Page 84 of A Match Made in London
“I have come to say goodbye.”
“Where are you going?” She cursed herself. The question had been burning in her mind the past hour, so much so that it burst forth quite without her permission. “Not that you need tell me. I am merely a paid companion.”
“You were nevermerelyanything, Rosalind.”
His words, low and intense, stunned her silent. Before she could wrap her head around them, he spoke again, breaking the momentary spell.
“There has been an unexpected death in Lady Willbridge’s family. I am accompanying Lady Daphne and her mother back to Northamptonshire.” He paused, looking out the window at the carriage, searching for the right words. With effort, he said, haltingly, “I do not know when I shall be back. I expect you and Grace to have departed by then. But I wished to say goodbye before I left, as I may not see you again.”
Tears, sudden and unexpected, nearly choked Rosalind. But what was this? She was not weak. This was a blessing. She need not see Tristan any longer, need not be faced with the monumental mistake she had made in opening her heart and body to him. She could silence the regret fermenting in her gut and put this all behind her.
Swallowing forcefully, she held out her hand to him. “Goodbye, Sir Tristan. I wish you safe journey.”
He looked at her hand for a long moment, until her fingers began to tremble. When she thought he would not take it, he reached out, gripping it in his warm grasp.
The contact of his skin on her own, even something so innocuous as a handshake, was like an electric jolt through her body. She gasped, softly.
His eyes, as blue as the sky on a cloudless day, darted to her mouth. The clear blue darkened, turning stormy. His fingers tightened, infinitesimally, and for a moment she thought he might pull her close and bring his mouth to hers.
To her horror, she found she wanted that, with every bit of her heart.
After what seemed an eternity, he released her and stepped back. There should have been only relief, but Rosalind found herself fighting bitter disappointment.
“Farewell, Rosalind,” he murmured. Then, with one final, shuttered look, he turned and left.
For long minutes she stood there, listening with greedy ears to the sounds of his departure. The sharp, staccato click of his boots as he crossed the entry hall, the timber of his voice as he spoke indecipherably to the butler, the heavy echo of the door as it shut behind him. And then the muffled closing of the carriage door, the sharp call of the driver, the clomp of the horses’ hooves and the roll of the carriage wheels as the equipage started off.
It was only then Rosalind could draw a deep breath. But it was a shaky thing, filling her lungs with moans of loss that she refused to let loose. Smoothing out her skirts, patting her hair with trembling fingers, she left the room with determined steps.
By the time she reached Grace’s room she had almost convinced herself that she would quickly get over his leaving, that things would now return to normal. She expected to find the other woman abed, as she had hardly left it since the previous evening’s heartbreak.
To her surprise, Tessa was helping Grace on with a walking dress.
“Are we going out then?” Rosalind asked hopefully. It broke her heart to see her employer brought so low by the actions of one despicable man.
Grace gave her a bracing smile. “I am tired of lazing abed. A spot of fresh air shall do wonders for me.”
In no time at all they were headed out into the fitful afternoon sunlight. Grace breathed in deeply, allowing out a sigh.
“I am so glad I decided on this. It is helping immensely.” She turned her gaze to Rosalind and linked arms with her. “I suppose you know Tristan has left town.”
Again, she felt starved of air. “Yes, he made sure to bid me farewell,” she managed. “It was kind of him to do so.”
Grace was quiet for a time, as immersed in her own thoughts as Rosalind. “I have given it much thought, and with my cousin’s leave-taking I believe I have come to a monumental conclusion. Rosalind, darling, how do you feel about Scotland?”
Rosalind blinked. Of all the things Grace could have asked her, this was most unexpected. “I have to admit I have not given it much thought. It’s to the north, and there are kilts. I do know you lived there for some time. Beyond that my knowledge is sadly lacking.”
“Would you like to expand upon that minimal knowledge?”
Rosalind frowned, for Grace appeared positively uncertain. “I don’t quite understand what you mean.”
“Over the last days—no, it started before that.” Grace seemed to be struggling with something. After a time she continued, her voice slow and careful. “I thought I was well and truly rid of Manderly. It had been more of a prison to me for more than half my life, you know. But when I made the Weetons’ acquaintance and began reminiscing about the beauty of it all, I admit I began to grow homesick. Then, when this whole debacle with Bilton came to a head, I realized I had missed it much more than I ever expected I would. I have decided I’ll leave London before the week is out and return.”
Rosalind stumbled to a stop on the pavement and stared, stunned, at her employer. “Oh.”
“Would you miss England so very much if you were to accompany me?”
“You wish me to go with you?”
“Of course, darling.” Grace smiled at her. “I could not imagine leaving you behind. You have become much too important to me. Unless,” she conceded, looking closely at Rosalind, “you have a reason to stay?”
Immediately a memory flashed, of Tristan holding her in his arms, his mouth on hers as he moved inside her. She blinked, and the image was gone. But not the feel of it, which would forever be imprinted on her heart if she did not put distance between them—and the sooner the better. “No,” she said, more firmly than she thought possible. “No, nothing is holding me here.”
A look of sadness passed over Grace’s face before she smiled and took up Rosalind’s hand. “Well then, I am glad. After our walk we shall return home and begin packing for our journey. Be ready, my dear,” she said, a decided twinkle entering her tired eyes, “for a grand adventure!”
