Enchanted Summer: (Regency Romance) Read Free Page B

departure to Rook's End, so desired by her mother and so feared by Celia, finally arrived.
    Mrs. Bundy and a few of their other neighbors stood outside under umbrellas under the full moon. It was still a couple of hours until dawn but Celia had planned on them leaving early so that they would arrive at a reasonable hour at the Delaney household. But they had not expected the drenching rain were glad Celia had provided them with umbrellas before they boarded the carriage that had been sent to them by Uncle Worth. Everyone wore an expression of expectation and excitement.
    Mrs. Bundy presented them with a basket she had prepared especially for their journey, with mutton pie and puddings and freshly baked bread. They had moved to her house for the week before their departure while their furniture was disposed of and as a result of this she felt the separation from her favorite family doubly so. Tears streamed unchecked down her soft round cheeks as she kissed and embraced each in turn, but her quiet tears turned to strangled sobs as she said good-bye to Fred whom she had nestled in her arms as a babe.
    Finally, the Meades were off down the cobbled street that would connect with the road.
    For the first few miles the only sounds were from the hooves of the horses as they pounded the streets, the steady rain on the roof of the carriage, and the eerie shrieks of birds as they flew close to their carriage.
    Celia leaned her head against the squabs and looked unseeing at the splashing drops. She felt light-headed and tense, having been up until late seeing to the countless details overlooked by everyone but her.
    Mrs. Meade was soon fast asleep and snoring softly. Bella was leafing through her scrapbook, her mind in a reverie of balls and assemblies, while their maid, Nellie, leaned her head against the window.
    Fred seemed abstracted and stared moodily at nothing, his shoulders moving to the rhythm of the carriage.
    Celia still felt bad at having to leave Mrs. Bundy behind. She was certain their dear sweet friend would fall into depression without them. She would arrange a visit for her as soon as she was able to.
    Mrs. Bundy had been widowed early in her marriage, and being childless, looked upon the Meades as her family and Fred as the son she had lost at birth. Financially she had been left with an adequate income by her husband, who had dealt in India tea until his untimely death. Mrs. Bundy's only distraction was the rundown orphanage in London of which she was a patron and which Celia knew she would visit more now that she had not the Meades to rely on to fill her days.
    It took them most of the day to reach Bath and then on to their destination. When they arrived in mid-afternoon, tired and tense from their trying journey, they were greeted by a dour-faced butler who informed them that both of the Delaney ladies were to spend the night with friends and would return the following day.
    Master Tom, he said, was at Lowell Manor with a hunting party and would also return the following day, and Uncle Worth had been called away to an emergency concerning a shipment of tea in Liverpool.
    He directed a footman to carry their luggage upstairs and they were ushered into their rooms, a large apartment on the east wing that still smelled musty and unused. The rooms were of noble proportions, though, and they were well appointed.
    They were all tired and wanting their tea, but no sign of it anywhere and repeated pulling at the cord brought no response from a servant. Finally, Mrs. Meade, her face drawn with fatigue, sent Nellie downstairs with a request to have their tea sent to their rooms.
    Celia was uneasy that everyone in the house had been away when the Meades had arrived when she had sent an express with the exact date of their arrival. Had this been meant as a snub? Uncle Worth she could excuse. An emergency preempted everything. But what possible explanation could the others have? It bespoke of little sensibility. She wondered if