‘It is. It’s a pity you won’t have any new frocks to wear,’ said Trudie. ‘Lord Ravensford’s seen all of these.’ ‘And so has everyone else,’ Marianne pointed out. She was pleased that Trudie had not asked her too much about her change of plan regarding the weekend party. What conclusions Trudie had drawn she did not know, but fortunately the redoubtable housekeeper had for once decided that least said was soonest mended, and Marianne was soon in the coach and heading on her way. She had made arrangements for her father to be visited by the rector in her absence, and was confident that Papa would not miss her. He thought of little but his grievances these days; grievances that, had he but known it, were not real. She had considered telling him the truth, that Kit had gone to France, but had decided against it. In his present state he would worry about it, and as he could not do anything about it his worrying would be pointless. And so she had left him under the illusion that Kit had fled in disgrace; nonetheless hoping that, if all went well, she would soon be able to tell him the truth.
