Page 26 of Lady Louisa and the Carriage Clock
“All I need is Edith to accompany me as a chaperone.” He paused. “If she could convince her friend to get rid of the clock for her own safety...”
Edith shook her head. “I cannot convince Louisa to do anything she doesn’t want to, Cecil. She is a determined woman, which you well know.”
There was a short silence. His encounter with the lady in her bedchamber last night had proved how stubborn Louisa could be.
“If her brothers were to learn she might be in danger, that would be a different story,” Nathaniel said quietly.
Edith replied calmly, “Louisa would never forgive you, husband, if you spoke to her brothers and they gave away her clock. And I would not wish you to distress my friend. It should be her choice whether she gets rid of the clock. We women have so little power over our lives. Would you take that decision from her?”
It was his turn to exchange glances with Nathaniel. He knew Edith was correct. He sighed inwardly. It was difficult to understand why, but after their tense encounter last evening, he didn’t want to upset Louisa further.
Not because he felt any interest in the lady but purely because she was Edith’s dearest friend. He didn’t desire every future encounter with Lady Louisa to be tainted by her belief that he’d betrayed her.
“If you accompany me for a few minutes today, I can examine the clock, and that might be the end of it.” He paused. “There will be no further reason for you to be in harm’s way.”
Nathaniel frowned. “Perhaps I should come along as well.”
“That isn’t a good idea,” his wife replied. “Your presence would just draw more attention to our visit. You should proceed to Angelo’s School of Arms as planned.”
“Although Louisa will be expecting us, should we behave as if we weren't expected?” Cecil asked.
Edith worried her lower lip a moment. “I think that is a splendid idea. It would be the excuse that Louisa needs for not informing her family of our visit. If I sent a missive, she would have to tell her mother she was having guests today.”
He stood up. “There’s no time like the present.”
Nathaniel remained silent.
“I agree, Cecil.” Edith rose to her feet, bent over her husband, and kissed his cheek. “All will be well. I will see you this evening when you return from the academy.”
The lady donned a Spencer in the entry hall as Cecil took his hat and cane from a footman. It was convenient that Nathaniel, Ashford, and Louisa had homes in Grosvenor Square.
The day was sunny, cold for March, but Edith insisted on walking down the square to Carstairs.
“Please follow me to the drawing room while a maid inquires as to whether Lady Louisa is home to visitors,” a rather young butler said and showed them to that room.
When the servant had departed, Edith whispered, “The butler is a recent hire from the veterans registry office. I believe one of the footmen here is also a veteran.”
Perhaps when this business with the RA was finally sorted, Cecil would reopen his townhouse in Hanover Square and hire several veterans. Right now, he could not look that far into the future. In the light of day, he could see the exquisite decorations in the room; he imagined they were the result of Lady Louisa’s tasteful influence.
“Edith, Lord Wycliffe!” Louisa breezed into the drawing room. “What a lovely surprise! I’ve sent for a tea tray.”
The lady sat across from his stuffed chair next to Edith on a settee. She wore no cap, and her glorious copper hair shone with good health.
“To what do I owe this visit?” their hostess asked.
He looked about, noticing the open door to the room. “How is your family?”
“They are well, Lord Wycliffe. My brothers are out at the moment.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing he needed was a confrontation with Leopold. He didn’t want any further delays in studying Louisa’s clock.
“Lord Wycliffe was curious about the carriage clock,” Lady Edith said smoothly. “He thought perhaps you would allow him to examine it up close.”
There was a short silence as the tea tray arrived. Once the tray was placed on a low-slung table, Louisa said to the maid, “Please fetch the clock on the night table in my bedchamber.”
The maid nodded and left the room.
“Lord Wycliffe?” The lady gestured towards the teapot.
