Chapter 15

CHAPTER15

“It is in my imagination. That is all.” Susanna somehow hoped by uttering the words aloud, it would make it real.

All the way since leaving Anthony’s house, Susanna had ridden with wariness. Bearing her pelisse over her head, trying her best to hide her face, she had still felt as if eyes were watching her, burning into the back of her neck.

At one point, she had stopped in the street and angled herself in the saddle, looking back to see if there was anyone there. She saw no one watching her. Only papers boys trying to sell newspapers in the early hours of the morning, and milk maids going from house to house in order to make a prompt delivery.

With the sun rising gradually over the houses, it wouldn’t be long before the streets were full of morning riders and carriages on their way to destinations, but it was still a little early for that. It made Susanna’s eyes dart about the street again, expecting to see someone watching her, yet there was no one.

“My imagination. That is all.” Susanna sighed and turned in the saddle again, facing forward.

She supposed it had to do with the strange sensation from the night before after leaving her house when she had been convinced that she had seen a shadow in the trees. That moment had worked its way into her dreams, creating a nightmare of being followed, until Anthony had woken her that morning.

Remembering the way that he had woken her, drawing her into his arms for an embrace, made her sigh and relax in the saddle with a smile growing on her lips.

Why do I miss him already?

She longed to be beside him again. Part of her desired to know what more they could explore together, to lose themselves in their heat, whereas another part of her longed for his conversation and company. They could talk at length as they so often did and perhaps teach each other more things. She had to wonder though how much Anthony would want propriety after what they had shared the night before.

Propriety seems to have gone out of the window!

Susanna giggled at the idea as she turned the horse onto the driveway of the house. It may still have been early, but people would be awake inside the house now. Knowing it was hardly unusual for her to go on a morning ride, Susanna was about to ride down the drive, prepared to simply shrug off her arrival as the return of such an early ride, when her eyes were drawn back to the place in the trees where she had seen the shadow the night before.

Pausing on the driveway with the horse grunting beneath her impatient to move on, Susanna patted the neck of the mare, comforting her.

“One minute. There is something I must see.” Slowly, Susanna climbed down from the saddle. Placing the reins of the horse around the nearest tree branch, she held the pelisse close to her body and walked off toward the clump of trees where she had seen that shadow.

For a minute or so, she hovered there, her gaze darting between the branches as if the shadow would re-emerge, but nothing happened. Susanna was about to convince herself again that it had all been in her imagination when she stepped away and something snapped beneath her foot.

Curious, Susanna stepped back, peering down at the ground. There was some discarded tobacco. It was as if someone had taken it out to smoke it in a pipe then tipped it onto the ground in their hurry. Susanna bent down, staring at that tobacco for a minute, realizing exactly what it meant.

I didn’t imagine it. Someone was really here.

Slowly, Susanna stood straight again, fearing what the consequences were. Someone might well have seen her leave the house the night before. Doing her best to shrug off the fear, she hastened back to the horse and peered down the drive at the street once again.

The feeling was back, of being watched, but she couldn’t see anyone. About to climb back into the saddle, she saw a horse move swiftly past the end of the drive.

There was a figure atop that horse, well dressed and clothed so darkly that he would have disappeared into the shadows had it still been nighttime. Susanna lurched forward as if to take another look at the figure, but he was gone just as quickly as he had appeared.

Do I know that horse?

Wracking her brains, she couldn’t think of where she had seen it before. Judging the figure to be gone, she climbed into the saddle and finished riding the last distance to the house. Unsure what the discovery of the tobacco meant and what could result from someone watching the house, Susanna’s mood somewhat darkened as she returned the horse to the stable and headed inside.

In the entrance hall, she found Peggy, who was there smiling, looking rather giddy.

“Did you have a nice evening, My Lady?” Peggy asked, clearly excited.

“Shh,” Susanna whispered, placing a finger to her lips. It merely made Peggy giggle all the more and hurry to help Susanna to remove her pelisse.

