The Visitor (38 page)
It gives me great pain to communicate this to you, and I hope that by the time you receive this, you will have come to your senses and repented. Does not the God who planned your blindness also have say over your business dealings? Even if you are left penniless, is He not always in charge?
I am praying for you. I hope you will find things not as grim as they first appeared, but most of all I hope that you will regain the trust you once had. My sister’s feelings are not based on a life of luxury she hopes to have with you. She has, however, been under the impression that you have a strong regard for her. Now we are both left to wondering.
I am sending this letter on to you, but as of this writing I am planning on coming to London myself. If we should miss each other, I will warn you again. Although I have not forgotten that you are my brother in Christ, you are not to have contact with Cassandra, either by letter or in person, until you have my permission to do so.
Sincerely,
Henry J. Steele
Tears filled Cassandra’s eyes as she finished. Henry saw them and came to her.
“I’m sorry, Cassie,” he said with a hand to her shoulder. “I would have had it very different.”
“I know, Henry. Will you really go to see him?”
“Yes. It’s late today, but I shall leave in the morning.”
Cassandra felt a tear slip down her cheek.
“What if he doesn’t wish to see me again?”
“Then we will have all been fooled by his nature, and it will be some time before the pain abates—yours most of all.”
Cassandra thanked him, her heart feeling bruised all over. She left the study and went in search of Lizzy, only to remember that she had gone to see Anne Weston.
Making an effort to remember that God was at work in her life as well, she tried not to feel so utterly desolate. Thinking that a good hard cry might be in order, she retired to her room to read her Bible and then indulge herself. God, however, had other ideas. She read in David’s psalms for a time, read of his pain, and then fell asleep. By the time she woke up, Lizzy was there to comfort her.
“Talk to me, Lizzy. Tell me something interesting.”
“All right,” Lizzy agreed, trying to think fast.
Henry had been gone for several hours, and the women suddenly found themselves at loose ends.
“Mr Palmer was visiting Weston when I arrived at Anne’s yesterday.”
“How nice for him. Is he doing well?”
“He seems to be very well, glad for the company.”
“I never did ask how Anne was doing.”
“Much better. Her spirits are greatly lifted. She’s so excited to meet this baby and doesn’t want to do anything to jeopardize that.”
“It sounds as though she’s being wise.”
“That she is.”
Silence fell long before Cassandra was ready. Lizzy’s heart ached with this new turn of events, but she wanted to be strong for her sister. She almost hoped that Morland wouldn’t come. He would be a comfort to Lizzy, but his presence would also magnify Cassandra’s loss.
“Let’s go to Collingbourne,” Lizzy suggested. “I don’t have a shopping list, but we could go to Gray’s for tea and then window-shop a bit.”
Cassandra didn’t reply.
“Don’t like the idea?”
“I’m afraid I’ll think of Tate and not be the best company.”
“We won’t worry about that. We’ll have such fun looking around that we won’t cry until we’re on the way home.”
Cassandra laughed a little, thinking it just like Lizzy to have a plan. Gathering their things in the next few minutes, they ordered the carriage for town. They’d only just left when they had a visitor, one they wouldn’t see until they arrived home.
Well, this is just fine!
Edward Steele thought goodnaturedly after Jasper had greeted him, given him the news of the family’s whereabouts, and left him in the empty foyer.
I’m home after how many months away, and there’s no one here to greet me.
The second youngest Steele sibling smiled and shook his head, knowing that his lack of communication had caused this. Morland had no more left Africa when Edward realized he missed his family. He wasn’t long in following, so with just a few stops along the way, he was now standing in Collingbourne and no one knew of it.
With another smile, this one a little more mischievous, he headed to the stairs to see his room. From there he planned to station himself in the sitting room with a book. When his family returned, he would be lounging in complete comfort, looking as though he’d been there all month.
Collingbourne
“Now I know you’re upset, Cassie,” Lizzy said, peeking over her shoulder at the hat she was holding. “What a horrid hat. You’re not really thinking of buying it.”
