Free Holiday in Bath by Laura Matthews

hearing the truth about his despicable cousin. Trelenny was already in her mother’s bedchamber directing her maid to have a small trunk sent up.
    “We shan’t want a great deal of luggage, Mama, for that would simply be a nuisance. Shall I help you choose what gowns to take?” Only when her mother came close did she notice the strangely sparkling eyes. “Oh, Mama, are you all right? If you don’t wish to go, then we won’t. I didn’t know it would make you sad.”
    “Nonsense. I am just having my bout of homesickness before we leave, dearest. Your Papa is pleased for us, but I. . . I shall miss him dreadfully.”
    “Of course you will. But it is only a month, not so very long after all. Why, he will hardly notice we’re gone, the time will pass so quickly. You do want to go, don’t you?”
    “Yes. I want you to see Bath and go to parties and have a little come-out of your own. I want Mrs. Waplington to meet you, and I want to see you stand up at the Assemblies.”
    Trelenny experienced a feeling of guilt. “And won’t you be happy to see Mrs. Waplington again, Mama? And you shall dance at the Rooms, too.”
    “Silly girl. I’m far too old for such stuff.”
    “You’re only eight and thirty!” her daughter protested. “I have every intention of cutting a dash at least until I’m forty. Papa would want you to dance, and I am sure all the older men will see that you are beautiful still. And I don’t care if you cast me into the shade! I don’t want to go if you’re not going to have a good time.”
    Mrs. Storwood patted her cheek. “I have every intention of enjoying myself, Trelenny. Run along now and see to your own packing.”
    “Do you think Papa would let me have my quarter’s allowance now? It’s only a few weeks early.”
    “I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s arranging it at this very moment. Don’t forget to thank him for giving his permission when you go to see him, and don’t mention Cousin Filkins at all, or you are likely to say more than you intend.”
    “Yes, Mama, and thank you.”
~ ~ ~
    Trelenny carefully divided her money into two piles, slipping the smaller into her reticule and the rest into a leather draw-string pouch. From outside came the sounds of arrival, and she took one last hasty look about her bedchamber before closing the door behind her and hurrying down the stairs. Although Cousin Filkins stood in the hallway with her parents, she never gave him a thought as she came up to them, breathlessly exclaiming, “He’s here! I heard the carriage.”
    As though summoned by her words, there was a rap at the door and Cranford, impeccably dressed in riding clothes, was shown in. “My father has offered us the use of his traveling carriage, so I hope you have not been too sparing in your luggage,” he told Mrs. Storwood before he shook hands with her husband and offered a curt nod to Filkins, who had moved back from the group. With a practiced eye he took in Trelenny’s carriage dress of green Merino and her cloak of a deeper green gros de Berlin lined with chinchilla. “Very sensible, Trelenny. We are likely to encounter some chill weather as we travel.”
    “That’s why I wore it,” she assured him pertly. “It had nothing to do with the fact that it is my most handsome carriage dress, or that I had a matching muff in which to keep my reticule. I wore it because it is comfortable and warm, and I knew you would approve.” She thrust a toe forward from under her skirt. “I even wore my kid half-boots so my feet would be warm, too, and not because I love the chestnut color and they are spanking new.”
    Unperturbed by her sarcasm, Cranford merely nodded and turned to her father. “I will take good care of them, sir, and you should look for our return in about a month. A message sent care of the White Hart will reach me, though I may not stay there the entire time. There are usually houses to be had in Camden Place or Queen Square, but rest assured that I will find