“And his numbers,” Lizzy added proudly. “He’s a fine lad. Mabel will bring him through at the end of the lesson.” She cleared her throat as an awkward silence reigned between them, before adding, “Thank you for your generous bequest. We’ve been able to do so much for the children.”
Susan looked about her. The cottage Theo had rented was small but homely and equipped with a large fireplace. “You must have appreciated this when you first took up residence,” she indicated the warmth of the flames, rubbing her hands. “It was a very cold January.”
“Indeed, it was!” Lizzy agreed. “Not that I think I noticed the cold. We were all so relieved to be able to remain in England rather than cast adrift somewhere on the Continent for three months.” Seeing the question on Susan’s face, she added, “Amelia feared Lord Leighton would hunt her down and demand retribution from Theo. She was convinced that Lord Leighton would give them no peace. Apparently, he’s a very vengeful man.”
Susan frowned. “Yes, I heard about his fit of apoplexy though Mama didn’t mention the circumstances. Only that it occurred the night Miss Harcourt left with…you and Mr McAlister...which, as you can imagine, was of greater importance to her.” Clearly, Susan found it uncomf
ortable, even now, speaking of the irregularities of Lizzy’s situation, though in truth, having a child out of wedlock, as Susan had done, was cause for greater scandal and public opprobrium than Lizzy’s elopement. For Lizzy had been accompanied by Amelia throughout.
She must have realised this—and that she had Lizzy and Theo, amongst others to thank for the fact that her sin had not been made public—for she had the good grace to blush.
“I’m sure it would have been. But Lord Leighton’s apoplectic attack and subsequent ill health has meant we’ve been able to set up our school and live in peace and safety.” Lizzy leant forwards to pour the tea that Mabel had just brought in on a tray.
Susan accepted a cup and settled back, glancing with obvious impatience in the direction of the childish voices still reciting their alphabet. “I don’t doubt that his apoplexy was brought on through learning that his intended had eloped.”
“Not at all.” Lizzy smiled, remembering her strange mix of feelings when Theo had passed on the news. “No, Lord Leighton hadn’t yet been apprised of Miss Harcourt’s dramatic flight. In fact, Lady Quamby was…entertaining Lord Leighton when a jealous Italian admirer of hers happened upon the pair of them and took exception to Lady Quamby having any association with a gentleman other than her husband or himself.”
“Oh!”
Lizzy nodded. “The Italian gentleman proposed first a duel, then decided he wanted a speedier resolution to the question of honour.”
“The Italian gentleman murdered him?” Susan gasped, nearly spilling her tea.
Lizzy shook her head. “Apparently, he’d only got so far as tearing off his shirt, whereupon Lord Leighton took one look at his bare-chested adversary and collapsed in a fit of apoplexy from which he’s never quite regained his faculties.”
“Goodness,” Susan murmured, and might have said more, except that the opening of the door had her leaping to her feet, an expression of unalloyed joy transforming her features as Theo bore a young boy of about six years old into the room.
“Lady Conroy, it’s a pleasure to see you,” Theo greeted her. “May I introduce Benjamin.” He leant down to address the lad, telling him, “This is the kind lady who is sponsoring you, Benjamin. All the toys and nice things and friends you have here are because Lady Conroy has taken a special interest in you.” He patted him on the back, then gave him a little push, straightening to stand beside Lizzy.
Smiling at her, Lizzy had to covertly wipe her eyes as they watched Susan, nearly overcome with emotion, draw from her reticule a lead toy soldier which she handed to him. It was received with childish glee.
“I was afraid the boy would be stiff and reserved with her,” Theo whispered.
“Not Benjamin,” Lizzy returned, as Susan said, almost wonderingly, “Did you know, Benjamin, that you remind me very much of someone who I think might be related to you. With your dark hair and eyes, and your happy smile, you remind me very much of him. Yes, you do have relatives in this world, and one day we will find them. You just need to be patient and stay here a while longer.”
“Relatives?” the boy asked, looking up from his study of what was probably the most special toy he’d ever received. “Do you mean…a father?”
“Everyone has a father,” Theo said. “But not everyone is lucky enough to know their father. You are no different from most of the others here, Benjamin.”
“But Benjamin and the children have all the love and care they could wish for staying here,” said Susan, rising, as she held out her hand. “Would you like to go for a little walk, Benjamin? We could buy a fruit bun and perhaps some bread to feed the ducks. Would you like that?”
Theo stole a little closer to Lizzy so that by the time Susan was nearly out of the door he was holding her hand, the gesture of affection hidden by the desk behind which they stood.
Susan stopped and turned in the half-open doorway. “I don’t know if you heard the news...” she began, looking at the ground rather than at their faces as if she were reluctant to continue, “but my mother is to be married.”
“Oh?” Lizzy had no words. Mrs Hodge was not a woman she would have imagined would trade her autonomy for anything.
Theo squeezed her hand while Lizzy tried to adopt a tone that did not betray the strange mix of emotions that churned in her breast. “Who is the…lucky bridegroom?”
To Lizzy’s surprise, Susan seemed unable to hide a smile. “Harry Dalgleish.”
“Harry Dalgleish!” both Lizzy and Theo cried in unison.
“But…surely she’s twenty years older?” Lizzy asked, though this was the least of the factors that made the union so remarkable.
“Eighteen,” Susan corrected her. She hesitated, as if weighing up whether to say more, then went on in a rush, “I know what a terrible thing mother was prepared to do to you, Lizzy…on my account—and I’m so sorry for it!”
“I was not the only one who suffered.” Lizzy smiled at her before glancing at Theo. How easy it was to forgive when one was happy.