“Thank you.” Had no one challenged the man on the subject of Caroline’s care or future? She couldn’t very well be kept a pampered prisoner. As he climbed the stairs behind the earl, he widened his grin. Now he remembered how fun it had been to tease Brand’s brother. Really, the man took life entirely too seriously. Upon entering the drawing room, he paused to enjoy the domestic scene.
The countess sat with her feet propped on an embroidered foot stool. Her spectacles were perched low on her nose while she read a book. A younger lady with the same features and hair color of all the Stormes sat across from her, knitting. That must be Brand’s youngest cousin, Isobel. She’d married Doctor Marsden not long ago. They both looked like summer flowers in yellow and green muslin, respectfully. Near one of the tall windows, a baby cradle rested. Caroline peered into it, her expression full of speculation and longing while her curls tumbled over her shoulder like a mysterious waterfall. Then she retreated to a chair farther away from the other ladies.
“Good afternoon, Countess. Mrs. Marsden.” At the back of his mind, he realized she was also a countess, but he couldn’t recall the title’s name. He paid the proper respect to the ladies, going for the theatrics of bowing over their hands while the earl emoted dislike and disapproval in waves. “It’s been an age since I’ve seen either of you.”
Lady Hadleigh looked up from her book with a smile. “Ah, Mr. Butler. You’re Brand’s best friend, correct?”
“I am. He tells me every chance he gets I’m an honorary Storme.” Closer to him than his own blood brothers.
“He talks about you all the time and is quite fond of you, as are we all.” When her husband snorted, she waved at him. “It’s wonderful you’re in London with Brand. I hope before the two of you go back, you will join us for dinner one night. Finn would love to see you, since his wife is in Ipswich presently.”
“I wouldn’t dream of disappointing you, my lady.” Though he and Brand had sailed to London for various reasons, his best friend had a new baby at home, which had prompted a visit from the dowager countess as well as Finn’s wife, Lady Jane.
“You are quite charming, Mr. Butler.” She flashed him a grin. The countess was a breath of fresh air and a perfect foil to her husband. “How have you fared this year?”
“Not too badly. The shipping business I run with Brand and the others is doing well for being so new.” He glanced at Caroline who stared back at him with mild interest. “I look forward to seeing where and how we can grow.”
“Marvelous.” The countess nodded. “Are you in Town to visit with Brand?”
“Yes, and to meet with potential clients, though he’s the face of the company, as it is. I’m mostly here to see my father.” All his previous joviality left him. “It’s a bit of an unsavory chore.”
“Family sometimes is.” There was no censure in her tone. “You must do what you feel is best.”
“Yes.” His gaze again jogged to Caroline. “I ran into Miss Storme while at Hyde Park today. It cheered me considerably.”
The earl harrumphed.
His wife ignored him. “How fortunate. Andrew mentioned you’d brought her back home. We were worried when the carriage returned empty.” She sighed. “Caroline doesn’t have enough experience in going about alone or even knowing what’s dangerous or not. My heart aches for her each time she leaves the house.”
Though he believed the countess was truly concerned, the remainder of her statement sent a stab of irritation through John’s chest. The household at large was smothering the woman. “So, then, Miss Storme has been allowed to go where she wishes when she wishes?” When the countess exchanged a glance with the earl, he continued. “Perhaps she should visit the Tower, see the menagerie, or even drop by the museum and take in the Elgin Marbles. Any of these places would inspire her creativity, I should think.”
“While that does sound exciting,” the countess said with some hesitation while she again looked at Hadleigh, “we prefer to have Caroline close. Besides, I rather think she wouldn’t have an interest, for she keeps mostly to herself regardless.”
“Exactly.” The earl moved closer to the cradle. When he peered at the sleeping baby within, his whole expression softened. “My cousin prefers to stay in her room and paint.”
The countess nodded. “She doesn’t enjoy socializing.”
As the conversation progressed, John observed Caroline. Her hands were curled into fists while her lips moved but no sound came forth. Was she simple like they assumed? Or perhaps insane? He’d not seen any sign of either during his meetings with her. However, if he had to wager, he’d put coin down on anger—fury really—and partial hatred. What had her life been like in that asylum? He didn’t know but he desperately wished to, so that he might understand her better.
Even help her.
“Excuse my ignorance, but has anyone thought to ask the lady what she wants from her life, or even from day to day?
The earl scoffed. “The world is too dangerous for Caroline, as evidenced by the afternoon’s incident.”
John narrowed his eyes. “But if someone wished to visit or accompany her out, she has every right to indulge in these things. And I will remind you that no harm befell her.”
They both exchanged glances once more. “That depends,” Hadleigh finally said.
“On?” Why he kept picking at this topic, he couldn’t say, but it wasn’t right that Caroline was kept a prisoner and not given a chance to grow.
“Many factors.”
From across the room, Caroline huffed.
John shared in her frustration. “So, then, that’s a no.” He glanced at her. She trained her gaze out the window and at the rain. “What are you afraid will happen if you give her the same freedoms you currently enjoy?”
“Exactly what happened today,” Hadleigh said, and there was a growl in his voice. “She found herself lost with no conveyance as well as was escorted home by a questionable person.” His eyes narrowed. “You could have molested her.”