The Visitor (6 page)

“Maybe I’d best go to bed.”

Weston lifted her without a word. Praying that he would accept whatever God had for them, he nonetheless asked his heavenly Father to spare his precious wife.

Newcomb Park

Heedless of their late night, Cassandra was at the breakfast table with Lizzy bright and early the next morning. Redheaded, brown-eyed, and covered with freckles, she was the baby of the family. Not that she acted as such, but the family did dote on her some.

This morning, feeling as though she’d been gone for years instead of months, she was filled with questions for her sister. For Lizzy, Cassandra was so much herself, warm and caring, that it was as though she’d never left.

“What do you hear from Morland and Edward, Lizzy?”

“A letter from Edward last week.”

“Nothing from Morland?”

“No.”

Cassandra stared at her.

“I didn’t expect one, Cassie.”

“Be that as it may, you were hoping.”

Not having expected this, and not certain what to say, Lizzy stared rather helplessly at her.

Cassandra looked slightly amused as she asked, “Did you really think I didn’t know?”

“That’s precisely what I thought,” Lizzy confessed. “I didn’t think anyone knew. Did Charlotte tell you?”

“No, she didn’t need to.”

“Why didn’t she need to?”

“Because I could see it in your eyes every time Morland was near you.”

Lizzy felt slightly defeated. “Well, you must be the only one. Evidently Morland couldn’t see a thing.”

“Of course not.” Cassandra’s tone was matter-of-fact. “He’s a man.”

Laughter bubbled unexpectedly out of Lizzy’s throat. Her sister’s tone and expression were so utterly amusing that she couldn’t help herself.

“Oh, there’s Henry,” Cassandra announced amid her sister’s laughter and before slipping out of her chair and meeting him at the edge of the room. “Are you riding tomorrow morning, Henry?”

“Yes,” he answered with a note of hesitation.

“May I accompany you?”

“Must you?” he asked, not bothering to hide his longsuffering sigh.

“Yes, but only if you don’t hate it. If you only dislike it, I’ll come. If you hate it, I won’t.”

Henry couldn’t stop the smile that tugged up one corner of his mouth. There were few people who affected his heart more than his sister Cassandra.

Shorter than his other two sisters, she looked quite a ways up at him, her pansy-brown eyes smiling, warm, and expectant.

“I don’t hate it,” he was forced to admit.

Cassandra’s smile went into full bloom.

“What time shall I be ready?”

“Eight o’clock.”

That matter settled, Cassandra declared that she had something in her room for both of them and sailed away to get it. Henry looked to Lizzy.

“Isn’t it lovely that she’s home?” his sister asked.

Henry couldn’t stop the smile that stretched his mouth, as he admitted, “Indeed it is, Lizzy.”

Brown Manor

“Oh, Lizzy,” Anne said the moment that woman appeared in the doorway to her bedroom. “I’m so glad to see you.”

“I came as soon as I got word.” Lizzy moved close to the bed and took the prone woman’s hand. “How are you?”

“Tired, all of a sudden. I don’t know what went wrong, but I actually fainted, and now there’s been some spotting. Dr Smith wants me to stay put until the baby comes.”

“It’s sounds as though it’s for the best.”

“I’m sure it is, but there was so much I wanted to get done.”

Lizzy laughed a little.

“What’s so funny?”

“We are—women in general. We’re so busy planning, and usually with the best of intentions, but sometimes I think we get in God’s way.”

Anne laughed too.

“I’m not going to stay long and tire you out,” Lizzy continued, “but Cassandra and I are going into town tomorrow. What can we bring you?”

“Cassandra’s home?”

“Yes. She sends her love. Now, you’d best give me that list before someone comes along and shoos me out.”

“You’re right! Let me think a moment,” Anne said, glad of the offer.

Lizzy remained quiet until Anne began a list. Taking mental notes, Mrs Weston’s visitor waited only until she was done to give her a hug and then straighten to full height.

“If you think of anything more, just send word. We’re not going before ten, and we shall simply stop on our way home. How does that sound?”

“Wonderful.”

“Wonderful?” Weston asked as he entered the room. “You must be speaking of me.”

