Jenny looked at her with an expression of sympathy. “There are not many pleasant memories from that time. Not for any of them. But there is some happiness to be found in the here and now, I trust. There has been for my husband, at least.”

“You said you were on your honeymoon. Were you married very recently?”

“Oh yes. Only a few weeks ago, though we’ve known each other much longer. We were friends first. Companions.” Jenny smiled. “It’s an unconventional marriage, but it seems to work for us.”

“Unconventional?” Laura was intrigued in spite of herself. “How do you mean?”

“We make our decisions together. Rather like co-regents. Though our kingdom is quite small at present. There’s only the two of us, and a townhouse in Half Moon Street. Indeed, when it comes to settling down, we’re still very much at sixes and sevens. I only returned from Egypt last month.”

Laura’s brows flew up. “You’ve traveled to Egypt?”

“And to India. It’s been rather an adventure.”

For the next hour, Laura listened as Jenny Finchley described her travels. They shared a pot of tea, and a plate of macarons—delicate little French cakes made of almonds and sugar. And they talked. They even laughed.

Jenny was a surprisingly likeable lady. There was no artifice about her. No fashionable airs or pretensions. “Lady Helena is hosting a family Christmas at the Abbey this year,” she said when they’d finished their tea. “A good month of festivities, all the way through Twelfth Night. Perhaps you and your husband might consider traveling to Devon for the occasion? If you’re not committed elsewhere, that is.”

A pang of sadness took Laura unaware. She hadn’t even begun to think of Christmas. It was less than four months away. Would she and Alex still be together? Or would he be gone from her life forever? So much depended on what happened with the perfumery. On whether she could entice him to stay despite her lack of wealth and property.

Her mouth went dry, never mind the half pot of tea she’d just drunk. “My aunt and brother will expect me back in Surrey for the holiday. I’ve never been away from them at Christmas.”

“Oh, but you must bring them too, of course. I can speak for Lady Helena. She’d love to have you. It’s her fondest wish to reunite her husband with his friends. She would count it a blessing.”

Blessing or no, Laura didn’t think Alex would be much inclined to return to Devon. “I shall ask my husband,” she said. “But…he may need time.”

Jenny nodded. “Perfectly understandable. I shouldn’t like to be reunited with anyone from my childhood. A ghastly proposition. But family is family, you know. And being orphans, the four of them were family. We must do what we can to bring them back to each other.”