“Where is Libby?” he asked as she approached. “You two are thick as thieves. You haven’t been separated once since I first walked in the door.”
She pulled up a chair, but he deemed her to be too far away from him. He drew her onto his lap, not caring if she was observed snuggled there.
“Her sister, Penny, pried her away from me,” Caroline said. “She has to make some decisions about the wedding.”
“She is the most stunning vixen I’ve ever encountered. The more I watch her, the more I understand the stories I’ve heard about her.”
Libby was charismatic and magnetic, and people stopped and stared when she sauntered by, and Caroline said, “I wish I’d seen her on the stage.”
“You may still have the chance. From Luke’s many comments, it seems she’s not quitting.”
“An earl’s wife? Appearing in theaters?”
“Luke swears he’ll allow her to continue performing.” Caleb leaned nearer and murmured, “If he attempted to prevent her, she’d tell him to stuff it. He’ll never have any control over her.”
“I can just envision the playbill that will be printed: Libby Carstairs Tonight! Lady Barrett in Person! Little Henrietta Too!”
“I’m glad you’re somewhat normal,” Caleb said. “If I had to deal with all that pomp and glamour, or repeatedly chase off a gaggle of male admirers, I’d stumble around in a jealous frenzy that would eventually kill me.”
“I shall try to never be glamorous or fantastic.”
“Praise the Lord. I like you just the way you are, so don’t let any of her flamboyance rub off on you. Or her stubbornness.”
“It’s too late on the stubbornness,” Caroline said. “I can be quite obstinate, remember?”
“Oh, yes, I remember.”
He kissed her sweetly, and as their lips parted, they sighed with pleasure.
“Guess what?” she said.
“What?”
“Mr. Periwinkle has left to bring Joanna to Barrett.”
“That’s wonderful news. The three of you will finally be together. When should we expect her?”
“He promised to have her here for the wedding next week. Guess what else?”
“I’m almost afraid to ask. With you and Libby conspiring, it might be any insane thing.”
“Joanna lives on an estate called Ralston Place. Isn’t that your father’s property?”
“My goodness, yes. It belongs to my half-brother, Jacob.”
“I thought that was it.”
“What is she doing there?” he asked.
“I have no idea. Mr. Periwinkle didn’t share any of her history with me, and I’m not certain he’s learned it. He chatted with her previously, but he was there to inquire about a reunion. I don’t believe they had much of a conversation beyond that request.”
“The eeriest shiver has raced down my spine. What are the odds that one of you Lost Girls would reside at Ralston?”
“I couldn’t calculate a number that high. Do you suppose she knows Jacob?”
“If she’s crossed paths with him,” he said, “it would have to be a very recent acquaintance. I just saw him in London, and he claimed he hadn’t met any of you.”
“Mr. Periwinkle didn’t describe her position at the estate, but isn’t Jacob the grand and glorious lord of the manor?”
“Don’t remind me.”
Caleb’s father and his estate were sore spots for him. When he was a boy growing up in Jamaica, he’d assumed he was Miles’s heir, but ultimately, his mother’s marriage had been ruled invalid in the law courts, so he’d been declared a bastard.
Jacob had inherited everything, while Caleb had received a few financial crumbs from Jacob’s mother. In exchange, he didn’t ever mention Miles’s bigamy.
But Esther was deceased, and Jacob had reached out to Caleb, wanting to be friends. He’d even invited Caleb to a house party in September. Caleb was debating whether to attend, but Caroline had already decided they were going. She simply hadn’t informed him yet.
Her greatest dream had always been to be a member of a big, happy family. If Jacob was willing to have them become members of his, she was eager to have it happen.
“Is it possible my father’s ghost is haunting us?” he asked. “I keep feeling him hovering over me.”
She smiled. “I like to think so. He’s been my hero my whole life, and it would please me to picture him guiding our steps from Heaven to guarantee I met you.”
“In light of how he betrayed my mother, I doubt he’s looking down from Heaven. If he’s anywhere, it’s probably in a locale quite a bit lower and hotter than that.”
“I refuse to accept it. In my view, he’s in Heaven.”
“Maybe he’s trying to wipe away his earthly sins by bringing us together.”
“Let’s imagine exactly that.”
“Well?”
Roxanne glared at the kitchen boy she’d had spy on Jacob. It was early morning, and they were huddled in her bedchamber. The door was closed to bar any eavesdroppers.
After the supper party had ended the prior evening, he’d snuck away again. She’d waited hours for him to come back, and when he didn’t, it was obvious she had to take action.
Her temper was flaring, and she had to calm down so she didn’t initiate responses she’d regret later on. Jacob wouldn’t allow himself to be scolded, and after his fight with Margaret, he wouldn’t be in any mood to quarrel.
Roxanne had to strategize and handle the debacle in a manner that would deliver the conclusion she required.
She figured she knew where he’d gone, and before the sun was up, she’d sent the boy to Miss James’s cottage. He’d just returned.
“I went there as you commanded,” the boy said.
“And . . . ?”
The child looked a tad ill. “I’m not sure I ought to tattle, Miss Ralston. The Captain is my master, and it can’t be proper.”
She slipped him a coin. “In most cases, it wouldn’t be, but I will be his wife very soon, so I’ll be mistress here. That means it’s perfectly appropriate for you to obey me.” He was mulishly silent, and she growled with frustration. “For pity’s sake. I won’t tell him that you helped me—if that’s what is worrying you.”
“Could I talk to the butler first? He could