Both women laughed. Weston checked on his wife and then offered to see Lizzy out.

Once on the drive, Lizzy asked directly, “Has she been told everything, Weston? Or is it graver than you’ve let on?”

“No,” Weston shook his head firmly, “Dr Smith thinks she’s overdone. If she stays quiet, there is no reason why she shouldn’t deliver safely.”

“Thank you for telling me. Anne’s given me a list for town in the morning, so I’ll be stopping again tomorrow when I’m finished.”

“Thank you, Lizzy. You’re a good friend.”

Lizzy only smiled and took the hand he offered to climb into the carriage. She prayed for her friend all the way home, thinking about how good her color and spirits had been. It was nice to arrive home and be able to give Cassandra such a good report.

“What can we do to help?” her sister finally asked.

Lizzy was pleased to relate that Anne had given her a list, and outside of that, she was in Weston’s and Dr Smith’s capable hands.

Chapter Three

Their breath fogged the morning air as they rode from the stables out across the fields. Henry’s mount was a larger animal but tame in his nature and steady in his gait. Cassandra’s horse tended to be more skittish, but she was easy to control and liked Cassandra’s light weight on her back.

Cassandra knew that Henry didn’t care for superfluous conversation, so she kept her comments to a necessary minimum. She followed his lead, not wishing to interrupt his routine in any way, happy to do this until they came to the ridge. Not speaking or even expecting him to follow, Cassandra heeled Iris across the top of the ridge, giving her her head and hunching over the horse’s back as they flew through the early dew.

Henry stayed with her, his own horse ready for the chase, until she pulled up and turned to him with a huge smile.

“It’s official now, Henry,” she breathlessly exclaimed as she slapped Iris’ shoulder in reassurance, “I’m home.”

Henry gave his lopsided grin. “Does it take riding the ridge to do that?”

“Among other things,” she said with a laugh. “I’ll let you know as I go.”

“I can hardly wait,” Henry teased, and then said not another word for the rest of their ride.

“Do you have a list of your own, Lizzy, or are you browsing today?”

“No, I have a list. Some of the crockery is beginning to wear, and I thought I might see what Benwick has.”

“What’s on Anne’s list? Will Benwick have most of it?”

“Yes, I’m certain. Do you have a list?”

“A small one. My main concern is something for Henry’s birthday. I shopped all the time I was away but found nothing. If we’d come back to London as we talked about, I know I would have found something, but plans changed.”

“Why was that, Cassie? I don’t think you said.”

“Emma didn’t tell me when we left for her uncle’s that she was in an argument with her intended. She doesn’t think him attentive enough and hoped that by leaving Bath he would pine for her. That was utter nonsense of course, but as I said, I didn’t know about her plan until we were miles north.”

“What does that have to do with London?”

“Well, only that Emma was the one who did all the pining, so rather than go with the original plan of shopping in London before we parted company, she wanted to go directly back to Bath.”

“And of course, you’ll never be that silly when you’re in love,” Lizzy teased her.

Cassandra only grinned. “I’ll let you know as soon as I’m in love.”

The women got down to some serious shopping as soon as the coach arrived in town. They started in Benwick’s and began on Anne’s baby list. As though shopping for their own child, they delighted over some of the things they found and even added purchases Anne hadn’t listed.

They were in the midst of this endeavor when Harriet Thorpe came down the aisle toward them, an odd look on her face.

“Well, Mrs Thorpe,” Lizzy began. “How are you?”

“I’m very well, Lizzy,” she said softly, her gaze straying to Cassandra. “I heard your voices and assumed your sister had arrived. Am I correct?”

“Indeed, you are. Mrs Thorpe, please meet Cassandra, the youngest of the Steele clan.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Cassandra.”

“How do you do, Mrs Thorpe?”

“I’m well, thank you. Did you have a good trip?”

“It was very nice.” Cassandra dimpled at her. “Almost as nice as coming home.”

Harriet Thorpe smiled.
I like her. I like her very much, and I think she’s just who I need right now.

“You’re going to find me absurd, Cassandra, but I actually have a favor to ask of you.”