Page 4 of Forget Me Not

“Oh.” The word emerged on a rush of breath. She swallowed at the tears welling up in her throat. “I thought—”

Lucas stood once more and pulled her into a hug. “My apologies, Julia. I hadn’t intended to make you worry like that for even a moment. I am certain Stanley is perfectly well.”

“He’s the only one left, Lucas,” she said, her face against his silk waistcoat. “Everyone else is gone.”

He patted her back. “You still have your papa.”

She nodded. That was true.

“And my parents love you like their own child,” he said.

They were very kind to her, always welcomed her warmly into their home, even when she was storming through it, searching out one or another of their children.

“And I’m still here, Julia.”

Her heart ached a little as she repeated herself. “Robert Finley told me you are leaving Lampton Park.”

“I am.” He spoke the words as if they were a simple statement of fact that ought to have no more impact than an observation on whether or not the roads were passable. “I’m taking up residence at Brier Hill.”

She pulled back, looking for some indication that she was misunderstanding him. She found none. “Where is Brier Hill?”

“In Cumberland,” he said.

“Cumberland?” How horrid. “That is the other side of the country.”

He smiled as if she’d made a joke. “Not quite as far as that. It’s only a few days by carriage.”

“How many days?”

He shrugged. “That depends on weather and road conditions.”

“I’m in earnest, Lucas. Is Brier Hill near enough that you’ll be here often?”

“No, sweeting. I’ll come back now and again, but I can’t make that journey often.”

It was true, then. “Youareleaving.”

“I need my own home, with space to myself.”

“But you’ll be so far away.” She fought the urge to pout, trying very hard to present a picture of maturity no matter how tempted she was to stomp her foot. “I’ll be all alone.”

“Stanley will be home soon enough, you’ll see. And he’ll be living at Farland Meadows with you.”

“Could you not wait until he returns and then withdraw to Cumberland?”

She couldn’t tell if his answering expression was sympathy or pity, but she didn’t particularly care for either possibility.

“It is time for me to claim my corner of the world, Julia.”

“And leave me by myself inthiscorner?”

“I am sorry.” Though he sounded sincere, there was no room in his tone for a change of plans.

“Please don’t go,” she said quietly, urgently. “Please.”

“I have to, sweeting.”

“Please.”

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