Yesterday James had taken her to the offices of the Sinclair investigation services, that Warwick, Dorrie, and Somer had started. A business that until a year ago she had also worked for. Her face had been the first one clients had seen. She’d loved it. Loved doing something that she felt was useful and yes, exciting. Sometimes she’d even helped with cases.
Warwick had often scoffed at her, saying she was the most highly ranked clerk in the United Kingdom. Samantha hadn’t cared.
But when they had arrived at the offices, it had been to find another sitting in her seat. Of course she’d known they would employ a replacement, but still, it had hurt to see him.
Mr. Tillby seemed a nice young man. Studious, according to Somer, and excellent at what he did, according to Dorset. Warwick had not been there much to her relief.
It had hurt to know they no longer needed her. So, she’d smiled, chatted with Mr. Tillby and the others, then left with her brother. He had simply said that change is not always easy and then had taken her out for cream cakes. Samantha sometimes thought James knew her better than anyone.
Rising, she pulled on her cloak, and stomped her feet into boots. She was restless, and when she felt that way, she usually practiced throwing her knives at targets. Collecting her things, she let herself out the door. Looking left and right, she saw no one lurking and then ran down the hall. Taking the stairs down, she reached the front door and slipped outside.
Samantha was nobody’s fool and would not take chances with her life, but the hour was early. Walking to the street her family all lived on, she hurried along, passing households all still slumbering. Some were earlier risers, but those would be reading or tucked up in bed with the child who also rose with the sun. Making her way down the side of Wolf’s house, she saw Alice and Nicholas’s home a short distance away. Passing the gazebo, she headed into the trees and then to the small patch of grass beyond.
Stopping here, she lowered her leather knife roll to the ground. Opening it, she took out two.
She and Alice, who was married to Nicholas, liked to throw knives. Samantha was surprisingly accurate and found that throwing the sharp, pointy little daggers relaxed her. Odd, but there you had it. Besides, it did not make her odd in this family, as most everyone in it had something unusual they could lay claim to.
She was far enough away that she would not wake the families who slumbered in the houses closest. Nicholas had set up a target for her and Alice.
She threw her knives and missed completely. It had been a year since she’d practiced. Samantha had decided not to take them with her to Ireland as she doubted anyone there would think it the hobby a duke’s sister should have.
Taking two more knives from her pouch, she threw those. They missed.
“How vexing.”
The words had her turning. There stood Alice in a thick dressing gown and slippers. Samantha had missed this. Missed having her family close at all times.
“I wondered when you would appear. Nicholas had just gone to fetch Oliver before he started screaming for attention when he saw you. As I was awake, I thought to join you.”
A woof had Alice and Nicholas’s large black Labrador puppy galloping toward her.
“Onyx!” Alice attempted to grab the animal, but it was too late. He’d launched himself at Samantha.
She caught him and staggered back a few paces. After a thorough licking, she lowered him to the ground.
“His manners are atrocious, sorry.”
“He is a puppy, so therefore I forgive him. Now go back to bed, Alice. It is early.”
“I’m awake now, and I missed our practices.” Her eyes went to the target. “It looks like you have too.”
“I have not picked up my knives for a year.”
“Right, well, I shall sit here on this log and watch you with Onyx.” Alice settled herself while her pup sniffed around. “I will then attempt to help you regain your skill. However, for a brief time, I shall bask in the fact I am better than you.”
Samantha threw two more and was not much better.
“Can I ask what else is bothering you, Samantha?”
“Nothing.”
“I can spot a lie from ten paces,” Alice said. “Is it Warwick?”
“P-pardon?” Samantha’s heart missed a beat.
“He does tease you, and you have not had that for some time.”
“Oh, right. No, that does not bother me. He saved me, I mean helped me when I was kidnapped and when I was on the boat.”
