Chapter Twenty-three
Cyrus stared out the blurry window of the library and silently cursed the continual downpour. It wasn’t a flooding type of rain, but it would prevent them from traveling the last thirty miles to Aunt Nellie’s estate. If they were lucky, they might be able to leave in the morning if the rain let up during the night. He could finally see Kaitlyn and talk with her again. He wanted to tell her all about the things he had seen while traveling with William, but mostly he wanted to see her. And after writing everything out, he might be able to actually tell her how he felt instead of keeping all his thoughts bottled up to himself.
She filled his thoughts most of the time, and he tried to come up with ways to let her know of his interest. Of course, getting to her was the most important thing he could do. He hadn’t thought this trip through very clearly. He thought it would be a quick few days there and back. Instead, it was pushing more than a week.
William entered the library and stopped abruptly when Cyrus turned around. The look of concern on his face made Cyrus worry.
“What now?” Cyrus asked. “How much longer are we here for?”
William rubbed the back of his neck as if unsure what to say.
“Is something wrong?” Cyrus asked. “Has something happened?”
William nodded curtly. “I’ve just heard some news from one of the servants whose sister works for a neighbor to Aunt Nellie.”
“Is everyone okay?” Cyrus asked. When William nodded, relief washed over Cyrus. “Has something happened with the magic then?”
“No, nothing like that. And everyone is okay. It’s just I’m afraid there has been a development.” Cyrus wished the man would just spit it out. Finally, William spoke. “There has been news of an engagement.”
“Has Reese fallen for the earl?” Cyrus asked, feeling the disappointment deeply for his friend.
William shook his head.
“Cora?” Cyrus asked.
Sadness and pity crossed William’s face and Cyrus felt the heat drain from his. “Not Kaitlyn,” he whispered.
“I believe so,” William said in a low voice. “I asked the maid and she was very clear in her details of the message she heard.”
“Kaitlyn has gotten engaged?”
William nodded. “I’m sorry.”
Cyrus paced the room. It was impossible. It had to be a mistake. Kaitlyn had said more than once how this was all just a fun accident, but she had met a baronet and fallen in love. Because he knew there would be no way she’d give up her life back home for what was available here. Not unless she felt very strongly for the guy.
And Cyrus hated to admit that Sir Hughes really wasn’t a horrible man. He’d proven himself to be honorable and kind. But Jem would never allow it. Knowing Kaitlyn, she wouldn’t let that stop her. She was going to travel to England with just her friends. He’d only been invited because she wanted to appease her mother.
Her total commitment to an idea or plan she developed had been something he’d loved and admired about her. And she didn’t jump into things blindly either. She would have thought this all through. If she agreed to marry someone here, she’d have a good reason.
But Cyrus didn’t want to accept that.
“I need to get home,” Cyrus said. “I have to see her. Talk to her.”
“We can’t leave tonight,” William said. “It’s too dark with the storm. Aunt Nellie would have me skinned alive if I allowed any harm to come to one of her visitors. But if the weather hasn’t worsened in the morning, we will leave at first light.”
***
It was the longest night of Cyrus’s life. He tossed and turned most of it before climbing out of bed and pacing the room. The storm continued for most of the dark hours, but when the night turned to dawn, Cyrus looked out the window to see a clearing sky.
“Thank goodness,” Cyrus said, feeling more at peace. He could finally do something about the rock in his stomach. He packed his bags and waited with anxious energy until the sounds of servants in the house made him sure he could move about more freely.
He left the room, moved over to William’s room, and knocked softly. He hoped he wouldn’t be too upset with him. When William opened the door wearing his breaches and shirt instead of just his night clothes, Cyrus almost breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’ll be ready to go soon. If you want to check with the kitchens and see if the cook has some breakfast for us we could take like she’d offered last night, I’ll meet you at the front.”
Before long, they were on the horses, riding in the cold morning, but Cyrus could barely feel it on top of the cold fear in his heart that he had lost the girl he’d come to realize should be his. If only he could make it in time to convince her to change her mind. Because without her in his life, he doubted he’d feel warmth and light again.
The roads were muddy, forcing them to move slowly, but they rode without stopping longer than needed to rest and feed the horses or take in a quick meal at a small inn or pub along the way. They reached Nellie’s property after nightfall. Cyrus gladly handed the reigns over to the groom, who met them at the door and climbed off the horse, limping stiffly toward the front doors in his haste.
When he reached the huge entryway, he looked around, hoping to see someone he knew. He moved over to the library in hopes of seeing Jem and Kaitlyn in there. When it turned up empty, he found his way to the parlor where they’d played so many games. He didn’t recognize anyone there besides a maid straightening up.
William caught up to him. “The house has mostly gone to bed. I’ve checked with the butler and he’s informed me that Mr. Taylor and Miss Taylor had been invited to join Sir Hughes and his cousin Miss Amelia Woodrow at his home for a house party.”
Cyrus stared numbly. “She’s not here?”
William shook his head.
“She’s already spending time at his house?”
“With Jem there as her chaperone, everything is in order. And Aunt Nellie has sent one of her girls with them. She’s safe and in good hands.”
Cyrus knew she wouldn’t be mistreated, but she was gone all the same. If she was staying at his house for a party, he could easily visualize her there charming all the guests and being introduced as his fiancée. She was probably dancing close with him now.
“Is there any chance we could go there as well?”
William gave him a look of pity and sorrow. “You’ve been traveling all day and are in no shape physically to go there tonight. Besides, you aren’t in any way ready to speak with her, or show her how you feel. Especially not smelling the way you do after a long, hard ride.”
Cyrus knew it was true. He hated the thought that he was so close, yet still so far away. Although Sir Hughes’ property was only three or four miles away, it was impossible to go there tonight without making a complete fool of himself and alienating everyone. Sometimes he hated being confined to the rules of the day.
“What if I went in the morning?” Cyrus turned to William. “Do I have to have an invitation to visit?”
William shook his head. “No. Since you’re already acquainted with Sir Hughes, and he’s in residence, you would be fine to call on him. But if you go in like a mad man, he would be well within his rights to throw you off his land.”
Cyrus nodded. “Understood.” He worked his way to his room, ready to collapse on the bed, but knowing his thoughts would not likely let him sleep much tonight either.