An involuntary gurgle of laughter rose in Clara’s throat. “My goodness. She’s certainly enjoying herself.”

Neville smiled. “She is.” He turned his head. “Are you?”

“Yes. Very much.” The rain streamed from Clara’s bonnet. “I only regret that it’s not a bit sunnier.”

“You should come back in…in the summer.”

“I doubt Mrs. Bainbridge could be persuaded to return. She’s had difficulty acclimating to the dampness.” Clara hesitated. “And I don’t know if I’ll still be employed by her in the summer. Or even in the spring.”

His smile faded.

“I have to go away, you see. And I’ve only just taken up this position. It isn’t very well done of me, to abandon my post so soon after being hired. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mrs. Bainbridge decides she’s better off without me.”

“What are you…” He visibly struggled over his words. “I d-don’t understand.”

“I wanted to tell you yesterday evening, but there was no opportunity. And then, later, I thought you might have already heard something about it from Mr. or Mrs. Archer.”

“I haven’t heard anything.” He searched her face. “What d-do you mean you have to…to go away?”

“Just that.” An unexpected tremor of emotion seeped into her voice. “I’m leaving Devon day after tomorrow. And I don’t expect I’ll be coming back.”

Neville listened in numb silence as Clara explained about her brother, and how she must depart Devon. She didn’t know for how long. There was a good chance she wouldn’t come back at all, that she’d instead return directly to Mrs. Bainbridge’s cottage in Surrey.

In which case, he’d very likely never see her again.

A chill settled around his heart. He hardly noticed Betty and Firefly wandering in the pen, or the rain soaking his hair and seeping through his coat. He could only stare at Clara, a mass of emotion knotting itself inextricably in his chest.

He’d thought he had ten more days with her. But now…

“You can’t go,” he blurted out. A grimace followed. He hadn’t meant to put it so bluntly. So unartfully. “You just…you c-can’t.”

“I must. I’d have gone sooner if I could. Heaven knows what’s going on with my brother.” A deep shiver ran through her. “Cambridge wouldn’t threaten to send someone down for no reason.” Her teeth began to chatter. “It must b-be very b-bad.”

Neville’s brows lowered. Her cloak and bonnet were dripping, and her face was pale as marble. He cursed himself for failing to notice it before. “You’re freezing.”

“I am, rather. I think I’d b-better go inside.”

“Wait for me,” he said. It wasn’t a request.

She nodded again before turning back to the stables, picking her way around the puddles and loose stones.