Selina shook her head and bent it, maintaining her silence. Morgan felt something break in his mind and knew his rage was about to boil out uncontrollably.
“Talk to me, Ms. Knight. Why is there blood on Barbara’s bed?!”
“I… Your Grace, please calm down… It is not what you think…” Selina’s hands reached towards Morgan in a placating manner and her eyes shifted suspiciously from his face, to Barbara who was standing in the corner with her head down.
Morgan was not convinced. His blood ran cold. He had heard horror stories of governesses who abused children in the name of education. Was this…
“Have you been hurting my sister, Miss Knight?” His voice was icy with suspicion. “Did something bad happen to her? Is that what you’re trying to keep from me?”
Selina looked up in shock at my words, and her eyes shone with tears. Her lips quivered and she balled her hands into little fists. “I… do you think I could do that?”
Morgan only glared at her. He had no idea what she could and couldn’t do.
His silence was enough answer apparently. She glanced once at Barbara, and then turned to leave.
Before he could say anything to stop her, Barbara ran forward and pulled her arm. “Please don’t go, please I’m sorry. Please hold on and we can clear everything up.”
His sister’s actions confused him but did not quell his anger.
Selina gently pushed Barbara to the side, increasing her speed towards the door. All of Barbara’s pleas for Selina to wait fell on deaf ears as she ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Morgan watched the display with a belly full of anger. He needed explanations and he needed them immediately.If something bad has happened to Barbara…
Barbara watched the shut door quietly, and when Morgan turned around, she had tears in her eyes.
“Barbara… what happened to y—”
“Why did you have to speak to her like that?” Barbara choked back tears as she spoke. “All she ever tried to do was help me. That’s all she tried to do.”
Morgan felt his anger melting as he watched his sister weep softly. He was confused and didn’t know how to feel. He had no idea what was going on and it seemed like the whole morning had turned around on its head.
“Help you how, Barbara?” Morgan asked softly, holding Barbara’s arm. “Why is their blood on your bed? Did something hurt you? Did something happen to you?”
Barbara wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. “Something happened, but not the way you think it happened,” Barbara replied in a shaky voice. “Two days ago, I saw my monthly blood. I was terrified and confused and I didn’t know what to do.
“My bed was a mess and there was blood everywhere. Selina had found me and had helped me. She cleaned me up and explained what was happening to me.” Barbara sobbed again. “She took care of me and helped me not to feel so afraid anymore.
“I begged her not to tell you, or anyone about it. I… I was embarrassed and didn’t know what you would think. That was why Selina kept it to herself. She’s been helping me ever since, taking care of me.”
Morgan’s eyes widened in shock. All this time he thought Selina had been avoiding him, she was taking care of his sister. How self-centered could he be to assume that he was the reason for her scarcity?
Guilt washed through him, making his heart ache something fierce. He had spoken to her like some criminal, yelling at her and accusing her. And she had stood there and taken it, honoring a promise she made to a twelve-year-old girl.
He thought about how hurt Selina had looked as she dashed out of the room. He had hurt her and embarrassed her. Again. He watched his crying sister and pulled her close for a hug.
Morgan knew that he owed Selina a proper apology. She deserved that much for how he had treated her. But how was he going to get that done? Barbara’s soft sobs drowned out his thoughts, and he focused on consoling his sister.
CHAPTER16
Morgan stomped back and forth in Arthur’s study, pacing tirelessly. His sturdy leather boots rang loudly against the hardwood floor as he walked, filling the air with a sound louder than the songs of battle drums.
His face was knotted in agitation. He had both arms crossed behind his back, giving him the appearance of a military commander inspecting a poor crop of troops.
The only sounds in the room came from the scratching of pen on paper, and the footsteps of Morgan as he paced around.
Morgan had gone to see Arthur that morning to talk about what happened with Selina and had happened to catch his friend in a rare moment when he was working. Now he paced, waiting for Arthur to be done.
Arthur sighed deeply and put his pen down on the table, a deep frown on his face. “All right, that’s it. I can’t take it anymore, Morgan. I can’t. Your pacing is driving me insane.”
