“It doesn’t feel like an ending,” she said. “It feels like a beginning.”
Isabelle squeezed her hand and looked very sad. “I wish every happiness for you, my dear.”
“I know.” For the first time Cassidy really considered what Isabelle had left behind in America. She’d had a comfortable house there, pretty clothes, friends. Had she come to England only for Cassidy’s sake, giving up a life she loved?
“Isabelle,” she said softly, “do you wish you were back in America?”
For an instant Cassidy thought she was right. Naked longing crossed Isabelle’s face. But then she straightened, smiled, and set about pinning Cassidy’s new traveling hat on top of her wayward hair.
“I shall quite enjoy visiting a country house again,” she said. “And I’ve never been to Northumberland.”
Cassidy grinned and took Isabelle’s hand as they followed Quentin and Rowena out of the compartment. Liveried footmen were already in attendance to help them down; Braden stood with his valet, speaking to a man who seemed to be in charge of a gorgeous carriage and a pair of handsome horses, drawn up beside the platform. A second, smaller carriage and a wagon were lined up behind.
“We’ll go ahead in the brougham, and our luggage will be brought after,” Quentin explained. His gaze scanned the village beyond the station. “It hasn’t changed.”
“Has it been a long time since you were home?” Cassidy asked. “You must be glad to be back.”
“As the Bard so aptly put it, ‘ ‘Tis ever common that men are merriest when they are from home.’ ”
But he was laughing, as usual, and Cassidy didn’t believe him. He sauntered away from the platform, leaving Cassidy and Isabelle to wait alone. Rowena was nowhere to be seen.
“Oh, dear, my hat!”
A female voice lifted in alarm behind Cassidy, and she turned just in time to catch the windblown confection of feathers and artificial flowers as it fetched up against her skin.
The owner of the hat came dashing up, blue eyes wide and blond curls askew. “Oh, thank you! I quite thought I’d lost it forever. This wind… I’d forgotten how it can be in the north.”
Cassidy smiled and restored the hat to the young woman. She was about Cassidy’s age, but much more petite and pretty, well-dressed and well-rounded in her fashionable gown. The young woman returned Cassidy’s smile and began to pin her hat atop her curls. A servant, evidently her maid, came scurrying up behind her.
“See, Ann—I haven’t lost it after all!” The young woman studied Cassidy with sparkling eyes. “I beg your pardon—you’ve rescued my hat, and you don’t know me from Eve. My name is Emily—Emily Roddam from Stonehaugh. The squire of Stonehaugh is my father, and he’s just called me back from France—but oh, what must you be thinking? I’m such a chatterbox!”
“I don’t think so. My name’s Cassidy Holt, and I’m on my way to Greyburn.”
Emily’s eyes grew wider still. “Greyburn! Truly? How fascinating! Stonehaugh is just over the hill from Greyburn, but we’ve never—that is—” She flushed.
“You live near Greyburn?” Cassidy prompted, leaning forward as if to share a secret. “I haven’t been there. Have you?”
“Oh, no.” Emily shivered dramatically. “When I was a child, before Mama took me to Paris—I remember the stories. Our nurse told us that if we went over the hill to Greyburn land, the Gabriel hounds would come get us. But I daresay you’ll think me foolish—”
“No. I’ve come all the way from America—”
“America? Your accent, of course. I met Americans in Paris. You’re newly come to England?”
“Yes. The Forsters of Greyburn are my cousins.”
“I see… But truly, those old stories are foolish. I know that now. We just used to have such a delicious fright, you know. And the servants are all so superstitious!” She giggled. “Oh, but where are my manners! Are you here for the summer? Perhaps we can be friends. This is quite the end of the world, you know. I’d have rather stayed in London, but my father—well, he wanted me home, and with Mama gone—” She patted her hat. “I’m sure Papa would be glad to have you visit. If your cousins don’t mind?”