At the next stop to change horses, when they all clambered stiffly out of the carriage to use the convenience, Lily’s thoughts were still miles away as she wended her way through the busy inn. A loud, self-important voice broke through her reverie. “Lady Ampleforth requires—”
Lily didn’t wait to hear what Lady Ampleforth required; she dived through a nearby door, dragging Betty with her. And found herself in a private parlor where a plump, elderly lady sat by the fire. She was dressed in shades of puce and wore a purple-and-gold turban. At Lily’s gasp, she peered toward the doorway, then groped for and began to raise a lorgnette.
“Oh, heavens!” Lily whirled around and pushed Betty back out.
“What was that all about?” Betty said as they hurried to the conveniences out the back.
“That old lady, she knows me.” Worse, she knew Aunt Agatha.
“So?”
“She mustn’t see me.”
“She did see you.”
“No, she’s very shortsighted, so she saw me, but I don’t think she recognized me. She didn’t have her lorgnette up in time.”
She pushed Betty in front of her. “Have a look, will you? See if she’s anywhere to be seen.”
Betty peered through the door. “Hang on, she’s talking to someone. Let’s go around the other way.” They crept around the outside of the inn, then made a mad dash to the carriage and practically fell inside, laughing in relief.
Inside the inn, Ned was arranging for hot coffee laced with brandy for his coachman, and sweetened tea for the ladies and the small boy, when he felt an imperious tap on his shoulder. He turned and his heart sank.
“Young Galbraith, what is the meaning of this?” A short, stout old lady stood regarding him with a grim expression. “That, if I am not mistaken, was Lady Lily Rutherford I saw just now—and she’s just climbed into a vehicle that my coachman tells me belongs to you.”
Ned swore silently. In as bored a voice as he could manage, he said, “It’s not what you think, Lady Ampleforth.”
She snorted. “You have no idea what I think, young man. So explain.”
He gave a careless shrug and explained in his best sophisticated-rake drawl, “It’s simple. I encountered Lady Lily and her maid a few miles back, in some distress after a carriage accident. Naturally I stopped to render assistance and, realizing who she was—her brother is a friend of mine, you know—I offered her a lift back to London. It’s a dreary chore, of course, but there it is. Nothing else a gentleman could do.”
She raised a well-plucked eyebrow. “Is that so?”
“It is,” he said firmly. “I trust you’re satisfied that there’s nothing more to it than that. Gossip—especially when misplaced—is such a bore, don’t you find?”
She drew herself up to her full five foot one and gave him a militant look. “I quite agree. I abhor gossip, especially when misplaced. Convey my respects to your grandfather. I trust he’s in good health.”
“I shall, thank you, and he is. Good afternoon, Lady Ampleforth.” He bowed to the old lady, collected the flasks of tea and coffee and left, cursing silently.
“We had a narrow escape,” Lily informed him as he climbed into the coach again. “There was an old lady in the inn who knows my aunt Agatha.”
“Lady Ampleforth? Yes, I spoke to her.” He knocked on the roof to signal Walton to resume the journey. The coach moved off with a jerk.
Lily looked aghast. “You know her?”
“She knows my grandfather. All that generation seem to know each other.”
She groaned. “I know. She and Aunt Agatha made their come-out the same year, and have been at daggers drawn ever since.”
“Really?” He decided not to tell her that Lady Ampleforth had recognized her. It would only worry her, and if Lady Ampleforth was as discreet as she claimed there would be no problem. “The good news is she’s traveling in the opposite direction, leaving London rather than going there, so you won’t encounter her when you get home.”
“Home,” Lily echoed quietly. “How long now till we reach London, do you think?”
He did a quick calculation. “About seven hours. Shall I continue reading?” She nodded, and he resumed the story.
• • •
Edward finished reading Persuasion just as the light was starting to fade. Lily was glad of the happy ending—she liked Anne and thought she deserved to be happy with her captain—but there was a growing hollow feeling inside her—and it wasn’t hunger.
They hadn’t stopped for dinner; there was enough food left over in Mrs. Baines’s basket to keep them all satisfied. Not that Lily ate much. The closer they got to London, the more nervous she became.
Three hours to London.
At the last change of horses, Walton, the coachman, had lit the carriage lamps. Not many people traveled at night; it was too dangerous. But Edward was determined to get Lily home as soon as possible, and she could only be grateful.
She was desperate to see her family.
Walton had also sent young Jimmy down—much against the boy’s will—to travel the last few hours inside the coach. How could Walton stand it? Lily wondered. Sixteen hours driving a coach—she was exhausted just from traveling, and she’d taken a nap or two along the way. But when she raised it with Edward, he’d shrugged and said he’d offered to hire Walton an assistant driver and he’d refused.
After Jimmy joined them, they played guessing games and memory games, and told a few stories, but everyone was tired, and soon Betty and her brother curled up in a corner of the coach and slept.
Lily wished she could sleep too. Edward had said he hoped they’d get to Mayfair before midnight. She was exhausted, but nervous energy kept her awake.
• • •
The coach pulled up outside Ashendon House just before midnight. In the faint light of the gas lamps in the street outside, the occupants of the coach stretched, and straightened themselves. Ned was a little surprised. He’d expected Lily to be out of
