The Visitor (36 page)

“My aunt has plans and left as soon as the service ended,” Tate told Lizzy after church, “but I have none.”

“I’m glad to hear it. We’ll plan on your joining us, Tate,” she invited, knowing that Cassandra was still inside.

“Thank you.” Tate bowed a little and watched as Morland took Lizzy to her carriage. He watched them for a moment, wishing that he felt more free to be with Cassandra in public. He wasn’t put out by always having to visit her at Newcomb, but seeing Morland and Lizzy together made him want more.

I’ve just been invited to lunch with the Steeles, and I’m complaining,
Tate caught himself.
What foolishness. I’m sorry, Father. Help me to see these things for what they are: just moments in a long life—nothing to be concerned about at all.

Tate walked toward his carriage, knowing he would see Cassandra in a matter of minutes. As Cassandra emerged from the church, her heart knew a moment of indecision when she spotted him and wondered if Lizzy had had a chance to ask him to lunch. Nevertheless, she went to their carriage without stopping.

“Yes,” Lizzy said the moment her eyes met Cassandra’s. Cassandra laughed about it all the way home.

Newcomb Park

Dear Edward,
Henry’s letter opened to his brother. Lunch was over, and the others had gone outside.

I’m not sure you should stay away much longer. Morland has become a permanent fixture, and a certain gentleman, whose sight has been restored, is seeing an awful lot of our Cassie. I don’t claim that a double wedding will take place, but I shouldn’t be surprised to see one long before Christmas. I can’t think this is something you would want to miss.

The four of them are playing pall-mall in the yard just now. They wanted me to join, but my aim is dreadful.

I certainly miss you. I do wish you’d come home, but for the first time in many years, I have a yearning to travel. If you plan to return to Africa, I might like to go along. You, of course, can tell me if this interrupts your plans. I will count on your honesty.

Henry heard laughter just then and went to the window. Lizzy had just hit the ball between the wickets and against the stake. Cassandra and Tate were applauding from the side as she held her mallet up in triumph, and Morland was bowing over her hand in homage.

Henry smiled at the sight, and thought,
Come home soon, Edward. We miss you. We need you to celebrate with us for this short time we are here.

Chapter Seventeen

Tipton

“Why, Marianne,” her sister-in-law said as she approached her outside, surprised to see that Marianne hadn’t joined the men in archery.

“Hello, Liddy. Come and sit by me.” Marianne touched the seat beside her, reiterating her invitation.

“Where are all the children?”

“Catherine is asleep; Sophie is sitting with her; and the rest have gone to visit the horses.”

“Do they never get tired of them?” Lydia asked, taking a seat and thinking how good it felt to get off her feet.

“I think not.”

“Why don’t you have a bow in your hand?”

“Jennings prefers that I not participate.”

“Are you getting too good for him?” Lydia teased.

“I’m sure that’s it.”

Marianne’s mild tone caused Lydia to look at her longtime friend. “What’s going on?”

Marianne looked right back. “What do you think?”

A moment later Lydia was hugging Marianne, who tried not to laugh loudly.

“We haven’t told the children. We want to wait for a time.”

“But how are you?”

“I’m very well. Just teary at all moments of the day.”

“That’s how it was with Catherine. Do you remember?”

“I did as soon as Jennings and my mother reminded me,” she said dryly.

“I’m so happy for you. That’s three of you now, isn’t it? You, Anne, and Judith.”

“As far as we know.” Marianne’s eyes suddenly twinkled. “Unless Palmer knows of others.”

Lydia laughed before asking, “Did you hear that Anne has been confined to bedrest again?”

“Yes. Do you know how she’s doing?”

“Lizzy Steele visited her and told Judith that her spirits are a bit low, but she’s talking about it and working it through.”

“Is Weston doing all right? I should think it would be almost as hard on him.”

“That’s a very good point. I wonder if Palmer or Jennings has called on him recently.”

At the moment Palmer, Jennings, and their oldest sons, Frank and Thomas, were all battling on the archery field. But the women would ask the men about Weston. They planned on doing that very thing as soon as they were finished with their game, but the children came back, full of ideas about the pony and trap.

The men were pressed into service, giving rides and entertaining for a time. Before they knew it, the afternoon had sped by, and the Jennings family made ready to leave. With a swiftly shared word, the women decided to speak to their husbands individually and then leave it in their hands.

Henry and Cassandra stared across the carriage at Lizzy, who was fidgeting with her dress, acting as if she were headed to her first ball. She didn’t notice their scrutiny for some time, but froze when she did.

“What?” she asked.

“That’s what we are wondering: What?”

Lizzy went back to smoothing the folds of fabric in her lap. Her posture tried to say nothing was wrong, but it didn’t work.

“Why are you nervous, Lizzy?” Cassandra came out and asked.

“I don’t know,” she admitted, not even attempting to sit still, “except that I’ve only met Morland’s aunt twice, and I can’t recall what she thought of me.”

“Has Morland given you no clue?” Henry asked.

“I didn’t ask him.”

“Well, Mrs Long can’t object overly much if we’ve all been invited to lunch.”

Lizzy nodded, but her heart was having a hard time agreeing. They arrived at Richmond long before she was ready, and the moment Morland saw her, he read what her siblings had seen in the carriage.

“No one is going to bite you,” he said softly, smiling a little when he wanted to laugh.

Still in the foyer, Lizzy frowned at him crossly.

“For a man who very recently didn’t appear to know I existed, you have certainly learned to read me well.”

Morland only smiled a little more, which drew another frown.

“Welcome,” Penelope Long greeted them, coming to her feet just long enough for them to join her in the main salon.

“Please sit down. Lunch will be served shortly, but we’ll wait in here. My, Henry, you are looking very well. How old are you these days?”

“I am 20 and 9, Mrs Long.”

“No wife?”

“No, mum.”

“Well, you have time,” she told him, thinking it a comfort. “And you, Cassandra. I had forgotten your red hair. I rather like it.”

Cassandra smiled at her.

“Morland tells me that a gentleman has been calling on you.”

Cassandra nodded even as she blushed.

“Ah, yes. A little color to your face gives you away. Now, Lizzy,” she switched without warning, “you haven’t been to see me in a while, and I want this to be the first of many times. Do you think you can manage that?”

“Yes, Mrs Long. I should enjoy visiting you.”

“Even if Morland is not in attendance?” she teased, and Lizzy smiled at her. “Come and help me, Morland. We shall feed these friends before they grow weak and faint on my carpet.”

Lizzy learned in a hurry that she had panicked over nothing. Mrs Long was delighted to have them, and although strongly opinionated on many subjects, very willing to offer her hospitality and friendship. Lizzy could see why Morland adored her. She was swiftly on her way to loving Aunt Penelope as well.

Pembroke

Cassandra’s Tuesday was full with lunch at Richmond and dinner at Pembroke. The evening started with a tour of that grand home. Both Harriet and Tate walked her through and stood back in pleasure when she spotted the stained glass upstairs.

“Oh, my,” she said softly. “I had no idea.”

“My Uncle Thorpe’s favorite window, wasn’t it, Aunt Harriet?”

“Yes. He loved it.”

“I can see why.”