As he prepared to leave, his secretary handed him a letter. “Came by special post, milord,” Warren said.
“Thank you.” Nicholas picked up his letter opener. He slit the letter open and unfolded the paper. It was from Ludlow, requesting his permission to call on Carrie with a view to marriage. In his scrawling hand, Ludlow explained how he’d loved her since he first set eyes on her. She was an angel. He detailed his prospects. Next in line for the barony, etc.
Nicholas wished he could find reasons to dislike the fellow, but he knew the family well. Ludlow was a good sort. Just the type of man he would have chosen for her.
Would he soon be congratulating them? And be relieved to see her happy and settled, wouldn’t he?
***
“Pack everything, Anna,” Carrie said to the maid who folded clothes and packed them in the trunk.
Anna looked surprised. “You’ll leave nothing here, Miss Carrie?”
“I don’t expect to return. Certainly not for a lengthy stay.”
Anna sighed.
Carrie turned to her. “You like Elm Park?”
“I do. The staff have become like friends.”
“Any special one?”
Anna giggled. “No, Miss Carrie.”
The door opened, and Bella came in carrying a small, wriggling puppy in her arms. “I hoped you might stay a while longer, Carrie.”
Carrie stroked the pup’s head, and it licked her hand. “Are you permitted to bring Daisy into the bedchambers?”
“I’ll take her back in a minute.”
“We always knew this would happen, didn’t we, Bella? But you are traveling to London with us tomorrow for a holiday. Isn’t that exciting?”
Bella smiled wanly and put down the dog. “It is.”
“I must make sure the maid has packed the right clothes for you and Jeremy.”
“You won’t stay with us at Pennington Court, will you?”
“No, dearest. I must remain with Gwen. She is my chaperone. I doubt you’ll have time to miss me. You’ll be busy visiting all the wonderful places Nicholas has in store for you. But I promise to see you often before you come back.” Carrie put down a pair of gloves she’d been examining. “You’ll be happy here at Elm Park, won’t you, Bella?”
“I shall miss you dreadfully,” Bella said. “But this is home to me now. I’m very fond of Nicholas. Aren’t you, Carrie?”
“I am. Yes.”
“And guess what I found in the attic? A harp!”
Carrie looked up from the blue spencer in her hands, which needed a stitch. “Oh, but didn’t Nicholas say…”
“He won’t let me play it in the attic.”
Bella perched on the bed, while Daisy tugged at one of Carrie’s slippers.
“No, I thought not.”
“He has promised to have the harp brought down to the music room so that I can practice there.”
Carrie raised her eyebrows. “He did? How kind of him.”
“Why are you so surprised? He is always kind.” Bella laughed. “Unless Jeremy puts a hole in his baize or wants to ride Prince.”
“He is perfectly right. Jeremy must learn to respect things, and that horse is dangerous.”
Bella jumped off the bed and scooped up her dog. “After I take Daisy back, I’ll go and see if the harp is there yet. I can’t wait to play it.”
“I’m pleased for you, dearest.” Nicholas’s change of mind had surprised her. Carrie wondered how it would be between them when they met at dinner. She had woken with a headache, as he had prophesied, but she wasn’t about to tell him. She flushed furiously at her brazen behavior. Would he think she behaved like a common trollop? He must, for she undoubtedly had. It must have been the fairies, she thought with a shake of her head. The movement caused a sharp ache, and she put a hand to her forehead with a soft moan. Fairies were a bad influence. It was said they played horrid games on humans.
“Did you say something, Miss Carrie?”
“No, Anna. Can you fix the button on this blue spencer? It has come loose. I must see Lady Penelope. She is leaving soon, and as she did not bring her maid with her, she may have need of my assistance.”
Aunt Penelope had several small tasks for her. As Carrie worked, she said, “You are returning to London?”
“Yes, tomorrow, Aunt.”
“I see. I thought perhaps…?”
Carrie paused, a shawl in her hands, while a flush rose up her neck. “What, Aunt Penelope?”
“When I heard you two in the corridor last night, I had expected... Well, never mind, an old woman’s imaginings. The moon was so bright, it shone through the curtains, and I couldn’t sleep. They don’t fit the windows properly. I must speak to the housekeeper.”
“Nicholas will be ready to take you home as soon as he returns from his ride with Jeremy. I shall see to it now.” Carrie was glad to draw her aunt’s attention away from any embarrassing questions. But as she left the room, she wondered what Aunt Penelope had expected.
An hour later, Nicholas left with her aunt in his curricle.
The day dragged by slowly. Carrie spent an hour in the music room, while Bella played the harp. She played a few pieces herself, but it soon failed to entertain her.
At dusk, Nicholas still had not arrived home. It was dark when Carrie heard the horses and ran to the window. His curricle, lit by lamps, passed by on its way to the stables. She checked her appearance in the mirror. She’d chosen one of her most flattering gowns, a pale lilac trimmed with bands of white satin, to give her confidence. After she tied a lilac ribbon in her hair, she hurried out.
She met Nicholas on the stairs.
“I’m
