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Chapter 50
The very next morning, there was a knock at the door. Lucy’s stomach did a painful twist, as she expected it to be Silas, there to demand to be allowed in. She swallowed.I’m not ready, she thought anxiously.I’m not ready to listen to his lies.She clenched her hands into fists.
Aunt Joan went to the window, peering down. She turned to Lucy, who sat on the settee wrapped in a quilt, with an encouraging smile.
“It’s Miss Sweet,” Aunt Lucy said, to Lucy’s relief. “Will you see her?”
“Absolutely,” Lucy replied. Dinah was her friend, come to make sure that she was well. She wasn’t, but she could see her friend, show her that she was holding on.
Aunt Joan left, returning in a few short moments with Dinah, who sat down on the settee beside Lucy, taking her hand in her own.
“How are you, my dear?” she asked, pressing her hand.
“I have never felt so betrayed in all my life,” Lucy said, tearing up immediately. “I… I thought he loved me. Then, I find out that it was all a lie.”
“I myself am disappointed in my brother,” Dinah agreed. “I didn’t think he had something like this in him.”
“Where is he now?” Lucy asked. “I don’t know that I could see him.”
“Silas has fled London for the countryside,” Dinah explained. “He returned home yesterday, packed a bag, and then left almost immediately.”
“He’s left?” Aunt Joan asked in surprise. Lucy could only stare at her friend. Words failed her. There was something worse about him not even staying in the city. Silas had abandoned her entirely. He hadn’t given her time to heal. He hadn’t even waited. He had given up already.
This means that it’s really over, she thought.He’s not even going to apologize.It was the final nail in the coffin lid. She could hear it thumping at the bottom of the grave. Over. They were over.
A tear slipped from her eye, and she reached up to brush it away.
“Yes. Without a word to any of us,” Dinah replied. “Hopefully, he’ll return soon. The Season is starting.” She sighed. “I can’t believe he did this. I was so sure that he was stepping up to fill my father’s shoes.”
“I think we have all been misled,” Lucy pointed out.
“Well, if there’s anything that I can do,” Dinah assured her, “do let me know.”
“You’re an excellent friend and I don’t want to lose you,” Lucy told her, squeezing her hand gently. “Let’s both agree that we won’t let your brother’s betrayal ruin our friendship.” Lucy had already learned that lesson with Susan. To never allow a man to get in the way of a good friendship.
Dinah smiled. “I would like that very much,” she said earnestly.
“Good,” Lucy replied. “Because I’m going to hold you to it.”