“Your godmother is waiting for you in the dining room. She believes you retired to bed early last night with a headache, and that you rose early this morning for a ride.”

“Oh good, thank you, Peggy.” Susanna clasped her maid’s hand briefly, showing through action alone how grateful she was for her friend’s help. Peggy smiled again then waved Susanna in the direction of the dining room.

Susanna walked slowly toward it, finding her thoughts were consumed by the sight of that tobacco.

If someone was watching the house, do they know where I went?

The thought died as she stepped into the dining room and found Agnes waiting for her, placing her teacup heavily down into her saucer.

“Where have you been?”

“Pardon?” Susanna affected a look of innocence and joined Agnes at the table, taking the chair which sat at a ninety-degree angle to her godmother. For a minute, Susanna held her breath, dreading that somehow Agnes had discovered her secret and knew exactly where Susanna had been all night.

“I know you are fond of an early morning ride, but goodness, it was very early.” Agnes shook her head, in bewilderment. “No wonder you have to go to bed early at night with headaches.”

Susanna hastily poured herself a cup of tea and lifted the teacup to her lips, hiding the smile that was peeking through. She knew if Anthony were here too, he would be hiding the same smile. It was one that would betray the mischief they had shared together.

“Will you be in the garden today?” Agnes asked conversationally, turning her focus down to her plate.

“I will.” Susanna sat back, no longer hiding her smile. “I find I have energy for gardening today.”

“No visits from your admirer planned then?” Agnes’ question made Susanna hover the teacup in the air.

“I’m sorry?”

“Your admirer. The Duke of Belbridge. Goodness, to think you could be a duchess soon.”

“Agnes, please, nothing has been said of marriage…” Yet, the words died on Susanna’s tongue. She could hardly argue that she and Anthony were just friends anymore. Clearly, they were so much more than that.

Yet… what is it I desire from him?

“Maybe nothing has been said yet, but that doesn’t mean it will not happen.” Agnes shrugged. “Come on, tell on old woman what is in your heart, Susanna. Let me live vicariously.”

“Vicariously? I thought you loved being a spinster!”

“I do. Though I also do not remember looking at a man the way I saw you looking at the Duke the other night.”

“Pardon?” Susanna froze in her chair. “How was I looking at him?”

“Oh, anyone who cared to glance your way would have seen what high esteem you hold him in.” Agnes laughed as she sliced some bread and slathered it with butter. “You practically sparkled as you looked at him. Quite the sight you made. You’ll make a handsome couple. Him refined, you a little wilder; it will be a nice contrast.”

“I think this is jumping ahead a little, Agnes.”

“Is it?” Agnes looked sharply at Susanna.

For a minute, Susanna could not think of any more words. The objection may have hovered on her lips, but it would not come easily.

“I…” She tried to find some words. “I do care for him,” she whispered as if betraying a great secret.

“How much?” Agnes tilted her head to the side. When Susanna stilled, baffled, struggling to say anything. Agnes laughed and sat back, looking quite regal with her teacup in her hands, dominating the space at the end of the table. “I remember when your mother first met your father. She sat beside me at tea, a little like you are doing now, trying to avoid my eye contact.”

Susanna purposefully met her godmother’s gaze, prompting the woman to laugh.

“She fell in love and said it was as easy as falling. As if another force was pulling you down, something that you could not control.”

Susanna blinked, listening to the repeated words of her mother.

“I do not remember hearing her talk in such a way,” Susanna whispered.

“It was a long time ago.” Agnes shrugged, sitting forward and returning her focus to her plate. “I may have been very happy being a spinster, Susanna, but your mother was equally happy married. Maybe you should consider the idea more seriously.”

Susanna had considered it. She realized as she sat there with her teacup in her hands, staring at an empty space at the table and imagining Anthony was there with them, that she had imagined it often of late. It became rather easy to think of Anthony there beside her, talking at length, living their lives as true companions.

