Page 40 of The Hidden Heart

Rachel opened the door, smiling. “Well, everyone seems to be in high spirits this morning.”

“It is the snow. It makes me happy,” Gabriela told her.

“It’s lovely, isn’t it? But, I fear, not good news for me,” Rachel said, advancing into the room. “I came to make my goodbyes. I was planning to leave later today, but I think now I must go as soon as I can.”

“No!” Gabriela cried in disappointment. “Please stay. Miss Jessica and I are going to take a walk in the snow later.”

“Yes, you ought to stay,” Jessica seconded. “You should not travel in the snow.”

“Lord Westhampton is expecting me before Christmas,” Rachel explained. “I delayed going there to come see the duke. What if a great deal of snow falls, and I cannot leave? Michael would be worried.”

“I see. Well, we shall be very sorry to see you go,” Jessica said. “Oh! Your dresses! You will need to pack them. They are in my wardrobe.”

Rachel smiled. “Oh, no, don’t bother. Tilly has already packed my things, and they are loading them onto the coach. And I have plenty of dresses at home. I shall get them when I visit next time.”

Jessica protested, feeling guilty at the thought of keeping the other woman’s dresses for an indefinite period of time, but Rachel insisted, shrugging off Jessica’s protests with a smile.

“Here is some news that will make you happy,” Rachel said after a moment, changing the subject. “I am not the only person leaving today. I understand that Lord and Lady Vesey’s carriage is being brought around, also.”

“Really?” Gabriela asked, delighted.

“Yes. Richard is insisting on it. I think he may have had a fight with them last night. He is cross as a bear this morning.”

Jessica thought about asking what was different about that, but she bit back the sharp words. Lady Westhampton was very fond of her brother-in-law, and Jessica did not want to offend her.

Gabriela and Jessica walked with Rachel downstairs to the Great Hall, where Richard stood waiting. He turned at the sound of their approach, and his eyes went to Jessica. She looked back at him coolly, and he scowled, then faced Rachel.

“Your bags are secure on the coach,” he told her. “Are you certain you want to leave in this storm?”

“Scarcely a storm, Richard,” Rachel said with a smile. “It is merely a snowfall.”

“Baxter tells me Calhoun thinks it will get worse, and he is never wrong.”

Rachel smiled. “That is why I must leave now, before it does. Goodbye, dear Richard. Take care of yourself.”

She went up on tiptoe to kiss him on the cheek. Then she addressed Jessica and Gabriela, standing a few feet behind her. “Promise me that you two will look after him, as well.”

Jessica saw the significant look the other woman directed at her, and she nodded. She understood that Lady Westhampton was entrusting her with keeping the duke from doing away with himself. Rachel gave her hand to Jessica, and Gabriela gave Rachel an impulsive hug, which seemed to please her considerably.

She tied on her hat and put on the gloves her maid handed her, then let Baxter help her on with her heavy wool coat. Tilly handed her a fur muff to keep her hands warm, and they left, Richard walking Rachel down the front steps and handing her up into her carriage. Gabriela and Jessica braved the cold to stand at the open front door and wave to her as the carriage pulled away.

Jessica noticed before they went back inside that another coach was approaching from the stables. It was the Veseys’ carriage, and it lightened Jessica’s mood a little to see that Rachel had been right—Richard was making Lord and Lady Vesey leave. She knew they would not be doing so on their own.

Cleybourne walked back to the house as the carriage proceeded down the long driveway, and Jessica and Gabriela turned back to the stairs.

“Miss Maitland,” Cleybourne said as he closed the door to the cold. “I would like to talk to you.”

Jessica turned around, keeping her demeanor cool. “I am sorry, Your Grace, but I must oversee Gabriela’s lessons now.”

Gabriela cast a surprised glance in her direction. Their doing lessons was scarcely unusual, but it was strange, indeed, for a governess to turn down her employer’s request for an interview.

Cleybourne’s mouth tightened impatiently, but he said only, “And at what time will you be through with those lessons?”

Jessica was saved from answering by the less-than-dulcet tones of Lady Vesey as she and her husband clattered down the stairs. “There you are! Cleybourne, I cannot believe that you would be so cruel as to toss us out in the storm like this.” She gestured dramatically toward the front of the house. “What if we freeze to death?”

“You will not,” Cleybourne replied shortly.

“Really, Cleybourne,” Vesey chimed in, “it is rather dreadful out there. Not good weather for traveling.”