CHAPTER 7
DIANA
Days at home always dragged on endlessly.
I didn’t particularly like attending balls, where I normally stood off to one side, ignored unless I happened to be standing next to someone with whom a gentleman wished to speak.
But at least it made the days pass more quickly.
Preparing for the ball, spending evenings at an event that often ran into the early morning hours, then being allowed to sleep late the following morning.
Unlike every other season, Parliament was still in session this summer.
Everyone was speculating about what would happen to Queen Caroline.
Lord Tuttleford was angry at having to spend even more time in Parliament debating the Bill of Pains and Penalties, which aimed to allow the king to divorce his wife and strip her of her royal titles.
Aunt Matilda had already decreed several days ago that there would be no more balls for me, which meant I spent most of my days doing needlework and trying to avoid my guardians.
Reading was seen as a frivolous pursuit, and I was supposed to spend my “free time” being useful.
Honestly, if she could get away with it, I’m sure she would have had me helping the servants.
Yesterday had been particularly difficult. Fortunately, Lord Tuttleford had left again shortly after our return from the wedding breakfast. Aunt Matilda had gone upstairs, claiming the stress of the day had brought on a headache.
I pricked my finger for the third time that morning on my needlework and sucked at the small drop of blood that was forming on the tip.
My brief conversation with Clifton weighed heavily on my mind.
And despite the fact I knew he was merely being polite because of our former acquaintance, I couldn’t help wandering off into fantasies about him taking a fancy to me.
I glared down at the row of Xs I was embroidering and stabbed the material. Just because Caroline had married a Legend didn’t mean I’d suddenly find myself being pursued by one as well.
It was nice to indulge my imagination, though, as long as I didn’t allow myself to get too carried away by fantasies.
When my aunt swept into the room, I glanced at the mantel clock, surprised to see it wasn’t yet midday. She never came downstairs that early. But the red in her cheeks indicated she was upset.
“Is something the matter, Aunt?”
She planted her hands on her hips and frowned. “You have a caller.”
My mind blanked for a moment, and I was certain I’d misheard her. “A caller? Are you certain?”
She let out an annoyed huff. “Of course I’m certain.”
I set my needlework aside and rose to my feet. I refused to entertain the absurd notion that Clifton had decided to pay a call. “Who would be visiting?”
“Your friend. Honestly, she was married just yesterday. Why is she calling on you?”
“Caroline is here? She said nothing about it yesterday.” A horrible thought occurred to me. I wouldn’t be surprised if my aunt had instructed the staff to turn away anyone calling on me. “Is she still here?”
“She is waiting in the drawing room.”
“Thank you,” I said, trying to infuse my voice with humble gratitude.
I moved past my aunt, hoping she wouldn’t follow. But of course she did. This was the first caller I’d had all season, and Aunt Matilda would want to oversee it.
When I reached the drawing room, I found Caroline sitting on one end of the settee.
She smiled when she saw me, and it was impossible not to be struck by her beauty.
But even more surprising was the fact she was equally lovely on the inside.
It wasn’t normally a given, but Caroline had proved to be a good friend to me since we’d met at the beginning of the season.
I rushed to her side, and she rose to hug me.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, stepping back. “I figured you’d have other things to occupy yourself with.”
A hint of color touched her cheeks, and I felt my own cheeks heat in response when I realized how that statement could be taken. It didn’t help that my aunt was hovering only a few feet away.
“Lady Kendrick,” Aunt Matilda said, greeting her with a slight nod. “This is definitely a surprise.”
Caroline’s smile widened. “I wanted to thank you for allowing Diana to attend the wedding yesterday. I’m so happy you were able to change your previous commitments.”
My aunt inclined her head but didn’t reply.
“I didn’t expect to see you again so soon,” I said.
Caroline turned back to me. “I came by because I wanted to take my leave.”
“You’re leaving London?”
I could hear the relief in my aunt’s voice.
“Tomorrow morning. I know it’s not conventional, but I wanted to spend the day saying goodbye to my friends.
