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Chapter Fifteen
Lady Constance simmered. There was no other word for it. Despite Lady Adelaide’s promise that they would be able to join in the investigation, here she was with the rest of the guests riding to explore some ridiculous ruins.
Who cared about a bunch of rocks that had once used to be a house or fortress or abbey or some such thing? The here and now was of much more significance and interest to Connie than something that might have happened hundreds of years ago.
She didn’t much care if she was being ridiculous. She was angry and annoyed and if pressed she might admit that she was even a little afraid. It had been evident to her that Florent Alcott suspected her of being involved in whatever plot they were all investigating. She herself knew that she was innocent of any charges that could possibly be leveled against her. But Florent had struck her as such a steady, level-headed, even kind, man that thinking he suspected her of criminality was unsettling and made her question whether or not she would be able to defend her innocence if she didn’t get herself involved.
Lady Adelaide had promised and yet here they were.
Connie didn’t know how to ask her hostess about the change of plans without turning shrill or emotional and causing a scene in front of the others, so she had kept her own council for the time being.
And so, she stewed and simmered. And worked up a great head of anger.
How dare Florent Alcott judge her? Who appointed him a judge of her? What right did he have to think she might be a party to anything nefarious? And upon what grounds could he possibly base such a suspicion?
Connie wanted to weep and rail but instead she put up her parasol to ward of the sun and smiled as benignly as she could upon the world around her. She managed to gather her roiling emotions into her bosom and keep them there, turning her attention to the other occupants of the carriage they were riding in.
She and Peggy were accompanied by the newly betrothed couple Miss Alcott and Mr. Foster Northcott. Lord Merton’s beautiful carriage was made for two, but he had restrained himself from taking Peggy along with him, merely following them as closely as the road allowed. Connie assumed Peggy was disappointed but too loyal to leave her side. It was heart-warming to say the least.
Some of the gossip Connie had allowed herself to overhear indicated that Merton had pursued Miss Alcott when they had first arrived at the house party, so it seemed to Connie that it was a testament to his devotion to Peggy that he would accompany them all that day.
Connie’s curiosity finally allowed her to swallow her indignation for the time being. She had always wished she could see into the minds of other people. What were they all thinking? Why had Daisy and Foster accompanied her and Peggy? And was Lord Merton uncomfortable to be with the lady he had previously pursued and the one he seemed to currently pursue at the same time? And what was Mr. Northcott thinking about it all?
Her mind seethed with the questions, but she knew she couldn’t actually ask them, much to her disappointment. Societal whims and expectations could be a pain in the backside most of the time, she acknowledged, even as she followed them, with a smile pinned to her face.
For a moment Connie allowed her gaze to wander to the other vehicles in their little convoy heading toward these ruins she still considered ridiculous. She hoped she would be able to at least appear to think differently once they arrived.
It had been a surprise to see Mr. Wagner climb into the same carriage as Lady Bathurst, Lady Isabelle, and Lady Alcott. Lord Bathurst had claimed an indisposition and had remained behind at Everleigh.
Connie wondered what the occupants of that carriage were talking about. She also wondered if Wagner might be shifting his pursuit to the very young debutante. A part of her would be hugely relieved but then she would worry for the girl.
“Are you well?” Peggy murmured the question low enough that the courting couple didn’t seem to notice.
Connie smiled. “Why do you ask?”
“I know you, you goose.”
Connie lifted a shoulder. She couldn’t exactly bare her soul in front of the newly engaged couple who were still little more than strangers to her.
“Later,” she whispered to Peggy who squeezed her arm and nodded.
“Of course.” Peggy’s warm smile was a bit of balm to her roiling emotions. It was soothing to know she had someone on her side. At least one. Even when it seemed as though everyone else was against her. She would miss her companion if things between Peggy and Lord Merton followed through.
Connie took herself to task. Peggy was surely not the only person in the entire world who cared about her, and it was foolish of her to allow herself to become melancholy. She couldn’t dwell on Florent and the investigation taking place at Everleigh that was excluding her, despite her possible involvement by association.
“What do you know of Canada?” Connie asked Miss Alcott in an attempt to escape her own disquieted thoughts.
Miss Alcott’s smile brightened the day as she looked at her fiancé and then back at Connie. “Very little, yet,” she admitted. “But I’m looking forward to learning first-hand.”
“Are you nervous about the crossing?”
“Of course,” Daisy answered with a light laugh. “I’ve never been on anything other than a rowboat in a pond. I never even took a river barge, if you can imagine.” The young woman shot another fond glance at her fiancé before turning and adding, “But I have been assured that there is nothing to fear.” She paused for a moment. “What about you, Lady Constance? Have you ever crossed the ocean?”
“Not yet,” she admitted, “But I have recently been thinking I ought to rectify that.”
“Really?” Daisy demanded. “Would you go to Canada, too? Perhaps you could visit us,” she offered eagerly.
Connie laughed, pleased with the invitation, but then she shook her head. “I don’t think my adventurous spirit is quite that developed,” she admitted. “From what I understand, Canada, especially Upper Canada where I believe you will be heading, isn’t very developed yet. I think I might be better off exploring New York first.”
