Page 94 of Miss Dignified
Jeanette opened the door some minutes later, her deportment entirely composed and gracious. Dorning, looking somewhathors de combat—no cravat, hair less than tidy, jacket draped over a chair—stood behind her.
“What’s amiss?” Dorning asked. “If you two are here at this hour, something must be amiss.”
“Sycamore.” Jeanette’s tone held humor and gentle, wifely reproof. “I am always pleased to see my cousins.” She drew back to admit them, while Dorning had the disgruntled look of a fellow who’d misplaced something, but could not recall exactly what.
“I apologize for disturbing you at this hour,” Dylan said, “but I am concerned for my housekeeper. Mrs. Lovelace left Town with barely a word four days ago, and I…”
Dorning regarded him with surprising gravity. “And you have lost your mind. She promised me she’d leave you a note.”
“Mrs. Lovelace left a brief word of parting, but no indication why she left now, where she’s off to, or what’s to be done about her brother.”
“He’s booked passage on theRebecca Louise,” Dorning replied. “Sails in a few days.”
Would Lydia take ship with her brother? “How do you know that?”
Goddard spoke up. “I told the boys to keep a lookout for Wesley Glover around the shipping offices and docks. He rather makes a splash in those environments.”
“He’s begging for a beating,” Dylan said. “But I’m more concerned that he’s about to take Mrs. Lovelace to wife, and she will be helpless to refuse him.”
A clatter of hooves on the cobbles below sounded unnaturally loud as Jeanette took Sycamore’s hand, and some sort of marital discussion took place without anybody saying a word.
“She did not forbid you to reveal her plans,” Jeanette said, eyeing her husband.
Dorning went to the window, Jeanette with him, still hand in hand.
“She did not forbid me, but unless I miss my guess, the prodigal has returned, and her journey was successful. She can explain her absence to you herself, Powell, and I suggest you listen to her as if your happiness depends upon it. If that doesn’t suffice to silence your remonstrations, listen as ifherhappiness depends upon it.”
Dorning eased his hand free of his wife’s grasp. She held his coat for him, and he followed Dylan and Goddard down to the foyer.
Lydia and an older woman who resembled her were passing over wraps to Bascomb.
Goddard sidled around the ladies and departed before introductions could be made, promising to have more supper sent over.
Dylan laced his hands behind his back, lest other people witness him snatching Lydia into his arms. Her eyes were shadowed, her complexion pale by the light of the foyer’s sconces, and Dylan had never seen her in such a wrinkled ensemble, but she was whole, and safe, andhere.
“Captain Powell,” she said, her bearing shifting into that of the housekeeper of unyielding dignity. She offered him a damned curtsey. “A pleasure to see you. Caroline, Lady Tremont, may I make known to you Captain Dylan Powell, a dear friend of mine and a former comrade-in-arms of Marcus’s.”
Dylan bowed over the countess’s hand, for this had to be Lydia’s mother, hauled in from the provinces literally posthaste.
“Your ladyship, a pleasure.”
The countess considered him. “You found my son. I will always be in your debt, Captain, and I am pleased to meet you.” A silent, ladylikenonetheless…hung in the air.
“His lordship has nothing to fear from me,” Dylan replied. “He never did.”
“Perhaps,” Dorning said, “the ladies would like some food and—”
“I must retrieve my belongings from the captain’s house.” Lydia spoke quite firmly.
The countess paused minutely while drawing off her gloves. “At this hour, Lydia?”
Yes, at this hour. At any hour.Dylan had no idea what Lydia was about, but he knew that he and she needed privacy.
“I will be happy to escort Lady Lydia to her former abode. The rest of the staff will be delighted to see her, as will my sisters.”
Lydia aimed an unfathomable look at Dylan, serious, patient… He realized what he’d left unsaid.
“Though nobody is more relieved or pleased to know her ladyship is well than I am. Her ladyship and I have matters to discuss, regarding Lord Tremont, among other things.”
