“Just to the stables, Mama. I want to see that Firefly returned home safely.”
“She did,” her mother said. “I saw Blake lead her in. Go upstairs and change. We need to discuss preparations for tomorrow’s dinner and what you will wear.”
“Can’t I just go to see Firefly?” Louisa urged. She felt she would go mad if she could not talk to Roderick.
“Not now,” Lady Hatton asserted firmly.
“But Mama –”
“Louisa, I do not know what has come over you. You never used to argue with your parents.”
“Excuse me, my Lady.”
Roderick had appeared from the back of the house. “The maid said you wanted me,” he enquired.
“Ah, yes. Blake, tell my daughter that Firefly is all right and then you can run an errand for me into the village.”
Louisa was in despair. What she had to say to Roderick could not be sa
