The Sun Sister (The Seven Sisters #6) - Lucinda Riley Page 0,69

ain’t no harm in that, ’specially as the cocktail party is tonight, and tomorrow you’re on that aeroplane from Southampton. Rather you than me,’ Doris said with a shudder as she poured Cecily’s tea. ‘I’d be saying me prayers, I would. You all right, miss? You don’t look quite yourself.’

Cecily, who had been gazing out of the window, turned to Doris and gave her a smile. ‘Maybe I’m a little nervous about the flight, that’s all.’

‘Well, you’ve got to leave bright and early, so how about we pack your trunk this afternoon? Then you can have a little rest before the party. Want me to style your hair again for tonight?’

‘Why not?’ Cecily smiled, desperate for the maid to leave the room so her mind could fully dissect the note Julius had left her. ‘Thank you, Doris. I’ll be down for breakfast shortly.’

‘All right, miss. Ring if you need me.’ Bobbing a curtsey, Doris left the room.

Cecily reread the note the minute the door had clicked shut. She couldn’t work out the sentiments behind it – or why on earth Julius hadn’t told her he was leaving for London this morning. Perhaps he had been in a rush – yes, that could account for the coolness that seemed to permeate his written words. It was such a contrast to what he had said to her last night.

He said he hoped to get back in time to say goodbye in person, she told herself as she sipped her tea. Perhaps this was just a note in case he didn’t . . .

Feeling very alone – Julius had been her playmate for most of the time she’d been here – Cecily then went for a walk in the park to clear her head. She had a sinking feeling in her stomach as she went over and over the words in his letter. People often wrote far more formally than they spoke, but on the other hand, Julius was a poet . . .

That afternoon, Cecily paced the bedroom while Doris folded her clothes neatly and stowed them away in the trunk; the maid talked so much that all Cecily needed to do was to add the odd ‘yes’, ‘no’, or ‘really?’ until Doris finally closed the lid.

‘There, all done, miss. Now you can relax and enjoy the party.’

‘Do you know if Julius is attending tonight?’

‘Don’t ask me, miss, he’s a law unto himself that one.’ Doris rolled her eyes to exaggerate her point. ‘He often stays overnight in London. That’s where his fiancée lives, see.’

‘His fiancée?’

‘Yes, Veronica she’s called. Real society girl – I’m always seeing her in the pages of some magazine or another. Gawd knows how she’ll cope when they’re married and she ’as to live ’ere in the middle of nowhere.’

Cecily sat down on the bed abruptly, wondering whether she would faint clean away with shock.

‘I see. I . . . How long have they been’ – Cecily swallowed hard – ‘engaged?’

‘Oh, just over six months, I’d reckon. The wedding’s all set for the summer.’

‘Lady Woodhead’s never mentioned it to me.’

‘No, well, maybe she wouldn’t, because I know she don’t approve. ’Er Ladyship thinks Veronica’s “fast” and not suitable to be the next lady of the ’ouse. Well, we’re only young once, ain’t we, miss, and I’m sure she’ll calm down when she’s married. Besides, I reckon she’s got ’er work cut out, being his wife, if you know what I mean.’

‘I’m afraid I don’t,’ Cecily replied hoarsely. ‘Please explain.’

‘I’ve more than an inkling he sees other women, and so have the rest of the maids here. I know for certain there was a girl in the village he was after; me and Ellen are sure we saw her running from the ’ouse one morning a couple of months back when we was up at dawn lighting the fires. Men, eh? Sometimes I think I’d be better off spending me life on me own rather than trusting ’em. Right, I’ll leave you to have a little rest and I’ll be up to run your bath at five.’

Doris left, and Cecily sat where she was, hands folded in her lap, staring out of the window. She could still feel his presence inside her, the soreness at her core a physical reminder of how she had been duped. She had previously thought how very dumb some women were to believe the sweet nothings of a man when he wanted his way, yet now she had almost certainly joined their ranks.

Never once