Page 108 of A Murder at Kew Gardens

Joy surged through me. “I would need to ask him, but no, I don’t think he would mind.” She would never be a bother. All she cared about were books. I then realized I really should have anticipated her request. “It’s his library, isn’t it?”

She had the grace to blush. “Oh, Rosie, it’s such a grand thing. Thornburn Abbey was once a monastery. The monks who lived there created such wonderful manuscripts. The duke’s secretary told me all about them. And it’s much vaster than the one at Steele House. It’s not all ancient tomes, either. There’s modern literature as well—philosophy, science, history.” She sighed softly. “It might take a lifetime to read them all.”

I pressed her hand. “We’ll also need to obtain Cosmos’s permission, sweetheart.”

“Oh.” She grinned. “I already asked him. He’s relieved actually. He and Claire will have enough on their plate with the new baby. And Fox. And Holly and Ivy. William won’t be much trouble. But Chrissie! She’ll be wanting to attend balls and visit the modiste. That will keep Claire beyond busy.”

“Yes, I expect it will,” I said somewhat wistfully.

Almost as though she had been summoned, Chrissie appeared in the doorway. “Can we talk, Rosie?” She glanced at Laurel. “In private?”

Laurel jumped up. “I’ll return to my room. I have a trunkful of books to pack.”

“Naturally.”

She kissed my cheek. “Thank you, Rosie. You are the best of sisters.” Then she sailed past Chrissie grinning from ear to ear.

Chrissie watched her go. “She asked if she could live at Thornburn Abbey, didn’t she?”

“How did you know?”

“I heard her ask Cosmos if she could speak to him privately. I could think of only one reason.”

“You’re right. She did.”

“And you said yes.”

“If Warwick agrees.”

“He will.”

“Everyone seems remarkably confident of that.”

Chrissie closed the door and took Laurel’s place beside me. “I’ve never seen him happier,” she said. “You did that.”

Something warm moved through me. “Yes.” I could bring Warwick happiness.

“Petunia is going too, I suppose.”

“Did you doubt it? She is already measuring a bedchamber at Steele House for new curtains.”

Chrissie laughed.

“It will be nice having Petunia and Laurel with us,” I said. “It will make leaving the rest of you easier.” I squeezed her hands. “Especially you. I shall miss you terribly.”

“You won’t have to miss me. I’d like to come along as well.”

“Why? Oh, that didn’t come out right. Of course you’d be welcome. If Warwick⁠—”

“—Allows it. He will. He won’t say no to you.”

“You’re probably right. But my question still stands. Thornburn Abbey is located in a remote area of Yorkshire. You wouldn’t be able to enjoy the social life we had at Rosehaven Manor. And the weather is harsher, bleaker. You could very well be stuck inside for days on end while snowstorms raged.”

She fiddled with her hands. “Maybe I’d welcome that.”

Something was seriously wrong. I’d been so involved with the murder investigation, I hadn’t seen it. We would need to talk it through. “Let us sit more comfortably by the fireplace so we can have a nice coze.” I turned to Tilly. “Could you bring us some tea and sandwiches, please, Tilly?” I hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and then all I’d had was toast.

“Of course, my lady.”