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“We shall take tea in Hatfield, nonetheless,” Lavinia said.
“Excellent plan!” Artie said, patting Delia’s hand. “Isn’t it, Delia? A little more sustenance will do us all a world of good.”
“Before we reach Hatfield, however,” Lavinia said, “I want to stress once again the importance of down playing our connection to the theater. Mr. Jennings doesn’t seem to know anything about Ruby Chadwick, and I would prefer it remain that way.”
“I won’t be talking to the likes of Mr. Jennings,” Hannah said. “So you got nothing to worry about from me, luv.”
“I’ll certainly try to do my part, dearie,” Delia said. “Although it will be something of a challenge. The theater is all Arthur and I know. Fifty years in the theater a piece, give or take. It’s how we met your father, of course, and you know Mr. Jennings is going to ask about our connection to you sooner or later.”
“Perhaps we should take the time now to invent a story, Lavinia,” Artie suggested. “Something believable—not too exotic—that would explain how we all ended up together. It could be rather jolly, like acting without the limits of the stage. I rather like the idea.”
“Oh, Arthur, how ingenious!” Delia exclaimed. “Let’s think, shall we?” She tapped her forefinger against her chin in thought.
Artie’s face brightened. “I’ve got just the thing. Delia can be an Austrian princess, sent to live in an English convent at birth to protect her from her evil uncle—”
“I don’t think there were any convents in England when I was a girl, Arthur,” Delia pointed out. “Church of England and Henry the Eighth and all that, you know.”
“Well, perhaps not a convent, then. Raised by an English friend of the Austrian royal family; that’s the ticket. You’ve got the elegant manners of the royal, my dear. Best to keep to our strengths, I always say.”
“Thank you kindly for the compliment, Arthur, but—”
“And I shall have been your childhood friend and, like the knights of old, swore to be your protector all your days.”
“Oh, Arthur,” Delia said, patting his gnarled hand. “How sweet you are, and what an imagination you do have. But, my dear, Mr. Jennings has already heard me speak and will recognize that I have no Austrian accent.”
“Easy enough to explain,” Artie said. “You’ve lived all your life in England, after all.”
“Good point. Austrian royalty, then. What fun! Let’s say I was reared in Devon, since that’s the truth anyway.”
“I’m not playing a part,” Hannah said, crossing her arms over her bosom. “No princess or knight or nothing else. I am who I am, and I do what I does—and that is to see my dearest girl safe and happy.” She looked at Lavinia.
“No princess or knight, you will be happy to hear, Hannah,” Lavinia said. “Nor any other part as well. We are to be honest in our dealings with Mr. Jennings . . . just perhaps not completely forthcoming. If he presses you, tell him the truth—that you were formerly with a theater company and that is where you met my father . . . and me. But don’t elaborate. If he asks if I was an actress, again tell him the truth. But you needn’t inform him of every detail—the breeches parts, for example, or my stage name.”
“Very well, Livvy,” Artie said. “Though you would have made a lovely princess, Delia.”
“I played a queen once, you know,” Delia said, a faraway look in her eyes. “Titania, queen of the fairies, back before you joined us, Arthur, or your father either, Lavinia.A Midsummer Night’s Dream. We played to sold-out crowds outside Cheltenham for three weeks straight and then another week at Swindon. My fairy costume was a vision, Hannah, although I daresay you could have created something even more impressive. Unfortunately, our success encouraged three of our most talented young actors to leave and try their luck in London. And that was that.”
“I should have liked to have seen you as Titania,” Artie said.
“You would have been perfectly cast as Titania back then, Delia,” Lavinia said. “You are every bit the fairy queen, even to this day.”
“Thank you, dearest.” Delia patted Lavinia’s arm. “You’re such a sweet girl.”
“I guess we shall simply have to play Delia Weston and Arthur Drake for a while longer,” Artie said to Delia with a wink.
“Precisely,” Lavinia said. “For that is who you are.” The ironic and sad thing about it all was that Lavinia had been Ruby Chadwick for so long, she wasn’t entirely sure she remembered who Lavinia Fernley was.
Through the window, Lavinia spotted the spire of a church, which meant they were approaching Hatfield, their first stop on the way north. The carriage rolled to a stop, and Lavinia saw Lucas dismount and walk toward them. “Remember what I said now,” she whispered.
“Don’t worry, dearie. Ah, Mr. Jennings,” Delia said cheerfully to him when the carriage door opened and Lucas stood ready to assist them from the carriage. “You are a sight for sore eyes and such a handsome devil too. Perhaps you would care to accompany me on a stroll around the courtyard.”
Lucas’s eyes briefly lifted to Lavinia’s before returning to Delia. “I do find I have a need to stretch my legs after our journey thus far, ma’am. I would be honored to be your escort.” He handed Delia down from the carriage and then turned to assist Lavinia and Hannah, who sourly placed her hand in his.
“She’s up to something, and that’s certain,” Hannah grumbled as Lucas and Delia walked away.
Artie tutted. “Don’t fret, Hannah,” he whispered. “Delia is as clever as they come. She won’t go off script; you can rest assured of that. Perhaps you would care to join me for a stroll, Lavinia?” Artie said, changing the subject. “And Hannah too, of course. These old bones of mine could use a bit of a stretch as well—although the cushions helped immensely.”
“I’m going inside to order tea,” Hannah said. “I’m already going to get my fill of the great outdoors today. I don’t need extra, thank you very much.” She turned and stalked off in the direction of the posting inn.
That left Lavinia to walk slowly with Artie while he gallantly tried to appear as though every joint in his body hadn’t ceased to function during the carriage ride. He kept up a stream of chatter about nothing in particular, but Lavinia knew they were both watching Delia and Lucas, who had walked far enough ahead to be just out of earshot.
Delia’s laughter wafted back to them on the breeze. “‘With mirth and laughter, let old wrinkles come,’” Artie remarked. “The most beautiful sound in the world, her laughter, in my estimation.”
“Indeed,” Lavinia said, although she actually feared Lucas was charming Delia so she would speak more freely to him.
She was mightily glad when she and Artie finally entered the inn, where Hannah was already seated at a table with a tea service awaiting them. A hot cup of tea and a biscuit was just the thing to distract Lavinia from fretting. Lavinia wouldn’t be completely at peace until they were well and truly settled at Primrose Farm.