“No, but the ribbon caught my eye.”
“It’s a dreadful color, Cassie. What are you thinking?”
Lizzy’s tone was Cassandra’s undoing. She giggled a little before she could stop herself.
“Hello, Miss Elizabeth. Hello, Miss Cassandra. Is there anything I can show you?”
“We’re browsing today, Mrs North. Thank you.”
Lizzy turned Cassandra away before she could speak.
“I don’t care how sad your heart is, buying a hat that you shouldn’t wear to your grave is not going to help.”
“I was thinking of Mrs North.” Cassandra’s voice was melancholy, her brow puckered in a small frown. “I’m sure she would like to make a sale.”
“It’s time for tea,” Lizzy declared, wanting to laugh. “Before you go into total depression, I must get you out of here.”
Planning to leave on the spot, Lizzy was surprised to find something that did catch her eye. Cassandra spotted it at the same moment. A bolt of dress material, not quite ready for display, sat off to one side of the doorway. The color, a rich green, would have been lovely on both women.
Before they thought of tea again, they had purchased enough for two items. Cassandra planned on a dress, and Lizzy would have hers lined for a spencer jacket. Not until they were relaxing in Gray’s, tea and cakes before them, did Lizzy mention Cassandra’s behavior.
“Pathetic,” she teased her, eyes rolling.
“Well, Mrs North did have a sale, so that makes it all right.”
That this would be Cassandra’s logic only made Lizzy want to laugh again. She tucked into her teacup and worked to squelch the urge. She had thought they might browse all day but changed her mind. As soon as they finished, they headed for Newcomb Park.
Newcomb Park
“Edward!” Morland said with surprise before clasping his friend in a great hug. “When did you arrive?”
“Just an hour ago.” Edward hugged Morland in return. “Only to learn that my family has fled the nest.”
“Is no one home?”
“No. And I desperately need someone to tell me why Henry would go to London.”
“All right, but you’d better sit down. It’s rather complicated.”
Morland explained the situation to Edward, whose heart was very affected for his younger sister. That Cassandra had finally found love was wonderful to him, but not like this.
“I suspect that Lizzy got her out of the house for a diversion.”
Edward nodded in agreement. “Jasper said they went to Collingbourne.”
“But tell me, why are you home?”
“You’d no more left Africa when I realized I missed the family. I was close on your heels, but I made several stops en route. So tell me, when do you and Lizzy wed?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t asked the lady yet.”
Edward’s face was comical. “Don’t tell me she’s not interested!”
“Oh, she’s interested, but we’re enjoying this time.”
Edward grinned in his engaging way. “You’re one in a million, Morland. I hope Lizzy knows that.”
“Well, you can tell her if you think she doubts.”
A noise at the door brought both men to their feet.
“Hide!” Morland commanded, even as Edward was taking flight, concealing himself behind a long drapery.
“Hello, Morland,” Cassandra greeted just seconds later, still removing her silk bonnet. “Have you waited long?”
“No. Where’s Lizzy?”
“Just behind me.”
“Did you shop?” Morland asked, hoping he didn’t sound as full of laughter as he felt.
“A little. Lizzy,” Cassandra had called, turning to the door. “Morland is here.”
“Oh, this is a nice surprise.”
“I’m glad you think so, but I have another.”
“This sounds interesting.”
“Should I leave?” Cassandra asked.
“Not at all. I think you’ll both enjoy it.”
The women looked at each other. That Morland was enjoying himself was very evident.
“Come right over here and sit down,” Morland directed. “That’s it. Good, good. Eyes closed.”
“Morland, what in the world…”
“Eyes closed, Lizzy. Very good. Okay,” he said, elongating the word, “you can open them.”
A moment later Morland watched with pleasure as Edward reunited with his sisters. There was no halting the laughter that followed; Edward was always so fun. They hugged him, cried a little, and hugged him again.