Page 61 of A Baron's Disguised Lady
“I’m glad to hear it,” she said, and again she kissed him on the cheek and squeezed his hand in hers.
“Bu I don’t know if she’ll accept my apology,” he said.
His mother shook her head.
“She’d be a fool not to,” she replied.
Chapter 21
Lavinia spent the rest of the afternoon in the orchard. She was wary of returning to Sarum Lacy House, fearing another argument with the baron. She wondered about leaving, not knowing if she and her mother would still be welcome there, even as the dowager had insisted on it.
I only spoke my mind,Lavinia reminded herself, as she eventually made her way back to the house.
But speaking her mind had not always been popular. Be it with her grandfather, her mother, or other members of the ton, it seemed the truth was less welcome than a veiled version designed to say precisely what one did not mean. It was all very confusing, but Lavinia was not about to back down. She had her opinion, and that was that.
“And I hope Lord Bath is brought to justice. He probably did do it, though I still can’t see it myself,”Lavinia said to herself, as eventually she decided to return to the house.
The doors leading onto the terrace from the drawing room were open, and Lavinia found her mother and the dowager taking tea. The dowager still had a slight paleness to her face, but she smiled at Lavinia, pointing her to an empty chair at the tea table.
“Come and join us, Lavinia. I was just telling your mother about Penelope Havers, the poor thing,” the dowager said, shaking her head, as she poured Lavinia a cup of tea.
Lavinia had never heard of Penelope Havers, and she looked questioningly at the dowager, who now passed her a cup of tea.
“Who is she?” she asked.
“Penelope was Gwendolene’s best friend, though in the last few months they seemed to drift apart. I don’t know why… but Penelope is betrothed to a man named Michael Warrington. He’s an old friend of Archie’s. The four of them grew up together. But like with Gwendolene, the two of them have also drifted apart—Michael and Penelope, I mean. Rumor has it that the betrothal is to be called off. It’s very sad,” the dowager said, shaking her head sadly.
Lavinia wondered why she was telling her this, though it seemed there was a similarity to draw between the fate of this unfortunate couple and what had passed between her and Archie earlier that day.
“How sad,” Lavinia replied.
“Yes, Penelope and Gwendolene were very close. I was just saying to your mother, perhaps you might like to call onPenelope. She lives in the lodge house at the end of the east drive. Her father was the land agent for my late husband. Her mother died last year, and it’s just the two of them now. I’m sure she’d be glad of some womanly company. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before,” she said.
Lavinia did not relish the thought of calling on a woman who shared her own sorrows, too. Did the dowager think they would console one another?
“Well…” she began, but her mother interrupted.
“I think it’s an excellent idea, Lavinia. If we’re to remain here at Sarum Lacy for a few more weeks, it would do you good to have some company of your own age. Womanly company, that is. It might take your mind off all these terrible goings-on. We must leave those in the hands of the magistrate for now,” she said, taking a sip of tea.
The dowager nodded.
“Your mother’s right, Lavinia. I’m sorry about what happened earlier with Archie. You mustn’t be angry with him. He… well, he gets so terribly upset over Gwendolene. I’m sure you can appreciate that,” she said, and Lavinia nodded.
She was not angry with Archie, though she feared he was angry with her. But as to how they would make their peace…
“I understand. It’s not been easy for either of you,” Lavinia replied.
“Nor for you and your poor mother, finding yourself in the middle of all this. When I invited you here, it was in the hope of us all moving forward; laying the past to rest. But it seems the past isn’t ready for that yet,” Archie’s mother said, shaking her head sadly.
Lavinia felt sorry for her. She had suffered a great deal, and now she was suffering again, discovering her daughter had been murdered, and knowing the culprit was still at large. Lavinia did not want to add to that suffering, and she was resolved to make amends for what had passed between her and Archie, if he, too, was willing to do so.
“It’ll be all right, I’m sure. Archie won’t rest until…” she began, but the dowager interrupted her.
“Oh, but he must. He can’t go on like this. It’s consuming him, Lavinia. He and Michael used to be the best of friends, but he’s hardly seen him in these past few months. It’s as though nothing else matters but Gwendolene’s memory. I know how important it is… she’s my daughter. But it can’t come at the expense of his own happiness. Talk to him, Lavinia… please,” the dowager implored her, and Lavinia nodded.
“I will try, as long as he wants to talk to me. I won’t force the matter,” she said, and Archie’s mother breathed a sigh of relief.
“You don’t know how happy that makes me, Lavinia,” she said, taking a sip of tea.
