Celia (A Sinclair Society Novella)

Chapter Four

The afternoon passed without anything disastrous happening. My husband never approached me, which left me with mixed feelings. I was still angry with him, but how would we ever work through our argument if he avoided me?

When I went to the dressing room to prepare for dinner, I found that Juliet was uneasy. Her first question surprised me. "Yes, Mr. Bladen arrived with my husband. I've never met him before, and I don't believe Horace has ever mentioned him, even in passing. Why do you ask?"

"Because I do know him," she said as she went to work on my hair. "In fact, five years ago, I expected to marry him."

With a gasp, I twisted around. "Honestly?"

"After my parents died—well, killed—he vanished from my life without a word," she explained. Sorrow crept into her voice as she spoke. "For two years, I hoped he would return and have a reasonable explanation for why he stayed away. I wondered if he wanted to respect the fact that I was mourning my family."

"And he never sent a single word?" What kind of man did that to a young lady?

"No. Once I cried about it, I was furious. Angry that he'd fled when I needed him most. Angry that he hadn't thought I was worth an explanation for why he left."

"You had every right to be angry! His behaviour was unacceptable. I have a mind to take him to task for his cruel treatment. No man should be allowed to get away with such callousness!"

And he had been so cordial to the WIlliamson girls! How many other ladies had he left broken-hearted over the years? And for what? He enjoyed flirtation but didn't want anything more? Did Horace know his friend behaved like this?

"Please do not," Juliet said swiflty. "I think I did that well enough myself in Bath, and he might wonder how you know me when I have been secluded these past few years.."

"Have you seen him that recently then?"

"I encountered him for the first time since my brother's death earlier this year. I'd been sent on an errand for the Bunrhams and there he was. Buying ribbons for his sister."

What? I'd never heard the like! "For his sister? I have two male cousins who love me as dearly as I love them and there are no circumstances where they would ever make such an errand. Did he at least do the honourable thing and acknowledge you?"

"Yes, and then he visited my great-aunt's house to see me. He's also sent letters to me through my aunt's maid. He swears he kept away because my uncle insisted he do so. He has asked me to forgive him."

The audacity! Was it a male trait to be insensitive? I was seeing far too many similarities between him and my own husband's behavior as of late.

"Even if that were true—he was compelled to keep his distance because of your family—he could have left you a note to explain instead of leaving you to wonder for so long," I argued, annoyed on behalf of my new friend. "The gall of him to make such advances. Did he think your own affections were unchanged by time and distance?"

"He certainly seemed to think so. When I met him once again in Bath, I told him I did not desire his attention. I told him to leave me alone."

And well she should! I could think of a few choice words I would have said to him if I had been in her position. Did he honestly think that she would welcome his attention after he had abandoned her? "I take it he has no notion about your current position or name."

Juliet shook her head. "Only my aunt knows Juliet Sinclair is currently playing at being a lady's maid named Julie Nelson." She paused before she added, "No. There was another man, in Bath, who worked it out and tried to blackmail me into doing what he wished."

"Conrad Ingram." He was the only person in Bath I knew was capable of such horrific actions. "I met him once, though I won't say it was an honour or a pleasure. I don't think there was a single person who mourned him when he had that unfortunate accident."