Edward Marston - The Repentant Rake

'I'm bound to, Mr Redmayne.' He saw the builder approaching and brightened. 'Here comes Popejoy. You might have found me someone with a different name,' he said with a chuckle. 'Popejoy, indeed! Why saddle a confirmed Protestant like me with a builder called that? I take no joy from any Pope.'

'You'll find him an excellent man.'

'I'm sure.' He glanced across at the nearby coach. 'I need to speak to him alone, Mr Redmayne,' he said with a twinkle in his eye. 'This might be the moment for you to bid farewell to my daughter.'

Christopher needed no more encouragement. He hurried across to the coach. Susan had been watching them through the window but she now leaned back in her seat. Christopher removed his hat to speak to her.

'I hope that you're not going to stand out there, Mr Redmayne,' she said.

'Well, no, I suppose not.'

'Step inside, sir. We're entitled to a little privacy.'

'Of course,' he said getting into the coach. 'I was about to suggest that.' He sat opposite her and felt a surge of pleasure. 'I'll miss you,' he confessed.

'Will you?'

'Northamptonshire is such a long way away.'

'But that's not where I'm going, Mr Redmayne.' 'Oh?'

'Father is taking me to Richmond so that I can stay with my sister and her husband,' she announced. 'He'll then go back home on his own.' His delighted reaction made her giggle slightly. 'You seem pleased by the news.'

'I'm overwhelmed with joy,' said Christopher.

'I could hardly stay in the city,' she went on. 'Not now that Lucy has decided to go back to her mother. London holds too many bitter memories for her.'

'I know,' he said sadly. 'It was sensible of her to agree to the destruction of that diary. I had immense satisfaction from burning it. In the wrong hands, your brother's memoirs did untold damage.' He moved to the edge of his seat and searched her eyes. 'Why did you choose to go to Richmond'

Susan gave a shrug. 'The thought of being stuck in the house with Father was not altogether enticing,' she explained. 'I elected to stay with Brilliana instead.'

'May I call on you there?'

'I'm relying on it, Mr Redmayne. I'll need some diversion.'

Christopher pulled a face. 'Is that all I am to you? A mere diversion?'

'What else are you?' she teased.

'I'll be happy to show you.'

He leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek and she squeezed his arm fondly.

'I fancy that my sister and I will be doing a lot of shopping in London,' she said artlessly. 'Of course, there will be times when Brilliana will be too busy to accompany me. I may have to come here alone, Mr Redmayne.'

Christopher beamed. 'You'll have no cause to repent that decision,' he promised.

Their laughter sealed the bond.