Chapter 15 #2
Simone had wanted to mount a horse and ride straight to her.
Instead she had written back that she would come after supper instead.
She had nothing else to do that day, but she didn’t want to be too eager.
This had to end. She couldn’t show her true feelings too much or else there would be even more hurt than there already was.
But now her carriage was gliding through the crowded early evening streets of London, turning into Caroline’s drive and Simone’s heart raced with excitement over it. She couldn’t even tamp it down or pretend it away. She wanted to see her so very desperately.
“Idiot,” she muttered as the carriage stopped.
She was led to a parlor straight away by Caroline’s butler and she noted her favorite sherry was already on the sideboard, along with two pretty crystal tulip glasses. She sighed and moved to pour the liquor for them both. She might need the liquid courage.
Caroline entered when she was pouring and Simone nearly dropped the bottle at the sight of her.
She was wearing pink, of course she was.
A deep, rosy pink that was shockingly close to the color Caroline’s nipples.
In a courtesan, Simone might have thought that was on purpose, to seduce and remind.
In Caroline, it likely wasn’t and yet the result was the same.
“C-Caroline,” she choked out. “I was pouring us drinks.”
Caroline shut the door behind her and it was then Simone noticed how pale she was. She set the bottle aside and moved a step toward her. “What is it?”
“Julia was threatened by the Earl of Heathfield. You may recall he’s Lord Castleton’s grandfather.”
Simone drew in a sharp breath of air and then moved even closer to Caroline and took her hand. “I’m sure knowing that must be very frightening. And it’s troubling, I agree.”
“And yet you look far less troubled than I feel,” Caroline said, shaking her hand away and pacing across the room.
“Please don’t tell me I’m a little fool for feeling frightened for her, especially since she refuses to involve her sisters in this information at present.
And she seems highly focused on the earl’s other grandson. ”
Simone’s brows lifted. They had talked about Julia’s apparent interest in Alexander Castleton before, both in their letters and since Caroline’s return. Simone liked Alexander Castleton—he seemed a good enough man from what little she’d seen.
“Men like the earl do this, Caroline. They threaten. They blackmail. They suggest great harm. And then they get bored or they realize they’d create more scandal or trouble by following through. If Julia thinks it not important enough to drag Arabella and Evie into it, then she’s likely right.”
“I do not understand your world,” Caroline said.
Simone dropped her chin down. “I know. I know you don’t, you can’t. It’s what I’ve been trying to tell you all along.”
Caroline’s bottom lip wobbled but her eyes flashed. “And we aren’t talking about Julia anymore, are we? Wonderful, then I can ask what I wish. You would throw away everything just to prove yourself right?”
“To protect you from yourself,” Simone corrected.
Caroline let out a little growl of displeasure. “I’m almost forty, please don’t treat me like I need to be saved.”
They stared at each other in the quiet of the room. Simone swallowed. “I’ll speak to Julia. I’ll try to get her to talk to me about the situation with Heathfield and determine if it’s serious.”
Caroline nodded, but Simone could see she remained displeased. “Thank you.”
Simone took a long step toward her, though she had no idea what she would say. She just didn’t want things to be ugly between them. She didn’t want to see Caroline’s pain, even if she was forced to create it.
But before she could say or do anything, there was a knock at the parlor door. Caroline jumped at the sound and crossed to throw it open.
“What is it?” she snapped, far more harshly than Simone had ever heard her speak.
Caroline’s butler seemed as surprised by that as Simone had been. “I-I apologize, Mrs. Banfield. We’ve just received an urgent message that Lady Blackburn’s baby is on the way. They’re calling for you.”
Caroline’s expression softened. “Oh—oh yes, how wonderful. Please have the carriage arranged right away.”
The servant stepped out and Caroline faced her. Simone forced a smile even though her heart was still breaking. “You must be very excited.”
“Yes. Evie and Vaughn have been so thrilled as they readied for the baby. I just hope it’s a healthy delivery for mother and child.” Caroline stepped toward her. “Will you ride over with me?”
Simone sucked in a ragged breath. In that moment, she wanted to say yes.
She wanted to sit in the carriage with Caroline and hold her hand.
She wanted to be with the family as they welcomed a new member and feel like she belonged there.
She wanted to comfort Caroline, as well as the Comerford sisters, as this momentous occasion changed their worlds.
“If I come with you, they’ll know,” she said instead.
Caroline’s nostrils flared slightly. “Do you think I care?”
“You should care,” Simone whispered. “And your carriage just pulled up, so you should go.”
Caroline shook her head. “Fine. I’ll send word when it’s over and the baby is safely delivered. I assume you’d want to know.”
Simone nodded wordlessly, not trusting herself to do more.
Caroline turned to leave and then pivoted back. “You put on a brave face, Simone, but you are a coward. You know that.”
Simone nodded again and didn’t stop Caroline when she walked away for the second time in as many days. This time she feared it was permanently.