Franni looked into his face, and smiled. “Hello, Cousin Gyles.”
Gyles nodded. “Cousin Frances.” He released her and waved them all inside. Franni joined Francesca and Ester, eagerly looking around her as they traversed the huge hall.
“A big house,” Franni echoed, as they climbed the stairs.
“So we’ll only be here three nights.” Charles smiled at Francesca. It was evening, and they were all gathered in the family parlor, waiting for dinner to be announced. “Thank you for being so understanding.”
They were standing by the chaise. Before the hearth, Gyles was chatting to Ester, with Franni hanging on his every word.
“Nonsense.” Francesca squeezed Charles’s arm. “If the waters at Bath really do help Franni, then of course you must seize the chance and take her there again.” Charles had warned her in a last-minute letter that their visit would be curtailed; he’d just explained why. Bath’s sulphurous springs had given Franni more energy, but while Charles and Ester were keen to travel there again, they’d only been able to get Franni to agree by linking the trip to their visit to Lambourn.
“Indeed,” Francesca continued, “if you wish to take her there in the future, you must write and let me know. You’ll always be welcome here.” She smiled. “For however many nights.”
“Thank you, my dear.” Charles’s gaze rested on Franni. “I confess we’re more hopeful than previously. Both Ester and I were worried that your leaving and the excitement of the wedding might prove too much, might even precipitate some worsening of Franni’s condition. Instead, since recovering from the laudanum the day after the wedding, she seems only to have improved. It’s been a relief.”
Francesca nodded. She’d never understood the basis of Franni’s “condition,” but if Charles and Ester were relieved and hopeful, she could only be glad.
Irving entered and announced that dinner was served, much to Franni’s delight. Gyles very correctly offered both her and Ester an arm; Charles and Francesca followed.
They settled about the table in the family dining room. Francesca watched as Irving and the footmen served. Franni seemed delighted with everything. She held forth to Gyles on all she’d seen during their extended excursion around the Castle. Gyles had lunched with them, then retreated to his study; Franni had been unconcerned. Now, beneath her cousin’s artlessness, Francesca could detect no sign of unease, sorrow, or upset.
She must have misinterpreted, and Gyles was not Franni’s gentleman caller after all.
Charles, on her right, asked about a dish; Francesca replied. She chatted with her uncle and Ester, on her left. Franni sat beyond Charles, to Gyles’s left, an arrangement dictated by custom rather than Francesca’s wish. But it seemed her worry over her cousin’s possible sensibility had been misplaced. If that were so, she was grateful, yet…
She turned to Ester. “Does Franni still rise very early?”
Ester nodded. “You might want to warn your staff.”
Francesca made a mental note to mention the fact to Wallace.
“My dear, you must give me this recipe so I can take it home for Cook.”
“Of course.” Francesca wondered if Ferdinand could write in English.
“Good morning, Franni.”
At the end of the terrace, Franni whirled, mouth gaping, then she relaxed and smiled as Francesca joined her.
“It’s a lovely morning, isn’t it?” Francesca said.
“Yes.” Franni turned back to the view. “Although it’s such a large house, it’s quiet. I thought it would be noisy.”
“There’s only the staff and Gyles and me living here at present. Last time, there were all the wedding guests.” Francesca leaned against the balustrade, unsurprised when Franni said no more. She let the silence stretch, aware it would help given she wanted to nudge Franni’s mind onto a different tack.
Minutes later, she asked, “Franni, do you remember telling me about your gentleman-the gentleman who walked with you twice?”
Franni frowned, puzzled rather than defensive. “Did I?”
“Yes, at the inn. I wondered… do you know who he is?”
Her gaze on the horizon, Franni just smiled.
Accepting she wasn’t going to get that answer, Francesca tried her next question. “Has he visited you recently-since you last came here?”
Franni shook her head almost violently, but she was grinning; Francesca thought she giggled.
Steeling herself, she spoke slowly and evenly, as they all did when speaking to Franni. “Franni, I just want to make sure you haven’t confused your gentleman with Chillingworth. I-”