The girls exchanged hugs and promises to write. Although Louisa knew they would at first, she also understood that life had a way of changing plans. They would all soon be married and raising their children. Days of leisure would be filled with a variety of activities. Replying to correspondences would become less of a priority. That thought made her sad.
Mrs. Rutley’s voice made Louisa start. “Whatever you do in life, know that I’m here for you. You’ve both become very capable young ladies, and I have no doubt you’ll be successful no matter what you decide for your lives.”
Louisa allowed the words of her headmistress to wash over her and soothe her soul. Mrs. Rutley could always lift her spirits when she was down.
With a final goodbye, the twins stepped into the vehicle. Those who remained stood side by side, the wind growing in intensity around them.
After watching the carriage disappear down the lane, Mrs. Rutley crossed the drive and approached the large oak tree where the Sisterhood had first been formed.
With a nod from Ruth, she and Louisa joined Mrs. Rutley as she ran a hand over the initials carved in the tree’s flesh. A chilly breeze from the darkening clouds blew past them, and Louisa wrapped her arms around herself for warmth. She could feel the building storm.
“I remember the first time I saw this tree,” Mrs. Rutley said, breaking the silence that surrounded them. “My lady’s maid and I stood right here, admiring its magnificence. We could not help but wonder what sort of secrets it may have heard.” To Louisa’s surprise, tears rimmed the headmistress’s eyes.
Louisa frowned. “What is wrong, Mrs. Rutley?”
Thunder pealed in the distance, and the first spits of rain began to fall. Mrs. Rutley took first Louisa’s and then Ruth’s hands in hers.
“One by one, my girls are leaving me,” she said, her eyes red. “And now I have only the two of you remaining. Soon, you’ll leave here forever, and I’ll miss you so very much.” She then smiled. “Oh, I’ll have other students, but none will hold such a special place in my heart the way you girls do. The bond we share can never be replicated.” She glanced at the tree. “The day we made our vow, I did not share my secret with you. Perhaps I will once we are all together again.”
The wind began to howl and flicked Louisa’s hair as she glanced at Ruth. She was stunned to see a single tear rolling down her friend’s cheek.
“We’ll meet again, Mrs. Rutley,” Ruth said, her voice raised to be heard above the impending storm. “Not even death himself can stop me from returning.”
Louisa shook her head. Ruth’s words might be poetic, but no one could defeat death.
Mrs. Rutley embraced Ruth before turning to Louisa and doing the same. “Now, enough of this feeling sorry for ourselves,” she said, although her smile could have pushed away the darkness emanating from the storm. “What do you say to asking Mrs. Shepherd to make us some drinking chocolate?”
“Who could refuse chocolate?” Louisa asked as she wiped away the tears that flowed down her face.
As they hurried to the house, they were soon sitting in the drawing room sharing stories about their classmates who had already gone. Louisa’s mind began to wander. What sort of secrets did her headmistress keep from them? And which would she share once they were all back together again? Her thoughts were cut short when Mrs. Rutley inquired about Sir Aaron.
Later that night as she lay in bed, rain pelting against the window, Louisa came to a decision. Sir Aaron was a stubborn man, yet she could not deny her attraction to him.
She would do all she could to secure the future of the theater. And once she did, she just might decide to save Sir Aaron after she had saved the theater. It was the least she could do.
ChapterSixteen
Besides a few odd puddles in the streets of Chatsworth, there was no evidence of the storm that had passed two days earlier. Louisa had gone into the village to speak to several of the shopkeepers in an effort to garner their support to save the theater.
Sadly, most she encountered could spare no more than the odd shilling. Everyone was struggling, and most had so little time or money that availing of the theater was a rare treat.
This meant that Louisa would have to change tactics. Of course, those simply trying to make ends meet would be unable to donate. Yet there were those of the higher class, those who had the means she could approach. Therefore, she would write letters to the various noble families in the area and plead her case to them. They enjoyed the various plays and shows offered at the theater—more often than the lower classes—so they would be interested in saving it, would they not? After all, doing so would keep culture—and a bit of London—in the village.
With Ruth at her side, Louisa exited the tobacconist shop, tucking away the small donation she had received from the proprietor. It was the very same shop where she had first encountered Sir Aaron. That seemed eons ago yet as if it happened just yesterday. The passage of time could be very strange.
“Look over there,” Ruth said, tugging at the sleeve of Louisa’s pelisse.
“Where?”
“There. At the theater. Is that not Mr. Barker? I wonder where he is going.”
Indeed, a carriage sat in front of the theater. Beside it stood the theater’s landlord, supervising the loading of two bags onto the back of the vehicle. Was the man abandoning his premises?
Well, I never!she growled to herself. What a scoundrel! And here she had believed they were in a truce.
With these thoughts in mind, Louisa hurried across the street. A young boy sat against the front wall of the theater as he tossed a coin into the air.
Mr. Barker ran a hand through his unruly brown hair. And as always, his coat was easily two sizes too large for him.