Page 9 of The Lady Who Said No to the Duke
Now he would have to produce something to put out for the post, but, hopefully, Lady Thea would also feel she could retire now too.
* * *
‘Hal was always tactful, even as a boy,’ Godmama remarked as they settled together on a sofa in the drawing room.‘I recall looking out of a first-floor window here—the one that overlooks the maze—and seeing him come across Lady Shawfield and…and someone who was not her husband.He simply turned on his heel and walked away and I never saw him betray by so much as a flicker of an eyelash that he knew her secret.
‘And now you can take advantage of that tact and take yourself off to bed too, my dear.You must be very weary.We do not want you to have dark circles under your eyes, do we?’Uncharacteristically, for one so calm and composed, she smoothed her satin skirts over her knee and twitched at a bracelet.
Thea winced inwardly.Her godmother must be concerned about her own part in this flight.But her own letter would soon make it clear that Godmama had done nothing except shelter her.Surely her parents would be grateful for that?
‘I have to confess I am finding it hard to keep my eyes open,’ she said.‘If you will excuse me, I will go to bed now.Thank you for being so understanding about everything.’
She kissed Lady Holme on one scented cheek and went out, passing Fenwick in the hall.
‘I will send up Jennie immediately, my lady,’ he said in response to her wishing him good-night.
* * *
Thea supposed she must have undressed and removed her jewellery, that Jennie had unpinned and brushed out her hair and helped her into her nightgown, but when she woke the next morning, she had no recollection of it.
The room was dark, but sunlight was visible at the edges of the heavy curtains, so she reached out, groping for the bell pull, and sat up against the pillows.She hadn’t dreamt at all, that she could recall, but she felt as though she had spent the night with dark, ominous fantasies filling her mind.
Jennie’s arrival with a cup of hot chocolate jerked her into the present and the flood of light as the curtains were drawn, and the need to speak pleasantly to the maid, helped.
‘Her ladyship’s woman has given me the riding habit for you, my lady.If you would not object to trying it on before breakfast, I can make any alterations immediately.’
Of course, she remembered.She had agreed to ride to Lord Brownlow’s estate with Mr Forrest.It was what she needed to blow away these megrims—fresh air and exercise.
‘Of course, just as soon as I have finished this and bathed.’
* * *
Jennie, speaking through the pins tight between her lips, pronounced the habit too large in the bodice and waist, but otherwise acceptable.
‘It will be ready by ten o’clock, I hope, my lady.’
‘That would be admirable, thank you.’
Thea encountered Mr Forrest in the doorway of the breakfast room.As she expected, there was no sign of their godmother, who probably would not emerge from her suite until at least noon.
‘Lady Thea.’Mr Forrest stood aside to let her precede him and they sat opposite each other at the small oval table while two footmen poured coffee and explained what was under the row of chaffing dishes on the sideboard.
‘I find I am ravenous this morning,’ Thea confessed as her choice of a plate of bacon, scrambled eggs, sausage and fried potatoes was set in front of her.
‘It is hardly surprising,’ Mr Forrest remarked, lifting his knife and fork to attack a similar selection.‘You must have had little possibility of finding a good luncheon during your escape and expending nervous energy is always exhausting, in my experience.’
‘Somehow I find it unlikely that you ever expend nervous energy, Mr Forrest,’ she teased.‘You seem to me to be a gentleman who is always cool, calm and collected.’
‘That is quite deceptive,’ he riposted.‘I am like a swan.All is calm above the water but frantic paddling is going on below.’
Laughing, she bent to look under the table.‘No, your webbed feet are quite at a standstill, sir.’
‘Have you been able to find a riding habit, Lady Thea?I am very much looking forward to our expedition.’
Mama was most insistent on keeping what she called a ‘proper distance,’ which meant always insisting on the use of one’s title and condescending to mix with anyone of lower status only on the most formal of terms.But, Thea realised, she was tired of formality, and she had no desire whatsoever to condescend to anyone.Mr Forrest made hersmile and there always seemed to be laughter or understanding in those grey eyes.And he was, indisputably, a gentleman, and one whose discretion had been vouched for by their godmother.
‘Please call me Thea,’ she said.‘After all, I am here escaping from the consequences of being the daughter of an earl.’She held her breath.What would he say?Be shocked?
‘Hal,’ Mr Forrest responded with an inclination of his head.‘I would be delighted, Thea.May I pass you the rolls?’
