“I will be right by the door here,” she answered with a nod.
Tucking herself into the shadows, she observed and listened, wondering what on earth could have caused such a sudden demise. Was it a seizure of some sort? She was inclined to think so, given that it had come upon him so suddenly. She’d also heard some foods could actually cause such a response in people, and she knew things like bee stings could kill.
But there had been no bees in the house and it was February. In addition, surely Sir Amery would have dined on similar foods before. Surely he would have been stricken then?
The chatter grew.
“Dead as a doornail…”
“Just dropped, he did.”
“Never imagined, as I live and breathe.”
The servants were hurrying to their assigned chores and she saw one bring down a large sheet, presumably to cover the mortal remains of Sir Amery.
Adalyn sighed. He wasn’t the nicest of men, but neither did he deserve such a death.
“Mr. Wandsworth reckons it could've been poison,” hissed one maid to another.
“Poison?”
“Aye. Yer never knows…”
Shocked to her core, Adalyn jumped when Trick reappeared. “The gig, my Lady. We can leave now.”
She nodded. “Oh please, yes. I need to get out of here.”
Once again he swept her up and they were outside in the cold night air. Adalyn sucked in a large breath, feeling it cleanse her lungs.
“They’re talking about poison, Trick.”
He stilled. “What?”
“I heard one of the maids say that.”
“Dear God.” He shook his head. “Dear God.”
“Let’s go home, please…” She lifted her hand to his cheek. “Take me home?”
He squeezed her, holding her close to him as he lifted her into the gig. “With all the pleasure in the world, my Lady. Let us indeed go home.”
Chapter Twelve
Trick drove them back to Wolfbridge in what felt like record time to Adalyn, and she couldn’t have been happier. By the time they’d reached the steps, she’d started to shake.
“Adalyn?” Trick looked at her face, which she guessed was probably pale, since the shock of the evening’s events were beginning to take their toll.
“I c-c-can’t…” she stuttered, reaching out for him as he came to her side of the gig.
“It’s all right, sweetheart,” he soothed. “We’ll be inside soon…”
Thankfully Giles was at the door, and after taking one look at her face, he turned and bellowed down the hallway. “Evan, Daniel…to me.”
Jeremy was already running toward him. “What is it? Is Adalyn all right?”
“I don’t know.”
Giles stepped outside and Trick passed Adalyn over into his waiting arms. “Trick, take care of the gig. Has she been injured?”
