"Hers was indomitable as always. Mine, I'm sure, was red and shocked. To make matters worse, I was out of breath. The only room I could have was in the back on the top floor," he explained
I couldn't help smiling at this. "So, go on. What did she want of you?"
"She said she had heard I was in the area and wanted to see it for herself. I was sure I was in for some sort of reprimand, but she made it quickly clear that she was glad Anne had a few friends willing to remain by her side. Elliot was standing back and allowing you to bear the brunt of society's animosity, and be pilloried in the finest salons of your circle. She could not help hearing it, and was shocked. I admit that I still am amazed at his cheek."
"I am not. I can well believe that he would confess to adultery and then find a way to blame me. 'Cheek' is the reason he is such a good lawyer."
"At any rate, I was stunned that she approved of me having anything to do with you more than a courteous nod on the street."
"And how did it feel for the two of you to be allies?"
A wide smile brightened his eyes. "Strange indeed. She went on to say she was grieved to hear that you were being stubborn and not allowing me to make a visit."
"I am surprised she thought so highly of your lack of decorum."
He smiled and ignored my goading. "Even more surprising was a plan she presented me—"
"A plan of hers? I have never thought of my godmother as a clever woman who would plan much more than a card party or picnic."
"Lady Russell is quite a strategist, when it suits her. The plan was to issue you an invitation to the Lodge for the afternoon, then ask if your carriage might be used for an errand. This would leave you without transport, and out of the blue, I would then make an appearance."
"And the assumption was that I would sit still for this?" While it was an audacious plan, I did not see myself surrendering to them so easily.
"Not willingly, no. But your choices would be to either make the half-mile trudge back to Kellynch, in knee-deep mud, or a find a way to endure my presence. We were counting on your persuadable nature to do the latter." He smiled, and remained irritatingly silent.
"Obviously this, or another of your plans brought us together. But I should like to hear my reaction to this first meeting. Was I indeed 'persuadable?'"
"You made lots of noise about finding your boots and leaving, but Amanda scolded you for being a goose, and that you might just as well sit and drink your tea. The mud would still be there if you preferred to leave us later. You stayed all day, I was told."
"But you did not?"
"No, I drank my tea, thanked my hostess and her guest, and then left. We thought it best not to overreach on the first try."
"The two of you rival the Borgias."
"Oh no," he said, touching my chin lightly. "We wanted you very much alive."
"Thankfully. I want to hear more …" Activity in the drive caught my attention. "There is someone visiting. Their carriage is very fine." A barouche with full livery sat in front of the hall, and oddly, a man stood next to it holding a coat and a man's hat. I glanced at Frederick, expecting he could tell me who the visitor might be. I was disturbed to find his face grown taut and his eyes cold. He urged the horses to quicken their pace. Looking back to the carriage, I searched for something familiar and then saw the crest on the door. Before I thought, I stood. "It is William!"
