Coming Home by Hughes Vonnie

Author:Hughes, Vonnie
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Robert Hale
Published: 2012-03-31T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

HOLLOW-EYED AND exhausted, Juliana lay back against the cushions in the luxurious Trewbridge carriage praying that Tilly had escaped her captors and was on her way home this very moment. ‘Keep safe, Tilly. Keep safe,’ she muttered under her breath.

She wondered how on earth she could introduce the topic of child prostitution into the elegant atmosphere of Trewbridge. She could not imagine any social discourse that would lend itself to: ‘By the way, did you know that child selling is rife in Melksham and Hungerford?’

But when the moment came, she found it quite easy after all.

As the carriage drew up at the bottom of the steps, she prepared to alight. The great oak doors flew open and instead of Twoomey, Colly strode out. He took the steps from the groom and extended an arm to Juliana.

‘Good morning.’ She placed her gloved hand on his muscled forearm and cast him a half-smile. Oh, it was so good to see him again.

‘I have been out of my mind with worry,’ he muttered, his face creased with a frown. ‘Are you all right, Miss Colebrook?’

Puzzled, she struggled to understand. How could they possibly have heard about the troubles at Hungerford? ‘I’m well, thank you.’

‘We’ve all been concerned about you. Come inside. Everyone is waiting.’

He took her to the small withdrawing room where the entire Trewbridge family was assembled. Still clinging to Colly’s arm, she stopped on the threshold and blinked. She felt rather like an actress at centre stage playing a role only the audience knew.

The marchioness surged forward. ‘Dear Juliana, come and sit down. We have much to discuss.’

If Juliana was puzzled by Colly’s behaviour, she was warmed by the marchioness’s greeting. Marguerite, too, smiled a welcome and patted a space on the settle beside her.

‘We are pleased to see you, Miss Colebrook. We’ve all been anxious about you,’ the marquess said.

Juliana stared at the elegant, suave figure of the Marquess of Trewbridge and wondered why such an exalted person should be concerned about her.

Twoomey entered with a tray laden with decanters and biscuits. Colly, sizzling with impatience, prowled from one end of the room to the other whilst Twoomey dispensed glasses of Madeira and ratafia. Unlike the other ladies, Juliana gratefully selected the Madeira. Twoomey had scarcely left the room when Colly burst into speech.

‘Juliana—’

Only Juliana saw the grin on John’s face. She reddened and raised her chin. Colly didn’t notice.

‘Have you had any problems at your uncle’s place?’

‘Yes, but how did you know?’

‘Just after you left, we discovered that somebody had been asking questions about you at Trewbridge and in the village.’

‘Before I even arrived at my uncle’s house? That doesn’t make sense.’

‘What do you mean, it doesn’t make sense?’ Colly demanded. There may as well have been only the two of them in the room. The Trewbridge family sat still and silent as Colly and Juliana stared at each other.

‘I wasn’t any threat to them until I found out what was happening at the Hungerford Charities. And I hadn’t even heard of the Hungerford Charities until I arrived at Uncle Sholto’s.

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