Addison stepped out of the carriage, the basket in one hand and Oldston’s family home in front of him.
He was part of that family.
He walked up, and the butler opened the door. The man had been there the night of the anniversary dinner.
‘Is Oldston here? Or Her Grace?’
‘No. They are out for the evening. I don’t expect them to return soon.’
‘Benedict or Edward?’
‘I would not know. They use a separate entrance.’
‘Could you have someone show me to Edward’s chambers?’ he asked.
Within moments, a maid had taken him to his brother’s rooms, and he deposited the basket inside the door and turned to the woman. ‘I would like to see Benedict.’
Off on another walk through the house he went and this time Benedict responded to the knock.
When Addison came inside, his brother, dressed for a formal event, greeted him. ‘Never seen you here before. Are you moving in?’
‘No,’ Addison said. ‘Edward might cry if he had to see me more often.’
Benedict laughed. ‘In that case, please stay.’
‘I’ve never considered it.’
‘The guest room is to your left. The Duchess likes everyone to gather at breakfast and I wouldn’t mind seeing the Duke’s face when you stepped in.’
‘You’ve inherited Father’s charm.’
‘Of course. I just hide it better than everyone else.’ Then, Benedict squinted. ‘Was your valet asleep when he cut your hair?’
‘He was telling a good story and got diverted. I wasn’t sure I wanted him to continue.’
‘Well,’ his brother said, moving to a pull. ‘I’ve got a valet who can assist you with a good haircut and whatever else you may need here. I’m on my way out, but I hope you stay, particularly for breakfast in the morning. Father always behaves in front of the Duchess, and, if you can believe it, so does Edward.’
‘I will see you at breakfast then.’
Sophia stitched in her room, unaware of the bright threads of her embroidery, her mind only seeing fibres, not the colours.
Humphrey had said Addison left with the basket.
Now everyone was talking after dinner, and she’d left the table first, unable to taste the food. She didn’t want to be around her friends.
Cook and Merry had watched her, and Merry had tried to tell humorous stories, but they’d all fallen flat. Humphrey kept quoting verse from Shakespeare, but only the tragedies.
She remembered the tragedy of her marriage, a disaster for both of them.
She’d felt her husband had trapped her, but he hadn’t. Her mother-in-law would have carried her portmanteau away for her if Sophia had requested to leave. With no way to support herself, the unknown outside her door had been more frightening, unpredictable and unsafe than the unhappiness inside.
Then she’d needed help again and went in search of Merry. Merry would have seen that Sophia had enough food to hold her until work had been found.
With the people she knew, she could survive. They’d helped each other on good days and through the worst. And now she could see they would always be there for her.
Someone rapped on the door and she jumped to her feet, and rushed to pull it open. Cook stood there. Sophia slumped, expecting Addison.
The older woman held a tray with a pastry on it.
‘The carriage driver returned,’ Cook said, putting the tray on the small side table. ‘But without Addison. Humphrey is gathering some of Addison’s clothing to send back with the driver.’ Cook spoke as if she were delivering a eulogy. ‘At the Duke’s estate.’
‘The estate?’
‘Yes. I’m afraid he’s going to leave us, Sophia.’ Cook’s eyes were downcast. ‘I’ll find another post, but...’ She sighed. ‘It’s right that Mr Addison should be with his relations. His world. His mother did wrong by him and his father is righting it.’
‘They don’t get on that well.’
‘They won’t have to get on at all in the ducal estate. They won’t even have to see each other, from what I hear.’ A tear rolled down her cheek and she wiped it away with the towel tucked in her apron. ‘I had my hopes set on that town house and didn’t even think of Addison moving into the estate. The new Duchess thinks the world of him.’
Cook gulped and her voice wavered. ‘The carriage driver believes Addison will keep the house for now and let us stay until we find new employment.’
She trudged away, her towel fluttering in her hand.
Sophia sat on her bed and studied the dressing gown lying beside her. Addison’s soap lingered on the cloth and she touched it to her cheek.
She’d known not to succumb to her feelings. Known she would eventually have to lose him. But she’d hoped for more instances to hold dear.
But there could never be enough memories.