“Perhaps it’s possible,” Susanna whispered, so quietly she thought it a wonder her godmother heard her at all.

“I’m thrilled to hear it!” Agnes declared. “Now, we must wait and see what the Duke of Belbridge will do next. Encourage him, my dear.” She offered a wink. “That is the only advice I will give. I told your mother much the same thing.”

Susanna hurried to top up her cup, thinking of what she had done the night before. Surely, she had encouraged Anthony enough to show how devoted she was to him by now.

Perhaps I should say something. Maybe actions only go so far, and I should use words.

She considered the idea with such intent that when the butler knocked on the dining room door, she barely noticed. She managed to spill tea over the rim of her cup and hurried to clean it up, just as the butler stepped in carrying a silver card tray on which was a letter.

“Post? At this time of day?” Agnes said in surprise, drawing Susanna’s attention to the butler’s entrance and the letter.

“It was an express, My Lady. Delivered just now,” the butler hastened to explain. As he walked around Agnes’ chair, she went to pick it up before he hesitated. “It is for Lady Curtis, My Lady.”

Agnes smiled as she lowered her hand, turning her gaze on Susanna with something of an indulgent smile.

“Oh my, I wonder who it could be from?” she said wryly, prompting Susanna to shake her head at her godmother before reaching for the letter.

“Thank you.” Susanna offered a smile to the butler and placed the letter down in front of her, waiting for the butler to leave before she turned her attention toward the letter.

As she had expected, the address was written incredibly neatly in Anthony’s usual perfect style, but there was something odd about the letter’s arrival that confused her.

I left him barely an hour ago.

She couldn’t understand why he would send a letter so soon, nor why it would be sent by an express messenger. What would have to be sent so urgently that it could not be delivered later or even said to her an hour before?

“Well? Are you not going to open it?” Agnes urged Susanna with a wave of her hand.

“Agnes…” Susanna paused, taking a deep breath. “Do you really think it possible that the Duke could consider marrying me?” Her mind shot back to all that they had shared the night before. It had felt so loving at times, full of devotion. With the touches Anthony had given her making her believe that his heart was in the moment as much as his body was, yet now, a doubt niggled her.

Was it possible that Anthony intended for her to be his mistress, and that alone?

She remembered back to what was written in the scandal sheet and his initial reaction to it. The mere memory made her fall still in the seat, with her fingers resting rather weakly on the letter. It was possible that she was too improper, a little too unrefined to be considered for marriage.

“Open it, dear; you’ll drive me mad with curiosity,” Agnes urged her on.

Susanna did as she requested, breaking the red wax seal and peeling open the letter. Inside, Anthony’s scrawl was just as finely and neatly written as it had been on the address.

‘Dear Lady Curtis,

I am writing to invite you to a late luncheon today. Send a reply by this messenger if you can. I would be glad of your company.’

“Well? What does it say?” Agnes asked impatiently with her excitement betraying her.

“He invites me for lunch.”

“Oh! This is promising. Does he say anymore?”

Susanna turned her focus down to the rest of the letter. When her eyes rested on the words, she felt her gut tightening, realizing what must have changed in the last hour since she had left Anthony’s side.

‘My mother has made a somewhat unexpected arrival, and desires to meet you.

Please, do come. I would be glad to see you.

Yours,

Anthony Fletcher, the Duke of Belbridge.’

The letter was written rather formally. Susanna presumed it was in case someone else saw the letter. Yet one line betrayed their intimacy, ‘Please, do come. I would be glad to see you.’

“Goodness,” Susanna muttered, lifting her eyes from the letter. “His mother has arrived, and he wishes me to meet her.”

“His mother!?” Agnes spluttered. “The Dowager Duchess.”

“Is this a good thing?” Susanna asked before her eyes settled on the somewhat worried lines in her godmother’s face. “Or a bad thing?”