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“Have you found out anything at all yet?” Cassie prompted. “Eleanor is starting to look frightfully thin and would not even accompany us today for fear of drawing the wrong attention.” Cassie shook her head and sighed. “You know that most of her devastation is because she fears the damage it will do to us and not her.”
“She scarcely leaves her room,” Demeter added.
“Not even when I tried to tempt her out with a new device,” Cassie declared. “It is most worrying to see.”
Chastity grimaced. “I had hoped at least coming here rather than Regent’s Park would help. Besides which, I would rather not be seen by those who know us so we may continue our ruse that I am in the country with friends. If Anton sees me in London, he shall say something to Papa.”
“Father has scarcely noticed your absence.” Demeter waved a hand. “Y-You know how he is these days. And Anton is far too in love with Eliza to notice much either.” She made a face. “I am happy for them both but goodness, it’s mightily strange to hear your brother whisper sweet words to his wife at the breakfast table.”
Cassie nodded. “Anton is secretly a romantic.”
“As are we all,” sighed Aunt Sarah.
Demeter shook her head. “Not me.”
“Nor me,” added Chastity. Her late husband had put a damper on any romantic notions she had long ago. “Anyway, with any luck I shan’t be much longer. I intend to visit Mr. Harper’s parents,” Chastity explained. “There is talk that he was courting someone from home, yet no one knows anything of her, and it seems odd that it should be kept a secret.”
Demeter nodded. “It does seem logical that this has to do with a love match. Perhaps the woman was married.”
“Perhaps, but I cannot persuade Lord Kendall to tell me anything of the man’s family and there is no chance the housekeeper will give me any of his details.”
“How odd. Do you think the earl has lost interest in solving the matter?” Cassie asked.
“I do not believe so but maybe he fears the attention such a visit will draw.” Chastity shrugged. “Either way, I do believe I need to speak with them. It would be useful.”
“I can have Luke check the census records at Parliament,” Cassie suggested.
Chastity grinned. “That is precisely why I wish to meet. Your husband is a useful man.”
“He certainly has his uses.” Cassie offered a sly smile. “I shall send word once we have the address.”
“Perfect. Now I must make haste. I was meant to collect these sheets from the laundry, and I have taken too long already.” She lifted the bundle in her arms.
Demeter gestured up and down her. “Be sure to change before you return or else you shall look mightily odd.”
“And enjoy that brooding man, my dear. I sense something quite special in him,” Aunt Sarah added.
Chastity rolled her eyes but gave her aunt a quick kiss on the cheek. Her aunt might adore the idea of romance, but Chastity did not. Romance had ruined her life once and she was not willing to let it happen again.
∞∞∞
Valentine shoved a hand through his damp hair and shivered when a droplet trickled down his spine. Not unwelcome in the heat of the day, he had forgone rubbing his hair or body dry and had chosen to sling his shirt and trousers directly onto skin wet from his swim. He would have swum earlier in the day, before the sun reached its pinnacle, but he’d suffered a restless night and had arisen ridiculously late for him. Even Lane noted the late hour.
Damn it all. Chastity was making a mess of his life, of his routine. The perfectly crafted life he had made for himself had splintered at the edges simply because of her presence.
And the kiss of course.
He strode away from the lake, moving briskly. His muscles burned from the vigorous swim and his skin still tingled yet it was not enough to rid himself of this madness. Save from drinking himself into a stupor, there was little else to do. Besides which, he would save the drinking for a specific day—one coming up far too soon. Not only did he have to contend with a day he only ever wished to forget, he had that bloody kiss rocketing around his mind.
Still no progress on Julian either. He should have known this fool plan would come to naught. He should get Mrs. Cooke to rid the household of her—that would solve most of his problems and erase any need to repeat said kiss.
Not that there was any chance of that happening. She said it had been a mistake too. So it was hardly likely to reoccur was it?
He picked up his pace. Perhaps several loops around the garden would help. He moved with brisk, stomping steps past the parterre, already blooming with red and yellow tulips, as though he could stamp his very thoughts into the ground and bury them deep where he could never retrieve them.
This was what happened when one stayed celibate for too long, clearly.
It was a fine explanation and one he rather liked. At least he did not have to ponder why he kissed Chastity and why it had felt like something he simply had to do.
