“Of course, my lord.” The lady reached for Poppy and led the girls toward the stairs. “Will you be staying long with the duke?”
A clammy chill had swept her skin. It could not be. She could not have returned her by mistake after all her efforts to avoid the location. Yet Mrs. Lamb’s hair had grayed quite a lot in the intervening years since Meredith had last glimpsed her. She was almost certain it was the same woman. Meredith paused, holding on to the nearest object for support as she gathered her courage. “Will you tell me now where we are going?”
“Oh, very well. I suppose you’ll discover the truth from Mrs. Lamb in due course, but we are going to see my sister, the Duchess of Romsey at Romsey Abbey. It’s another half-day carriage ride ahead.”
Meredith swayed and clung to the insufficient lifeline of the chair. No.
Constantine touched her arm. “What’s the matter? Have you taken a chill?”
Meredith raised a shaky hand to her brow. Her skin was clammy; her breath came in short, fast pants. A chill was the only excuse she dared supply. “I must be,” she said quickly. “Would you excuse me? I should tend to your daughters.”
Constantine helped her to the bottom of the staircase, but Meredith wished he’d not. Her heart couldn’t take the strain. What she’d thought was possible was merely yet another nightmare. She shook off his grip.
“Let me help you?”
Meredith reluctantly raised her eyes to his face. “You know the Duke of Romsey?”
“Of course I do. I’m the lad’s uncle and guardian.”
Meredith swallowed past the lump in her throat. “You must be very proud.”
When she moved up the stairs, he followed close on her heels. “I may have mentioned I have some fences to mend. I’m not expecting a warm welcome, truth be told, but I’m hoping having the girls with me will ease the way. My sisters are fond of the children. They are always inviting them to visit.”
Meredith paused halfway up, her foot poised on the landing. “And why have you stayed away so long?” She took another step, hoping Grayling would keep a safe distance from her.
“My sisters have remarried and I’m not particularly pleased with their choices.”
Meredith nodded and continued up, aware that Grayling followed close on her heels. The advertisements in the paper spun before her eyes. According to the newssheets, Grayling’s sisters had married her brothers. Meredith had not wanted to believe such lies and she’d forced herself to forget what she’d read and not allow her curiosity to be stirred to investigate. At the door she placed her hand on the latch. “If you would excuse me, my lord, I should like a few moments’ privacy. I’m not feeling the best, and the children need me.”
“We all need you.” His smile was a dagger to the heart. “But of course. I’ll see you at dinner.”
Meredith opened the door a crack and squeezed through. “As you wish.”
She closed it quickly and leaned against the wood. Across the room, the three little hearts she’d grown to love were exploring the room and chattering with Mrs. Lamb. Three little girls with exalted connections. Connections that Meredith never wanted to meet again. She closed her eyes tightly and prayed for a way out that would save their tender hearts from breaking apart as hers was. Tomorrow she had to convince Grayling to travel on without her. Tonight she had to learn to hate him.
CHAPTER 22
MORNING BLOOMED BRIGHT and clear, making Constantine happy to leave the adequate inn behind for the superior comforts of Romsey Abbey. He glanced at the dining room door. What was keeping Meredith this morning? He’d risen at dawn feeling restlessness claw at his senses. He wanted to rush upstairs to see how she fared this morning, but given the way he’d introduced her to the innkeeper last night as his governess, he couldn’t very well intrude. Meredith Clark had a reputation to maintain.
He pondered over her past decision to acquire a new name to suit the situation and marveled that such a plan had worked so completely. At no time had he suspected that anyone else doubted her background as a governess. They might now, thanks to Cunningham’s spying, consider his governess had fallen prey to a seduction or seduced him. But Calista would never be discovered unless she met someone from the House when they finally moved in society as man and wife.
He drank the last of his coffee, pondering how he would sidestep any questions related to her similarity to the courtesan from the House. He couldn’t very well keep Meredith locked away at Stanton Harold Hall. He hosted a hunt every year. Some guests stayed f
or weeks. When Meredith agreed to marry him, they would discuss and concoct a plausible history to spread about and divert any suspicions should she meet anyone she recognized.
At last the thud of tiny footsteps sounded outside. He took two steps toward the door before it opened and Mrs. Lamb stepped inside. “Here we are.”
The children filed in, Willow leading Maisy by the hand. Mrs. Lamb deposited Poppy on her feet. There was no sign of Meredith behind the innkeeper’s wife, only his valet carrying the children’s luggage. “My governess?”
“She asked me to give you this.”
Mrs. Lamb passed him a folded piece of paper and he read it quickly. “Why was I not informed?”
“I’m sure she hoped to be well come morning, but she’s not herself today and bids to be left behind. Took all her strength to attend the little ones’ needs this morning. There’s nothing for it but bed rest and time. If Your Lordship really needs her, my husband can deliver her in a day or so, if that’s acceptable.”
“Yes, I really need her, and a day or two is not acceptable.” He called for his valet to come back. “Remain here with my daughters.”
He would not leave Meredith. If she was ill, then they would simply not travel. He bounded up the stairs to the bedroom Meredith had spent the night in and knocked on the door. When he heard a muffled cough, he quickly let himself in. The room was cold and Meredith was huddled on the bed beneath the blankets. He could only see the top of her head.