A Soldier’s Heart(51)
If she hadn’t caught the back of one of the fragile gilt chairs lined up against the wall, she would have crumpled to the carpet. Instead she fell onto the low satin cushion and buried her head on her lap.
Cecily found her there, still weeping, and joined her, kneeling beside the chair.
“Oh, Serena, they’re gone!” she sobbed, their curls tangling together upon one another’s shoulders. “I should have thrown myself literally at Kendall’s feet. At least I would have had something.”
Breathing hurt her tight, tear-congested chest, but Serena took a deep breath and gripped Cecily’s shoulders, holding her at arm’s length. “Surely you know Kendall cares for you, Cecily. You have that.”
Nodding, her little face crumpled like a child’s. “I know. And Matt cares for you. Last night … something happened between you, didn’t it? I can see it in your eyes.”
“Yes, let’s all discuss Matt and Serena’s love life,” Longford drawled, suddenly looming over them. “The two footmen at the bottom of the stairs are getting an earful, plus stiff necks from trying to peer up here for a peek of your loveliness, Serena. Cecily, go fetch her robe,” he commanded, flicking both girls a bored glance.
“You’re a beast!” Cecily snapped, but ran nonetheless to the bedchamber.
Waiting, Serena folded her arms across her scantily clad bosom, and stared at the floor.
“This is certainly not the woman who singlehandedly changed the face of Avalon Landing. The woman who overnight has become a veritable angel to the entire country,” he mocked in his old, hated way.
Striving to maintain some kind of composure, Serena was saved by Cecily’s prompt return with her robe.
Holding it tightly around her, Serena rose and faced him with lifted chin. “Longford, Cecily is correct. You are a beast. It is my fondest wish that when your tiny heart is finally given, the lady crumbles it to dust.”
Placing a protective arm about Serena’s shoulders, Cecily nodded. “Yes, Long, it’s as much as you deserve for being so insensitive. We are desolate at being separated from our loved ones. Surely you must realize that!”
“Then have the good manners to be desolate in private and not involve me! I’ve too much to do to deal with it!” Folding his arms across his dusty riding jacket, he studied them from under his hooded lids. “I came up here to tell both of you I must leave immediately. Matt has requested I find him ten good horses and ship them to the Continent. I suggest the both of you return to London with me. News will arrive more quickly there, and Their Graces will want you close.”
“An excellent idea, Longford,” Serena agreed, trying to gather some semblance of order in her chaotic thoughts. “However, I can’t leave until after Mrs. Brown’s funeral and I have made final arrangements for help from Mrs. Watley for the Brown children.”
If she could feel anything but numb horror at all that had happened, she would have been surprised by his accommodating nod.
“Two days. And then we’re for London!”
London was not the haven of peace where Serena could sort through her confusion and decide what to do about her marriage. For certainly something had to be done, but just what wasn’t clear.
The house was one of illness, where everything revolved around the duke’s declining health. London itself was in the grips of another Season, but one quite out of the ordinary, for half the ton was missing.
“Town’s dull as dishwater. The whole world has gone to Brussels,” Aunt Lavinia stated flatly, fanning herself while Serena poured tea.
“So I’ve rented a house. Lucky to get one, I’m such a late-comer. Frederick escorts me tomorrow. Heard tell your husband’s gone to join Wellington. Why didn’t you accompany him? Everything all right and tight between the two of you?” she asked, finally revealing the reason for her unexpected visit.
Her owl eyes slitted, studying Serena in that particular way which she found a trifle unnerving given the state of her mind.
Her father would be thoroughly shocked and saddened if he knew how easily she was learning to tell falsehoods.
“Aunt Lavinia, Blackwood and I are unexceptional. He left so quickly, there was no question of my accompanying him.”
“Well, I’ll be there. Always a place for you if you decide to come. Should, you know. Nothing going on here.”
For once, Aunt Lavinia was correct. Without a ball or musical or soiree every day, Cecily had nothing to divert her mind from missing Kendall. Her woebegone little face even brought a reprimand from Her Grace, who informed her daughter she should take her example from Serena by putting a brave face on a difficult situation.