“It looks like more than flirting to me.”
“It’s not.”
Janet’s tone was steely and firm, advising Caroline to butt out, but she couldn’t. Not yet.
“He’s older than you are.”
“Not that much older. I’m twenty, and he’s twenty-five.”
“He’s sailed the globe and seen the world. Are you expecting a proposal? For I feel compelled to suggest that he won’t be hoping for that. I’m predicting, after he departs Grey’s Corner, you’ll never hear from him again.”
“You’re probably correct.”
“Please be careful.” Caroline sounded as if she was begging.
“I’m always careful.”
“He might be out of your league.”
“Or maybe he is out of mine. Maybe I’m trifling with him, and his heart will be broken when I’m through.”
“You don’t really believe that. If anyone’s heart is broken, it will be yours.”
“It’s how men behave. They dally with no strings attached. Why can’t a woman behave the same way?”
“Our problem is that we grow more ardently devoted than men.”
Janet smirked, then changed the subject, indicating the topic was closed. “The strangest rumors are swirling. The wedding is off. The wedding isn’t off. You quarreled with Father. You didn’t quarrel. What is the truth?”
“Promise you won’t faint when I confide this, but I found out Gregory is intimately involved with Mrs. Starling. They’ve been a dedicated couple for years, to the point where they live in sin in London.”
“The shrew is Gregory’s mistress?”
“It’s shocking, isn’t it? She’s a guest in our home because, apparently, he couldn’t bear to be away from her for even the few days it would take to marry me.”
“I often wonder if Gregory isn’t the most disgusting man in the kingdom, then you tell me this foul tale, and I’m convinced of it.”
“I’ve demanded she leave for London in the morning.”
“Will she? She seems terribly impressed with herself. I can’t imagine she’ll like being kicked out.”
Considering Mrs. Starling’s fit of pique outside Caroline’s bedroom, it was a gross understatement. “She’s not happy about it, but she’s agreed to depart.”
“What about Gregory?” Janet asked. “What about the wedding?”
“I told your father I won’t go through with it.”
Janet gasped with astonishment. “What was his response? Was he incredibly angry?”
“He insisted he wouldn’t allow me to cry off, but it doesn’t matter what he thinks. I never should have engaged myself to Gregory. The only part I regret is that I waited so long to come to my senses.”
“Have you talked to Gregory?”
“Not yet. I haven’t been able to find him, and he certainly hasn’t tried to find me. I can’t decide if he hasn’t been searching very hard or if he’s avoiding me.”
“When you finally confront him, can I sit in the corner and listen?”
“Don’t be flippant about this,” Caroline said. “I’m stirring a morass, and it will get worse before it gets better. I’ll need your support to remain strong.”
“Are you sure you can sever the betrothal?”
“It’s not the Middle Ages, Janet. No one can force me.”
“No, but men have such power over us. There are all sorts of tricks Father can use to coerce you. He’s likely in his library right now, writing lists of the hideous methods he could utilize to make you obey.”
“It won’t do him any good. I’m quite resolved.”
“I’m proud of you.” Janet stepped forward and gave Caroline a tight hug. Then she said, “I want to walk a new path too. We should both march off in different directions.”
Caroline raised a fist, as if she was a radical troublemaker. “The women of the Grey family seize the day!”
Janet chuckled. “If we assert a bit of independence, it might send the Earth spinning off its axis.”
“I will pray the conclusion is not that dramatic.”
They sighed, then Janet scrutinized Caroline in an odd way, her expression becoming calculating and a tad devious.
“You’re positive you’re not marrying him?” she asked.
“Yes. Your father and brother can harangue at me until they’re blue in the face, but they’ll never persuade me to proceed.”
“I would hate to jump out of bed on Saturday, only to discover you’re curling your hair and putting on your wedding gown so we can get to the church on time.”
“There will be no wedding. I guarantee it.”
“So. . . if I wasn’t here on Saturday, I wouldn’t miss an important occasion.”
“If you weren’t here? Where else would you be?”
Janet waved away her comment. “I have no idea why I said that. Don’t pay any attention to me. I’m being ridiculous.” She studied Caroline, then the manor, then Caroline. “Would you excuse me? I forgot to tell Blake something.”
“This flirtation can’t end well for either of you, but I suppose it’s futile to warn you away from him.”
“You worry too much.” Janet flashed a tepid smile. “We’ll chat later. You have to fill me in on the details after you’ve spoken to Gregory. I predict he’ll be an absolute prig to you.”
“I agree.”
“I like this new and improved you!”
“I like me a lot better too.”
Janet paused forever, as if she might whisper a secret, but she didn’t. She smiled again and dashed away.
Caroline watched until she was safely inside, then she headed back to her room. She wasn’t about to stroll through the downstairs parlors where she’d bump into Gregory. If she stumbled on him cooing with Mrs. Starling, she couldn’t imagine how she might react.
He could seek her out whenever he was ready. In the meantime, she had to confer with their housekeeper, Mrs. Scruggs, so they could figure out how to announce that the party was over and the guests should depart for home.
Like a thief in the night, she snuck in the rear of the house. A significant event was about to happen. She could sense it in the air. What would it be? How would she weather it? Where would she be when it was over?
Oh, how she yearned for that significant event to involve Caleb! Why couldn’t it? She was an optimist and would hope for the best.
As she rounded the last corner that would take her to
