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He stretched out again and rested his head on the pillow. Only the faintest remnants of his troubled dreams lingered in his mind, but he well knew what worried him. Before he could plan a course of action, he needed to know his objective. So how did one ascertain a young lady's wishes about her future? If he simply asked her about this Lord Appleby, would she be offended?
No doubt she would be shocked at the question, at his boorishness in mentioning such a subject. Perhaps she had other gentlemen she preferred, but that was another matter about which he dared not ask. He needed evasive tactics, but none came to mind as he tossed himself onto his other side and creased the sheets once more.
******
Near noontide, Captain Drew stood atop the hotel's steps, as the Montgomery coachman halted the pair of greys before them. Lady Montgomery knew precisely how she wanted the squabs arranged in her carriage before she left the Royal Arms.
Both hotel footmen and her younger daughter were required to fashion the comfortable support she demanded.
Miss Montgomery waved her adieus as her mother and Miss Felicia pulled away on their journey to meet her fiancé's mother and sister a few miles distant at Stapleford Manor.
"They are to return for dinner?" he asked.
"Yes. This first visit will be just for the afternoon."
"And your plans for the day, Miss Montgomery?"
"I need to finish the book I am reading before we sign the register at one of the local libraries. I thought perhaps I might sit in the garden."
"Excellent."
He held open the door for her and with a wave she went up the staircase to her room.
He watched her for a moment, wishing he'd asked her then and there… but the others would be gone for several hours. He'd have time. Stoking up his courage, he sat at the desk and considered possible openings for the conversation.
******
When Ronnie got into her bedchamber, she tossed her sunbonnet onto the bed and sat in the soft chair. She wished she could sink down and stay there forever. Instead, she had to go into the garden and hope that Captain Drew would stop by. Then she could apologise to him, and explain her mother's ploy. Cici hadn't explained what role Mama had assigned to Captain Drew, but it was presumptuous to involve him at all. He was probably married with a horde of children somewhere.
Why did that idea seem so appalling? Why did she feel so drawn to him? It was certainly not pity. He was confident and able, not looking for sympathy. Maybe it was simple admiration for a person who had obviously made a success of himself. She hoped that was all her feelings meant.
She reached for her book and grasped it tightly, then set off down to the garden. Could she make these last few pages last long enough for the Captain to come by?
******
Seated in the garden, Ronnie re-read the next to last page of Camilla. She needn't have been concerned that she would finish the book too quickly, for she hadn’t been able to concentrate at all.
Her eyes passed over the words as they disappeared without significance and flitted into the salty tang of the air. She might as well have been staring into the sky for all that she recalled from the pages she had turned.
When she saw the Captain stop at a table near the door and speak with the couple sitting there, she heaved a sigh, partly of relief, partly of dread, as he approached.
"How are you progressing with your book, Miss Montgomery," he said with his usual gracious bow.
"I still have a few pages left. But I assume they are almost superfluous, for I am certain that there will be a happy ending. I think it is why Camilla is popular."
"Ah yes," he said. "Miss Burney is a favourite of many readers."
Silence fell for a few moments before they spoke at once.
"I wanted to say—," she began.
"If you will excuse—," he said.
He halted and grinned sheepishly.
"I beg your pardon, Miss Montgomery. Please go ahead."
"You told Mama you would arrange an outing for Lord Appleby and me?"
