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gone a month.”
    “I won’t be needing it. Take it, and the coachman, too. I’m not sure it’s a good idea to let the chit see anything of the world, mind you. You’d do better to keep her here, but I suppose they would go without you. Bath. Hmmm. Not likely to meet anyone interesting there. Place is filled with mushrooms and toad-eaters these days, not like it was when I first went there. Chits, the place is filled with them. At least it’s not London. You can be grateful for that.”
    “I am.”
    “Yes, well, take the carriage and see you make a push for the girl.”
    “I will.”
    “You’ll need to impress her. Make a bit of a splash. You can ask Jenkins for two hundred.”
    “Thank you, sir, but I won’t need it. If you will excuse me, I must see to my packing.”
    a Despite his curiosity as to how his son could afford such trip, Lord Chessels refused to ask. His parting shot was, “Don’t be boring them with your talk of ruins. Nobody’s interested and nothing is surer to make the chit look around for a livelier companion!”
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Chapter 6
    As Mrs. Storwood had predicted, her husband was surprised by the haste with which his family intended to depart, but he was not averse to their going, especially when Mrs. Storwood exaggerated Cousin Filkins’ thoughtfulness in staying to keep him company. “For you know, James, he said practically the minute he arrived that it was a shame that Trelenny could not see a bit of society. Is it not fortuitous that he should be here just when Cranford is planning a trip to Bath? I think it would be wrong of us to pass up this opportunity, don’t you? Perhaps if Trelenny has the chance to see a bit of the world she will be more willing to settle down. It’s not that I don’t expect her to enjoy herself, you understand, but she will find that society is very restrictive and that marriage offers her more freedom than she expects. Shall we go, James? Will you be comfortable here with your cousin?”
    “Of course you shall go. You know it is the bane of my life that my weakness keeps us here unendingly,” he said sadly.
    “Oh, James, don’t be absurd. I have no desire to be anywhere but with you.” She touched his cheek with gentle fingers. “But Trelenny—it’s different for her. She feels that she’s missing something, that there is a better life to be had elsewhere. I’m afraid she has a restless spirit, which is not to say I think that is wrong, but very unfortunate in our circumstances. Oh, I shall miss you, my love.” She turned away to hide a trembling lip. “It frightens me a little, you know, after all these years to think of taking her to balls and parties. If it were not for Cranford escorting us, and Elsa Waplington being there...”
    He took her in his arms and hugged her tightly. “Courage, my dear. I will only be happy knowing you are enjoying yourself.”
    Mrs. Storwood forced a tremulous smile. “I shall get my pleasure through Trelenny. She’s so eager, so lively, so—”
    “So incorrigible,” he murmured with a crooked grin. “She’ll be a handful, but I rely on Cranford to see she comes to no harm. He has never put his suit to the touch, has he?”
    “No. Trelenny leads him a bit of a dance, James, and I cannot think he fully approves of her. This scheme may be his way of. . . oh, showing her how she should go on. You know I have tried.”
    “We have all tried, my love, but I have a great deal of faith in Cranford. For all her whimsical flights and her offhanded treatment of him, Trelenny has a measure of trust in him, which is not a bad starting point for a successful marriage. No, no, I won’t say a word of the matter to her. You are quite right—pressure only makes her stubborn. Go and enjoy yourselves, and don’t worry about me. Cousin Filkins and I will do famously.”
    So Mrs. Storwood had left to do her packing, her eyes moist and her throat aching, but with the knowledge that her husband need not suffer the agonies of