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Chapter 47
It had been several days since the party and Lucy had spent them quietly at home, working on her painting of the two lovers in the woods. It was almost nearing completion. She wanted to have it done before Dinah’s marriage, so she could present it to her friend as a gift.
Lucy was not surprised when Dinah called on the third day. They had agreed to go for a walk in the park to discuss the party at length. Having waited a few days, Lucy was eager to recall all of the wonderful things that had happened that night. Aunt Joan came along with them, and the three women set out on a stroll of the park that was near to the house on Harley Street.
It was a cool day, with their breaths fogging on the air as they talked. The leaves were beginning to fall from the trees in a bright profusion of reds, oranges, and golds. The grass was lush and bright green, and the park was crowded with people enjoying one of the last autumn days before winter set in, keeping them indoors.
“I spent the whole of the evening talking,” Aunt Joan was saying. “Though I did see that both of you danced every set!”
“We did,” Dinah agreed, with a smile directed at Lucy. “There was no want for gentlemen that evening to dance with. My brother didn’t think to invite enough ladies so that there were an equal number of pairs for all of the dances. I told him that it was a serious concern, but alas, he doesn’t listen to me.”
“Well, I suppose we have to forgive him,” Lucy pointed out. “It was the first party that he’d ever planned.”
“This is true,” Dinah allowed. “However, I believe that you’re biased when it comes to my brother, Lucy.” She grinned at her.
“Oh, she is,” Aunt Joan agreed. They all laughed. Lucy knew that she was blushing a deep crimson. She glanced away from them, and when she did, she spotted Mr Stalton. He was dressed in deep burgundy, with an awful orange top hat. He smiled at them, though it didn’t reach his eyes, which were like cold flint.
She shuddered, as she recalled his slimy touch back in the maze at Thornbridge Manor—how he had cornered her there. She felt the same way then, like he had thought to find them there. He was approaching the three women, and bowed to them with false gallantry.
“Miss Sweet!” he said, addressing Dinah first. “I did not get a chance to congratulate you on your engagement.” There was a bit of a snide tone to his statement, something which put Lucy on her guard almost immediately.
“Thank you, Mr Stalton,” Dinah said, keeping her tone reserved and polite. “Though, I won’t likely be the only engaged woman in this group for long.” She beamed at Lucy.
Mr Stalton laughed loudly. The three women looked at him, surprised by his reaction.
“You’re talking of Silas, of course,” he said, his hands folded behind his back.
“My brother is courting Miss Wilds,” Dinah replied. “As you may well know by now.”
He sighed, shaking his head. His eyes were large and he was looking at Lucy sadly, as though hepitiedher. Lucy felt angry.Why does he look at me in that way?she wondered. She began to panic a little. Was this another one of his cruel tricks?
“I suppose he hasn’t told you, then?” he asked, his eyes going wider. Lucy’s heartbeat thundered in her ears. She was blushing again, but for a different reason. She wanted to run away, but her knees were locked, holding her in place.
“What are talking about, Mr Stalton?” Dinah asked. Lucy was glad that she wasn’t the only one who was confused. For if Dinah didn’t know, then perhaps it was one of his awful, mean-hearted tricks.
“During the party at Thornbridge Manor,” he replied, looking right at Lucy. “Silas lost a bet to me, in regard to bagging a buck. If I lost, I was to wear a dunce cap to dinner. If Silas lost, he was to court Miss Wilds.” His eyes fell on Lucy. They seemed to pin her in place.
“It can’t be true,” she said, hardly able to believe her ears.
“Unfortunately, it is,” he told her. “He has used you most grievously, Miss Wilds. I do not believe that he cares for you. Not really. He simply cannot stand down from a bet.” He looked at Dinah. “You know what a sore loser your brother is.”
The three women shared a confused glance. Lucy felt devastated. She could feel something inside of her break. Her vision blurred as her eyes filled with tears.
“Well, I must be off,” Mr Stalton said. “I hope I’ve done right in telling you, but I can see that you’re suffering under Silas’ lies.”
Lucy nodded, though she wasn’t really paying any attention to Mr Stalton as he bowed to them and left. Her heart was pounding in her ears. She heard herself whimper, then she covered her mouth with her hand as she burst into sobs. Aunt Joan and Dinah grabbed each of her arms, protecting her.
“Oh, Lucy,” Dinah said. “I—I knew nothing of this. Percy might be lying. Surely, he is.”
“No, I don’t believe that he is,” Lucy replied, remembering how angry Silas had been when Percy had hinted that he’d “followed through after all.” Men, her heart then remembered, truly weren’t any good. She covered her mouth with her hand to stifle her sobs. She hated that she was in public. Passersby were glancing over at her. She felt as though she was in a bad dream, one from which she might wake at any second.
Aunt Joan took Lucy’s hand. “Come, let’s get you home.”
***
After they returned to the house in Harley Street, Dinah came with them, making sure that Lucy was comfortably ensconced on the settee in the parlour. Lucy stared down at the wadded up, damp handkerchief in her hands. She was miserable. The bad dream hadn’t ended, nor would it. This was all real.
“I’m going to go and have a talk with my brother,” Dinah announced. “I’ll get to the bottom of this.”
