Margaret’s stomach dropped. What had she done now? Was she to lose her only real friend belowstairs? “Hester? Did I do something?”
Hester struck the utensil’s handle against the side of the pot to dislodge its contents.Clang, clang, clang.“Not to me, you didn’t. But you are making Connor’s life difficult.”
“Am I?” Margaret was sincerely surprised. She knew he had been distracted and even a little surly of late but had no idea it was her doing. She thought of his recent tirade, but Hester could not yet know about that. “What have I done?”
“Sticking your nose in where it don’t belong. He says you have no place flittin’ in and out of the master’s room. Isn’t right.”
Margaret was incredulous. “I’m in his room every day to make his bed and dump the slops.”
“But not in the sickroom. Connor sees that ashisplace.”
“I had no intention of usurping—”
“Of what?”
“Of taking over his responsibilities, as he sees them.”
“Then what are you doing hanging about the sickroom at all hours?”
“Mrs. Budgeon asked me to keep the room tidy and serve the chamber nurse. But, yes... I own I nip in now and again to check on Mr. Lewis, or take in some flowers. I didn’t realize I was getting in the way.”Until just now,she added to herself.
Hester glanced up at her with narrow eyes, shaking her head without ceasing her work. “You’re a fool if you’ve taken a liking to Lewis Upchurch. Mind you, you wouldn’t be the first girl to break her heart over the handsome devil. Her heart... and worse.”
Hester worked in choppy, agitated movements, dumping the contents of the pot onto a marble board and rolling the lump flat.
Margaret asked tentatively, “You?”
“Me?” Hester scoffed. “I’m no fool. Connor warned me about him long ago. Said that man could charm a nun out of her convent and a bride from her wedding trip.”
Margaret bit back a grin at the colorful and rather accurate description.
Hester frowned. “You think it’s funny when a young girl is ruined by such a rake, is that it?”
Margaret sobered immediately. “Not in the least. It’s why I left my last place. To avoid that very fate.”
Hester stilled a moment, studying her as though to gauge her sincerity. Apparently satisfied, she nodded. “Then you understand. I know Connor and his brothers are terrible careful about their young sister. Have you a brother, Nora?”
Margaret hesitated, confused by the jump in topic. “Yes.”
“Could he not protect you from the man threatening you?”
Oh.“He is much younger than I. Only a boy.”
Hester nodded. “A pity. And your father?”
“Passed on.”
Hester glanced up from her work. “Sorry to hear it.”
Margaret was sorry as well. She found herself missing both Gilbert and her father very much at that moment.
The next day Nathaniel paced the library, agitated. Lewis had not again regained his senses. He had so hoped his brief waking had been a sign that he was coming around. Improving. Had it been a fluke? He sat at the desk and tried to calm himself by reading from the Psalms, but his anxious mind kept wandering.
A double knock sounded on the door, signaling Hudson’s return. Nathaniel rose to shake his hand. “How glad I am to see you. That was a quick trip. What did you find out?”
Hudson hung his head. “I’m sorry, sir. But I am afraid I didn’t learn who hired Mr. Tompkins to investigate the duel.”
“Dash it.” Nathaniel ran a hand over his face, then took in Hudson’s hangdog expression. “Don’t look so low, man. It isn’t your fault.”
