she simply did not know what else to do but carry on as before.
Three days later Caitlyn was in the library, located in the front of the house on the ground floor, when she heard carriage wheels on the driveway. For an instant, she wondered if Trevor had changed his mind. She went to the window and peeped through the drapery. An older woman in a huge hat with fluttering ostrich feathers shielding her face was handed down from a smart traveling carriage. Another vehicle loaded with luggage drew up behind hers.
Caitlynâs first thought was a small prayer of thanks that at least one of the guest rooms had been prepared, for it looked at though this traveler planned a stay of some duration. It had to be Trevorâs aunt. She waited for Merrillâs announcement, which came immediately.
âLady Gertrude Hermiston, madam.â
âLady Gertrude?â Caitlyn fairly squeaked in surprise and wonder. âWhatever are you doing here?â
âDid that infernal boy not tell you I was coming?â
âInfernal boy?â Caitlyn thought her wits were surely deserting her.
âTrevor. My scapegrace nephew.â
âOh. No. I meanâyes. He did write me that his aunt would come, but he neglected to tell me who she was. Oh, Lady Gertrude, I cannot tell you how glad I am to see a familiar face. I have dreaded meeting Trevorâs auntâand here it is you .â She smiled and extended her hands in greeting, aware that she was babbling foolishly.
âDreading me, were you?â Lady Gertrude smiled as she removed her cloak and handed it over to Merrill along with her oversized hat.
âNo. Not you. Just an unknown aunt Trevor said would come.â Caitlyn paused to ask Merrill to bring a tea tray and see to the disposition of Lady Gertrudeâs luggage, then went on, âActually, I am extremely happy to see you. It has been a long time since I have seen a truly friendly face.â
âButâI understood that Trevor left here only a fortnight ago.â
Caitlyn felt herself blushing. âYou must know that Trevor and I do not know each other well. . . .â
âAnd I gather he is not in your good graces now, either.â
âNo, he is not,â Caitlyn said in a tone that she hoped would eliminate further discussion on this head.
âYou and I will talk about it all later, my dear,â her ladyship said as Merrill produced the tea tray. âI have brought you a small gift.â She handed over a gaily wrapped packet.
âA gift? For me?â Caitlyn could not remember the last time anyone had given her a gift. She accepted it eagerly.
âA book. Poetry! Oh, thank you so much.â
âA slim volume by one of your former neighbors in the Lake DistrictâMr. Wordsworth.â
âI remember seeing him a few times. Mama knew his sister. Oh, how exciting to have one of his books. Thank you again.â
Eventually, they did turn to the topic of Lady Gertrudeâs stay, and Caitlyn learned that Trevor had not been quite as impervious to his wifeâs needs in his absence as she had thought. Still, he had deserted her.
âI shall never forgive him,â Caitlyn declared. âWhat is more, as I see it, the only reason to approve a divorce would be to remarry. I never want to marry again. So Trevorâand his familyâcan just wait until pigs compete with the birds for room in the sky before I shall agree to blacken my name so.â
âYou were sorely used,â Lady Gertrude agreed. âBut you may change your mind one day.â
âNever.â
âIn any event, I am here until you no longer have need of me.â
âThen you shall be here a very long time, I am thinking, my lady.â
âPerhaps you could be persuaded to call me Aunt Gertrude as Trevor does.â
âI should be most happy to do so.â
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In the next few days, Caitlyn could hardly believe her luck in discovering a relative