He had work to do. Reports to read. Letters to write. Miss Graham’s secrets were none of his concern.
But as he finally closed the study door behind him, he couldn’t quite convince himself of that.
Chapter Five
“But I don’t want to!” Arthur’s voice echoed from somewhere upstairs. “I want Aunt Imogen!”
“It’s all right, Arthur!” Philip said to his brother.
Eliza was polishing candlesticks in the dining room when she heard the boys again.
“Arthur, please.” Miss Winslow’s voice was patient but strained. “You need to put on your coat. We’re going for a walk.”
“I don’t want a walk! I want to go home!”
Eliza paused, the candlestick forgotten in her hands. Her heart ached for the boy. She knew that feeling. That desperate, hopeless longing for something or someone you’d lost. Mourning what could or should have been.
She thought of Abigail. Of home. Of everything she’d left behind. And she thought of the boys, so small and so sad, trying to be brave in a world that didn’t feel safe anymore.
She set down the candlestick and returned to her work, blinking back tears. She couldn’t help them. She couldn’t even help herself. All she could do was survive. One day at a time.
Hopefully, one day that will be enough…
Eliza was on her hands and knees in the corridor, scrubbing at a stubborn scuff mark on the marble floor, when she heard the thunder of small feet once more. She looked up just in time to see two identical figures barreling toward her.
“Look out!” she called, but it was too late.
Arthur crashed into her bucket, sending soapy water sloshing across the slick floor. Philip, unable to stop his momentum, skidded through the puddle and landed on his backside with a wet thump.
For a moment, there was stunned silence. Then Philip started laughing wildly like a hyena.
“I’m so sorry!” Eliza scrambled to her feet, grabbing a cloth. “Are you hurt? Let me?—”
“Oh, I’m fine, Miss!” Philip giggled, wiping water from his face. “That was fun!”
Arthur, meanwhile, was staring at the overturned bucket with wide eyes.
“Oh no. We’re in trouble, aren’t we?” Phillip asked suddenly, the laughter gone from his voice.
“No, no, it’s all right,” Eliza said quickly, kneeling to help Philip up. “Accidents happen. Are you sure you’re not hurt?”
“I’m sure,” Philip said as he beamed at her.
“You’re the new maid, aren’t you? Mary said you just started,” Arthur said.
“That’s right, Lords Arthur and Philip. My name is Ellie.”
“I’m Philip. And that’s Arthur.” Philip pointed at his brother, who was still eyeing the puddle a bit nervously. “We’re twins.”
“I can see that,” Eliza said, smiling despite herself. “You’re very much alike.”
“Everyone says that,” Arthur said. He crouched down and peered at her curiously.
“Where are you from?”
“The north,” Eliza said, wringing out her cloth into the bucket.
“That’s far away,” Philip said.
