The Hyde Park Headsman - Anne Griffin Perry [137]
Or was he too vulnerable to a manservant who lived in his house and knew him as only a servant can?
“Charlotte?” Emily said slowly. “What? What is it?”
“A thought,” Charlotte replied. “Perhaps nothing. But you cannot speak to Scarborough. You wouldn’t help the maid.”
“Why not? I certainly can.”
“No! Believe me, there are reasons.”
“What reasons?”
“Good reasons, concerning Mr. Carvell. Please.”
“Then I’ll employ her myself,” Emily said decisively. “You should have seen her, Charlotte. I’m not going to allow that to happen.”
Charlotte was about to reply when Dulcie Arledge approached them, smiling, her face weary, her shoulders still straight, her smile fixed.
“Poor creature,” Charlotte said softly to Emily, almost under her breath, her gaze still upon Dulcie.
“I think she looks better than I would do in the same circumstances,” Emily replied, but there was an ambiguity, a hesitation in her voice which Charlotte did not understand. However, it was too late to ask her what she meant. Dulcie was almost upon them.
“It has been a most moving occasion,” Charlotte said courteously.
“Thank you, Mrs. Pitt,” Dulcie accepted.
Emily added some appropriate remark, and before Dulcie could continue with whatever formality came next, they were joined by Lady Lismore and Landon Hurlwood.
“Dulcie, my dear,” Lady Lismore began with a warm smile, “do you know Mr. Landon Hurlwood? He greatly admired Aidan’s work, and came to pay his respects and offer his sympathy.” She turned to Hurlwood.
“No,” Hurlwood said.
“Yes,” Dulcie said at exactly the same moment.
Hurlwood blushed.
“I am so sorry,” he said quickly. “Of course I have met Mrs. Arledge. I simply meant that our acquaintance is very slight. How do you do, Mrs. Arledge. I am flattered you remembered me. There must be so many who admired your husband’s work.”
“How do you do, Mr. Hurlwood,” she answered, looking up at him with wide, dark blue eyes. “It is very kind of you to have come. I am gratified you admired my husband’s work. I am sure his name will live on, and perhaps give pleasure and encouragement for years to come.”
“I have no doubt.” He bowed very slightly, searching her face, his expression full of concern. “Would it be impertinent to say how much I admire your dignity in the face of such a loss, Mrs. Arledge?”
She colored deeply and lowered her eyes.
“Thank you, Mr. Hurlwood, although I fear you flatter me. It is most generous.”
“Not at all,” Lady Lismore said quickly. “It is no more than the truth. Now I am sure you must be ready to retire after all this emotion. I shall be privileged to remain here and bid people good-bye, if you would like me to.”
Dulcie took a very deep breath, not looking at Hurlwood anymore.
“I think I should appreciate that, my dear, if you really do not mind?” she accepted.
“May I see you to your carriage?” Hurlwood offered her his arm.
She hesitated for several moments, then with a nervous flicker of her tongue across her lips, her face showing the exhaustion she must have felt, she declined graciously and walked alone to the door, where Scarborough stepped forward and opened it for her, following her out to accept her cloak from the footman and call her carriage.
“A most remarkable person,” Lady Lismore said with feeling.
Hurlwood’s eyes were still on the doorway where she had departed. There was a faint color in his cheeks. “Indeed,” he echoed. “Quite remarkable.”
9
LADY AMANDA KILBRIDE rode out alone, very early, towards Rotten Row. She had quarreled with her husband the evening before and wished him to rise and find her absent. Of course he would not think she had left in any permanent sense. Such a thing would be out of the question, but he would be worried. He would be anxious in case she had done something foolish, just possibly even fulfilled her promise to run off and have a dramatic love affair with the first presentable man who asked her.
Although in the cold, pale light of morning she was obliged to admit that there were not so many presentable men at