Just Like Heaven (Smythe-Smith Quartet #1)(30)

Past tense.

And if he wasn’t a brother to her any longer, what was he?





Chapter Seven



Honoria returned to London the next day. The season would not begin for over a month, but there was much to be done in preparation. According to her recently married cousin Marigold, who came by to visit the first afternoon Honoria was back, pink was now all the rage, although if one visited the modiste, one had to take care to call it primrose, poppy, or ruby. Furthermore, one simply had to have a collection of bracelets. No one could do without them, Marigold assured her.

As that was only the beginning of Marigold’s fashion advice, Honoria made plans to visit the modiste later that week. But before she could do more than select her favorite shade of pink (primrose, just to keep things simple), a letter arrived for her from Fensmore.

Honoria assumed it must be from Marcus, and she opened it eagerly, surprised that he would have taken the time to write to her. But when she unfolded the single sheet of foolscap, the writing was far too feminine to have ever come from his hand.

Her brow knit with concern, she sat down to read the letter.

My dear Lady Honoria,





Forgive my forwardness in writing to you, but I do not know to whom else I may turn. Lord Chatteris is not well. He has been feverish for three days and last night was quite insensible. The doctor has called each afternoon, but he has no advice other than to wait and observe.



As you know, the earl has no family. But I feel I must notify someone, and he has always spoken so highly of your family.



Yrs.



Mrs. Wetherby



Housekeeper to the Earl of Chatteris





“Oh, no,” Honoria murmured, staring down at the letter until her eyes crossed. How could this be possible? When she had left Fensmore, Marcus had had a terrible cough, yes, but he hadn’t shown any signs of fever. There had been nothing in his aspect to indicate that he might take such a sharp turn for the worse.

And what did Mrs. Wetherby mean by sending her a letter? Was she simply informing her of Marcus’s condition, or was she tacitly asking her to come to Fensmore? And if it was the latter, did that mean Marcus’s condition was grim?

“Mother!” Honoria called out. She rose to her feet without thinking and starting walking through the house. Her heart began to race, and she started moving faster. Her voice, too, grew louder. “Mother!”

“Honoria?” Lady Winstead appeared at the top of the stairs, waving at herself with her favorite Chinese silk fan. “Whatever can be the matter? Was there any problem at the modiste? I thought you were planning to go with Marigold.”

“No, no, it’s not that,” Honoria said, hurrying up the stairs. “It’s Marcus.”

“Marcus Holroyd?”

“Yes. I received a letter from his housekeeper.”

“From his housekeeper? Whyever would she—”

“I saw him in Cambridge, do you recall? I told you about—”

“Oh, yes, yes.” Her mother smiled. “What a lovely coincidence to have run into him. Mrs. Royle wrote me a note about it. I think she is hoping that he might form a tendre for her daughter.”

“Mother, here, please read this.” Honoria held out the letter from Mrs. Wetherby. “He is very ill.”

Lady Winstead quickly read the short note, her mouth pressing into a worried frown. “Oh, dear. This is very bad news indeed.”

Honoria placed a heavy hand on her mother’s arm, trying to impress upon her the gravity of the situation. “We must leave for Fensmore. At once.”

Lady Winstead looked up in surprise. “Us?”

“He has no one else.”

“Well, that can’t be true.”

“It is,” Honoria insisted. “Don’t you remember how often he came to stay with us when he and Daniel were at Eton? It was because he had nowhere else to go. I don’t think he and his father got on very well.”

“I don’t know, it seems very presumptuous.” Her mother frowned. “We are not family.”

“He doesn’t have family!”

Lady Winstead caught her lower lip between her teeth. “He was such a nice boy, but I just don’t think . . .”

Honoria planted her hands on her hips. “If you do not come with me, I will go alone.”

“Honoria!” Lady Winstead drew back with shock, and for the first time in the conversation, a spark flared in her pale eyes. “You will do no such thing. Your reputation will be in tatters.”

“He might be dying.”

“I’m sure it’s not as serious as that.”

Honoria clutched her hands together. They had begun to shake, and her fingers felt terribly cold. “I hardly think his housekeeper would have written to me if it weren’t.”

“Oh, all right,” Lady Winstead said with a little sigh. “We will leave tomorrow.”

Honoria shook her head. “Today.”

“Today? Honoria, you know such trips take planning. I couldn’t possibly—”

“Today, Mother. There is no time to lose.” Honoria hurried back down the stairs, calling over her shoulder, “I will see to having the carriage prepared. Be ready within the hour!”