As he walked back through the woods, then across the park towards the house, Liam realised that the weight he’d carried for years seemed slowly to be lifting. And all because of one stubborn woman. The ghost of a smile appeared on his lips, then quickly turned into a frown as he recalled what had happened in the cottage. The way she’d paled...
Fear.
What is it you fear, Mrs Hardwicke? I would—
‘Master Reid,’ called Tim’s voice. ‘Master Reid, may I have a word?’
Liam turned, plastering on a polite smile despite feeling as though he’d already been put through the mill this morning.
He noticed that Tim was running. Liam couldn’t remember having ever seen him run before; this must be spectacular news indeed.
‘What is it, Tim? A problem with the horses?’
‘No master, nothin’ at all,’ the groom said between breaths. ‘I need... That is, there is something I must tell you, my lord.’
Liam eyed the groom carefully. Tim was intent on examining the ground, and toeing some mud. He looked sheepish, and unsure, and entirely unlike himself.
I cannot take more terrible news...
‘Then you’d better tell me, Tim,’ Liam said, steeling himself. ‘And quick, for I now fear the worst.’
The groom took a deep breath, then met Liam’s gaze and straightened himself as though he were meeting his executioner. ‘I gave Mrs Hardwicke the key, my lord.’
‘You gave Mrs Hardwicke the key,’ Liam repeated after a moment, dumbfounded, his heart returning to its normal rhythm. ‘And what key might that be?’
‘The key to...to Lady Hal’s rooms. You must not be cross with her, ’twas I that let her in there.’
Liam blinked, the confession throwing him completely. ‘How did you even get it?’ he asked.
Neither the first, nor the most important question, but then Tim might have told him a thousand terrible things, and he wouldn’t be reeling as he was now. He couldn’t think straight.
‘I took it, when the Earl died,’ Tim said, his courage returning slowly. ‘I thought to keep it safe, keep her safe until you came back. But...’
‘I never came back,’ Liam said softly.
‘I know it weren’t my place, but I loved her, Master Reid. Don’t think I could’ve loved her more had she been mine. And she were good to me.’
It was Liam’s turn to nod, and bite away the tears misting in his eyes.
‘I wanted to protect her, you see. And then, Mrs Hardwicke came, and I thought she was just like the rest of them. But then...I seen what she did to Thornhallow, master. And I thought, well, I knew, she’d take care of her. And Lady Hal, she wouldn’t have liked the way things were.’
‘She always hated the darkness,’ Liam finished.
His eyes wandered to the glistening pool in the middle of the park, and he remembered sitting at its edge with Hal one eve, when she was barely old enough to form words.
‘I used to tell her when she got scared to look out there. At the moonlight on the water. So she’d never be without light,’ he breathed, speaking more to himself than the man before him.
‘I am not sorry for what I did, master,’ Tim said after a long moment. ‘I just thought you should know.’
‘Thank you, Tim,’ Liam said simply, returning to meet the groom’s gaze.
His gratitude was not only for the truth, but for everything the man had done to keep his sister safe. Tim nodded, knowing so even without Liam having to say.
‘I am neither angry at you, nor at Mrs Hardwicke. In fact, I’ve just come from speaking with her. I am the one who should be sorry. For having abandoned you all. For being so blind. I will make things right. I swear.’
‘Aye, my lord. We know you will.’
Tim bowed his head and turned back towards the stables. Liam stood there, unable to move for a long time as he processed all the day, all the past few days, had forced him to confront. He’d left Thornhallow that morning with the sole purpose of finding Mrs Hardwicke. Finding her, and finally making the apology he had realised she was due not hours after their confrontation in the East Tower.
