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“Mother!” Leah sobbed.
“Come, darling,” her mother said, wrapping her arms around her, and ushering her toward her bedroom.
“It’s so unfair!”
As they went down the upstairs hall, Selina stepped from her room. Her eyes widened.
“What’s happened?” she asked. Leah wished, deeply, that Selina wasn’t there. She was likely judging her.
“The wedding’s been called off!” Mother hissed.
Selina’s eyes widened even more.
“There’s been a murder!” Leah’s mother explained as she ushered Leah in front of her.
“Oh!” Selina gasped, her hand going to her mouth.
“Go downstairs, the Duke and your Uncle are both in the dining room,” Mother ordered. “Leah and I will be in her room.”
They burst into the safety of Leah’s rooms. Her wedding gown was hanging from her jade-green dressing screen. It was like a ghost, haunting her.
“What—what if I never get to wear it?” she asked, touching the delicate seed-pearls, which had been sewn into a rose.
“Of course, you will!” Leah’s mother said. “It isn’t for forever—it’s just until we know it’s safe.”
Leah nodded morosely. She sniffled. To think that only a few days ago, she’d worn this dress, preparing for a wedding in two weeks’ time. Over. Put off.For how long?
“Come. Let it all out—then, we must prepare to go and pay our respects to Lord Langley.”
* * *
When Selina arrived in the dining room, the Duke was seated at the table. There was a cup of tea, steam curling from the depths. His eyes met hers when she entered. She looked away first.
“Good morning, Selina,” Uncle Latimer said.
“Good morning, Uncle,” she said, then looked back at the Duke. “Your Grace.”
She sat down, reaching for the toast, which sat in a rack on the table. She spread raspberry jam across it, along with fresh butter, while the maid poured her a cup of tea.
“I came upon Aunt Georgiana and Lady Leah, in the hall,” she commented. “They were upset.” She was aching to know who had been murdered.
“The Duke has brought us some bad news,” Uncle Latimer said.
“What is it?” she asked. “Your Grace?”
“There’s been another robbery,” the Duke said.
“Oh,” she gasped, her hand going to her face. That was worse. Her breakfast was brought, and her tea was poured. “Are they—”
“Lady Langley was killed,” he said gently. His eyes were searching her face.
“How—how awful,” she said, unable to believe it just after they’d seen her, alive and well.
“So, we’ll call off the wedding,” the Duke said, looking her in the eyes. Something passed in between them, at that moment.
“Your cousin and aunt are very upset,” Uncle Latimer said. He looked at Selina sternly. “I think you know that you should remain indoors. I cannot have you wandering about the countryside when there are murderers on the loose.”
“Yes, yes, of course, Uncle,” she said. “I—I’ll work on some letters.”
They all ate in tense silence. Selina chewed her toast, finding it to be rather dry, hard to swallow. She hadn’t known Lady Langley well. But she’d found her to be polite and kind.
Her uncle excused himself as they finished. “I must go and see how your aunt and cousin are faring.”
