we will order clothes for you, and for Mrs Wilkins. And a hairdresser for you, Hebe dear. Then the day after that we will see if you are strong enough to go out shopping yourself. Now rest, dearest.’
As soon as the door closed behind her Hebe was out of bed and hugging Anna. ‘Oh, thank you! Now, I am not going to stay in bed: I do not want to lie there with nothing to think about but…I mean, I do not want to brood…’
‘No,’ Anna agreed sympathetically. ‘I am sure your mama will not mind if you sit quietly in the salon, at least you can look out of the window.’
They found a shady balcony overlooking the garden, screened from prying eyes with vine-clad trellis and with comfortable wicker chairs and footstools. Anna settled Hebe in one of the chairs and went out to fetch lemonade. No sooner had she gone than a footman came in.
‘Beg pardon, Miss Carlton, but there is a gentleman below asking to see you. I said I did not think you were at home.’
‘Who is it?’
‘Major Beresford, miss.’
Hebe hesitated, not knowing what she wanted to do. The man added, ‘But as your companion isn’t here, miss…’
Contrarily Hebe made up her mind. ‘Mrs Wilkins will be back in a moment. Please show the Major up.’
She lay back in the chair, schooling her features into calm. The door opened, Major Beresford was announced and then there was silence as it closed behind the footman.
‘Hebe?’
‘Out here, on the balcony,’ she called.
Alex came out, unfamiliar in immaculate uniform. ‘Good morning,’ she said with a smile. ‘I see you have found your baggage from the ship. Please sit down.’ There, she told herself, that was in your best social manner. No one would guess your heart was thudding and you were having to hold on to the arms of the chair so as not to reach out for him.
Alex dropped into the chair opposite, long legs stretched out in front of him. ‘How are you, Circe?’
‘I am very well thank you, but you should not call me that.’
‘No, I suppose I should not,’ he agreed. ‘But I think I will not have another opportunity.’
‘Why?’ Hebe sat up sharply. ‘Surely you will visit us? It would present a very odd appearance if you did not.’
‘I sail for England tomorrow. I have come to say goodbye.’
How could he say it like that, as if he was saying he would be away for a day or two?
‘Tomorrow?’ Hebe said lightly. I am not going to cry, I will not cry. ‘My goodness, that is fast! Surely there is much you have to report?’
‘I have been keeping a log in cipher and I have been up half the night reporting.’ He looked at her, unsmiling. ‘There were orders awaiting me, and a ship bound for Portsmouth is in the harbour. We sail with the morning tide.’
‘You must be pleased. How long is it since you were in England?’ She pressed on without waiting for an answer. ‘How happy your father and brother will be—and Lady Clarissa, of course.’
‘Yes, it is a long time since I saw any of them,’ he agreed. She could feel his eyes on her face, but she did not look at him. He was retreating behind the taciturn front he had used when she first met him. Hebe was determined she was not going to betray her feelings.
‘I expect there will be an early announcement of your wedding in the newspapers,’ she said brightly, making herself look at him. A stranger would have seen nothing there, but she knew him too well. ‘You seem surprised?’
‘No, of course not, only there will be all the planning to do.’
‘Lady Clarissa will have been planning ever since she made her decision,’ Hebe said with a light laugh. ‘What woman would not? Why, she and her mama will have every detail all fixed. What flowers for the church, what menu for the wedding breakfast, exactly how many of the more remote or difficult relatives to invite. You are just the husband-to-be, you will have nothing to say in the matter.’
Across the salon, the door opened and shut quietly. Anna tiptoed to a chair in the furthest corner. If she stood up and peered round the screen she could see the balcony: that was chaperonage enough, she decided.
