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Warmest Regards,
A Gentleman
Leah folded the letter again. She placed it on her lap, then covered it with her skirt. She needed to consider how best to proceed. There was a great risk involved in this. It might be the evil individual who had killed Lady Langley.
Then again, it might be someone else. Someone was willing to fight for Leah. She needed someone strong on her side.
* * *
Selina breakfasted in her room the next morning, as well. She sipped from a cup of tea, chewing the fresh pastry that had been brought to her. It was of flaky crust with strawberry jam.
“So,” Thomas said from the door. “This is what it’s like to be under house arrest.”
She turned to look at him, swallowing the bite of pastry. “I’m only allowed to go into the gardens,” she murmured. “Can I interest you in a stroll?”
“Of course,” Thomas said, seating himself in one of the armchairs. Selina leaned against the writing table, taking a sip of her tea. She hoped that he was there to apologize. She waited for him to speak. At length, he did. “I’m sorry about what I said yesterday.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You were very mean.”
“I know. There was no reason for it,” he said, finally looking at her. “It’s hard to have you suddenly about to marry. Now that I’ve thought about it, I’ve realized that no gentleman will ever be good enough for you, not to me. Whoever it turned out to be was due to get eviscerated by me.”
“And?” Selina asked, smiling.
“And I apologize, I will do whatever it takes to see you married to the gentleman that you are so enamored with.”
“Apology accepted,” she replied, sipping her tea.
Thomas exhaled. “That’s a relief. I am sorry, Selina.”
“I know. We’ve never disagreed like that before,” she said. “Let’s never do it again.”
“But what will you do when I find the lady that I’m going to marry?”
“I’ll take your word that she’s an absolute angel and welcome her warmly into the family.”
Her brother seemed to deflate. “You’re so much better than I am.”
“Naturally.” She sipped her tea, turning her gaze toward the window. The sun was beaming down brightly over the bright spring grass. “I just wish that I could see him,” she commented. “That would make everything better.”
“Let me help,” Thomas suggested.
“How?”
* * *
After breakfast, Jasper and Stephen retired to his study to discuss plans for how to get him to see Selina when her brother’s arrival was announced.
“Lord Windermere,” Jasper said, surprised.
“Your Grace,” Selina’s brother replied, ceremoniously pulling a letter from his jacket pocket. “I come bearing word from my sister.”
“Thank you, My Lord,” Jasper replied, accepting it. “Have a seat.”
He undid the seal—with its black wax, a letter “S” intertwined with the letter “D.” He had never received a letter from her before. Anticipation made his palms tingle.
“We were just talking about how we were going to get the two of them together,” Stephen filled Lord Windemere in.
“That’s the very reason I’ve come,” Thomas replied.
