“Fine,” she said, reining in her temper. “I shall trust you, but I vow—if you’ve lied and you try to cut me loose later on—I will track you down and castrate you in your sleep.”
He smiled. “That’s my Lucretia. Let’s go down to supper, shall we? Are you ready?”
“Not quite. I’ll have to join you shortly.”
“I should find Caroline and beg her pardon,” he said.
“Should you accost her before the meal?”
“I can hardly wait until after it. She’d be glowering at me while people were eating. They’d notice her fit of pique, and I would hate to have to explain it.”
“We should convene prior to our dining. I’ll be anxious to hear that you’ve resolved it with her to our satisfaction.”
“It will be resolved,” he said. “I have the perfect method for dealing with her.”
“What is it?”
“Her signature on the marriage license, of course. If she thinks she can refuse, I have another trick up my sleeve that will persuade her.”
He winked, as if he had numerous schemes fomenting, then he strolled out. Lucretia listened as his strides faded, then she studied her reflection in the mirror. She looked rich, glamorous, and sophisticated, and it was the image she always projected.
She was seething over Caroline’s audacity. Gregory had blithely consented to send Lucretia away without even arguing over it. While currently, Gregory was acting very tough, Lucretia doubted he’d remain firm. If she wasn’t vigilant, she might suddenly be set aside, but that wasn’t about to happen.
Caroline Grey assumed she held all the cards. She assumed she could command Lucretia and get away with it. How did Lucretia feel about that fact? She never let anyone boss her. Would she meekly acquiesce to Caroline’s edicts?
She snorted with derision. She’d leave in the morning, but before she departed, she would clarify a few pertinent issues for Miss Caroline Grey. Caroline had inflicted her opinions on Lucretia, and Lucretia was happy to return the favor.
Caroline was walking down the hall toward her bedchamber, wondering if she should visit the kitchen to check on how the supper preparations were progressing. It was her usual sort of chore, and she should have seen to it, but she couldn’t force herself down the stairs.
She hadn’t yet spoken to Gregory, and she had no desire to bump into him. She simply wished he’d corral his London friends, load them into a carriage, and head for town. Then she’d like him to stay there forever.
She supposed she should locate a servant and deliver a message that she was indisposed, but she couldn’t be bothered.
She was in a peculiar condition, excited, sad, and scared about the future. She’d been miserable for so long, without really knowing that she was. With her abrupt decision to break off her engagement, she felt lighter, as if she’d been carrying a heavy burden and it had been lifted away.
At the whimsical thought, she smiled, and there was practically a spring in her step as she neared her door.
She wasn’t paying much attention to her surroundings, so she jumped a foot when a very angry woman said, “There you are, Miss Grey. It’s about time you arrived.”
Mrs. Starling emerged from the shadows, and she exuded such a sense of menace that Caroline was a tad frightened. She glanced over her shoulder, pondering whether she should run in the other direction, but she didn’t move.
Grey’s Corner was her home, and Mrs. Starling was an unwanted guest. Caroline wasn’t afraid of her.
Still though, Mrs. Starling was taller, bigger, and wider. She towered over Caroline, looming up in a threatening manner, and Caroline warned herself to hide any unease. Mrs. Starling would be emboldened by an attack of nerves.
“May I help you?” Caroline asked. “You’re quite a distance from the main section of the house. Are you lost? Shall I guide you to the front foyer?”
“I’m not lost, Miss Grey. I figured we should have a little chat.”
“On what topic?”
“You have been spreading lies about me. You have maligned my character and gossiped about me with Samson Grey—to my great detriment.”
“It’s the truth Mrs. Starling, so you can’t accuse me of gossiping.”
“I am not involved in an illicit relationship with Gregory. He and I are just friends, and I cannot ignore the slurs you’ve spewed about either of us.”
“You don’t live with him? You don’t openly cohabitate? If I traveled to London and searched his closets, I wouldn’t see your clothes hanging there?”
Mrs. Starling’s cheeks heated. “No, you would not!”
“I don’t believe you.”
She circled around Mrs. Starling, eager to slip into her room so the ghastly scene would conclude, but the insane shrew grabbed her arm and yanked her to a stop.
“I’ve agreed to leave,” Mrs. Starling said, “but only because I won’t cause any trouble.”
“It’s too late to pretend you haven’t caused trouble.”
“Don’t you dare tell anyone that you ordered me to depart. I better not hear that you’ve been disseminating false stories. I will not allow you to harm my reputation any further. Keep your mouth shut.”
“Or what?”
“Cross me, and you’ll learn how I can lash out. I guarantee you won’t like it.”
“Mrs. Starling, I declare that you are too ridiculous for words, and I can’t wait until we’re shed of you.”
Caroline jerked away and continued on. Thankfully, the witch didn’t try to stop her again. Nor did she hurl any other insults.
Caroline scooted into her room and closed the door. She didn’t slam it as she was yearning to do, merely because she wouldn’t let Mrs. Starling realize how furious she was.
Very quietly, she spun the key in the lock. She pressed her ear to the wood and listened until the vicious harpy stomped away. Then she staggered to the bed and sank down.
“What next?” she asked aloud, then she shuddered with distaste and flopped down onto the mattress.
Caroline slipped out a rear door and onto the verandah. She’d avoided supper and