I don’t know when I’ll see Diana again, and it was important for me to tell her how much I’ve appreciated her friendship this season.
” Aunt Matilda made a soft scoffing sound, but Caroline continued as though she hadn’t heard her.
“At any rate, I promised Kendrick I wouldn’t be long, and I have a few other people to see today.
” She tucked her arm into mine. “See me out to the carriage,” she said.
Caroline was always warm and friendly, but there was something overly bright about her today that didn’t seem genuine.
“Everything is well between you and Kendrick, is it not?”
Her eyes warmed as she smiled at me. “Oh yes, he is absolutely wonderful. I am so happy.”
I let out a breath of relief. “I am glad to hear that. And thank you for coming to see me again.”
“I’ll see you next spring?” Caroline asked.
Aunt Matilda was quick to jump in. “Unfortunately, no. We’ve decided that Diana won’t be having a second season.”
“Oh, that is too bad,” Caroline said, her tone unnaturally formal. If my aunt wasn’t here, I knew she’d have a few choice words on the injustice of the way I was being treated. But there was nothing she could say in front of my aunt that wouldn’t make the situation worse.
“You should be going. You said you had other calls to make before returning home.”
Caroline kept a firm grip on me, her arm linked through mine as we left the drawing room. “Thank you for indulging me today.”
A footman opened the front door, and we made our way down the front steps. Her carriage was waiting at the end of the short walkway. When we reached it, she turned and hugged me again.
“It is a pity that we won’t see each other again next season, but I will write to you.” She handed me a folded piece of paper. “Here is the address to Kendrick’s townhouse. You can write to me, but we won’t be returning for another month. We’ll be staying at his estate in the country.”
“Of course,” I said, “I’d love to stay in touch.”
She smiled at me again. It was the oddest thing, but I felt her slip a second piece of paper into my other hand as she hugged me again. “Keep this safe,” she whispered into my ear before pulling back and speaking in a normal tone of voice again. “I look forward to hearing from you.”
Her eyes stayed on mine for several seconds, and I nodded, understanding filling me.
Aunt Matilda came to stand at my side. She waited until the carriage had driven away before turning to me and holding out her hand. I knew what she wanted and gave her the piece of paper Caroline had given me with Kendrick’s address.
“You won’t be needing that,” she said. “It is best that you distance yourself from those ruffians who parade about town as if they were gentlemen.”
“Yes, Aunt Matilda,” I said, following her meekly into the house.
“I’m going back upstairs. I am most put out that I’ve been dragged out of bed for this nonsense.”
I said nothing and waited for her to disappear upstairs.
When she was out of sight, I hurried down the hallway to the servants’ stairs and made my way quietly up to my room.
I closed the door behind me and stood there for a full minute.
I had no lock on my bedchamber door, and my aunt was inclined to burst into my room at the most unexpected times.
If she’d heard me come upstairs, she would be coming in to demand why I was wasting time instead of being productive with my needlework.
Another minute passed before I found the courage to open my left palm and stare at the small square of paper resting there.
Fear filled me. Had Caroline lied about being happy? I couldn’t believe Kendrick would hurt her. And if she needed help, surely she would have gone to her aunt. There was next to nothing I could do to help her.
I leaned back against the door and unfolded the paper. I took a deep breath and began to read.
I was entrusted with the task of giving you this note. LC needs to speak with you. I urge you to do what you can to slip out of the house tonight. A carriage will be waiting for you down the street in front of number 10 after 10 o’clock.
Burn this note.
With much love, C.
I read the note three times, my heartbeat drumming in my ears, before the urgency of the situation struck me. LC could only be Lord Clifton. She wouldn’t have written his name in case the note was intercepted, but surely it was him.
I rushed to my bedside table, where a candle waited in its holder. I lit it with one of the matches I’d set aside for that task, only fumbling once, then hurried over to the fireplace with the candle and note. I read it one more time before holding the corner of the note to the candle.
When the paper caught flame, I placed it in the fireplace and watched the flame engulf the page.
Determination settled over me. The note could only refer to Clifton, and I was going to do everything in my power to meet him.