Abandoned to the Prodigal - Mary Lancaster Page 0,9
have leisure to move on to Lady Juliet.
However, as the afternoon wore on, he couldn’t quite resist paying a quick call on the Alfords, just to be sure everything was in place. After all, Lady Juliet Lilbourne was a popular young lady, and people would think twice before offending her powerful father—which was one reason he had chosen to be revenged in this particular way.
So, he strolled around to South Audley Street and discovered Lady Alford was indeed at home, with her eldest son and several ladies of the ton. Thankfully, there was no sign of Juliet, an absence he took care to draw attention to after graciously accepting a cup of tea.
“Lady Juliet is no longer with you?” he asked his hostess, who immediately looked flustered and cast pleading eyes at her son.
“Lady Juliet was called to Her Highness yesterday afternoon,” said Lord Alford’s heir, the Honorable Mr. Jeremy Catesby.
“Yesterday afternoon?” Barden marveled. “But Her Highness had already left London by then! Did her poor ladyship have to chase after her to Worthing?”
“My mother has not heard from her,” Catesby said repressively.
Oh, yes, they had seen the new story and dismissed her as cavalierly as he had hoped.
Barden nodded understandingly. “One hopes she has gone with Her Highness. Because I have to tell you, I had occasion to step round to Connaught Place yesterday—on business for the prince, you understand—and I am shocked to say I found the most vulgar party in progress. Even you or I, sir, would blush to be associated with such an event.”
As he spoke, he was aware of being surrounded by avid listeners. Some pretended to be uninterested, but he could practically see their ears flapping. Yes, the word was out, the on-dit spreading satisfactorily like wildfire.
Four young ladies were ruined, among them Lady Juliet Lilbourne. And Barden really could not wait to reveal to her haughty father, the Earl of Cosland, the cost of her recovery.
Smiling amiably, he changed the subject, finished his tea, and departed. Somehow, he managed not to crow until he was alone in his own rooms.
*
For Juliet, the rest of the journey to Kidfield passed in misery. The sight of the newspaper had brought all her woes back to the forefront of her mind, and now she had neither other people’s troubles nor the scenery to distract her. The Browns and Mr. George donned nightcaps and blankets and went to sleep. Mrs. Harper dragged a traveling cloak around her and closed her eyes.
Juliet thought of the outside passengers shivering in the chill of the night and tried to be glad she was cramped in here while the horses thundered through the night. In truth, she would rather have been on the roof playing cards for pretend money. However, she fell into a doze, only waking as the horses were changed, and after a while, she barely even noticed that. After all, she hadn’t slept last night, either. It was only tiredness that made her despair. Tomorrow would be better.
She woke to someone shouting and discovered Mrs. Harper’s head on her shoulder.
“Kidfield!” the coachman yelled again, and she saw the horses sweep into yet another inn yard, this time in the grey light of dawn.
“Mrs. Harper.” Juliet nudged her companion awake. “We have arrived at Kidfield.”
Mrs. Harper brushed apologetically at Juliet’s shoulder. By then, the coach door was opened, and Juliet staggered out into the familiar yard. She had never seen the Black Cat at this time of the morning. Apart from the stagecoach, it was unnaturally quiet. Even the work changing the horses was carried out in silence.
Luggage was unstrapped for Juliet, Mrs. Harper, and Mr. George. Daniel appeared to have only what he stood up in, plus the satchel on his shoulder. Other luggage was put in its place, and the remaining passengers climbed into the coach to go on to York.
Juliet raised a hand to the Browns and to Mr. Gordon on the roof, who was leaning down to shake hands with Daniel.
“What will you do?” she asked Mrs. Harper.
“Take a room here and sleep for an hour or two. And then I shall begin looking for her.”
“I shall make a point of asking for her, too,” Juliet promised. “And contact you here should I hear anything.”
Mrs. Harper’s bleary eyes came back into focus on her. “How will you get home from here? Is it far?”
“I’ll hire a chaise,” Juliet said. “Good luck, ma’am, and thank you for your company.”