The scampering of feet on the stairs alerted them to company. Asher’s head came around the open door a moment later.
“What are you doing?”
The poor lad had seemed deflated ever since Philip left.
“We are taking a walk in the rain. Would you like to come?” she asked him.
The boy’s face broke out in a smile, and even though she would lose the opportunity to be alone with Grayson and perhaps be kissed by him, it seemed she’d done a good deed.
“Shall we look for bugs?” he asked.
She grinned at Grayson, who nodded.
“Yes,” she said. “In fact, there is one in particular we hope to find. A gold one.”
*
An hour anda half later, Eleanor came indoors to a delicious hot breakfast of kippers and eggs, with toast and bacon. She ate heartily, noticing Grayson and Asher did the same. Something about a long country walk gave one an appetite, even if no rock or tree climbing was involved.
Instead, there had been plenty of looking at the underside of leaves and scrabbling around amongst wild roses, as well as discovering all manner of other wildflowers. Plenty of bugs had been collected in a jar Asher brought, but no gold beetle.
As she finished her breakfast, Mr. Stanley entered the room.
After seeing him earlier that morning and catching him unaware, she felt as if she’d intruded upon his private life. The warmth bloomed in her cheeks as he approached her.
“Miss Eleanor,” he said, bowing slightly. “Mrs. O’Connor would like you to go visit her when you are otherwise unoccupied.”
She was surprised at him mentioning Grayson’s mother since her thoughts were filled with the possibility the butler and Mrs. O’Connor were having a relationship.
He paused, standing beside her chair, glancing at her empty plate. She took that to mean Mr. Stanley thought she was unoccupied at that very instant.
Pushing her chair out, Eleanor rose to her feet. The males at the table, including Lord Angsley stood, too.
“Please, be seated,” she said. “I am a fast eater, which is a terrible habit, I know, and possibly bad for my digestion. In any case, I shall see you all later.”
With a backward glance at Grayson, who made a questioning face, to which she responded with a lift of her shoulder, she left.
The rain had barely let up, so she donned a dry cloak and her trusty Wellies and snatched up an umbrella by the door, before venturing outside once more. In five minutes, she was knocking on Mrs. O’Connor’s door.
It flew open as if the woman had been waiting for her, perhaps watching out the window.
“Thank you for coming, dear girl. Would you care for tea?” she asked, wearing a decidedly worried expression.
“No, thank you. I just came from breakfast,” Eleanor said, looking at Mrs. O’Connor with new eyes. “Mr. Stanleysaid you wished to see me.”
She waited for a reaction to his name, but the woman’s countenance didn’t alter. So, Eleanor asked, “Is there something I can do for you?”
Mrs. O’Connor hesitated as if still wrestling with herself over whether to speak her mind. Then she dropped into the closest chair.
Eleanor wasn’t sure what else to do, so she sat, as well.
Grayson’s mother placed her hands on the table, and they were clearly trembling.
Eleanor’s sympathy went out to the woman, whatever she was dealing with. Perhaps she was in love with Mr. Stanley, and he had broken her heart.
Placing her hands over Mrs. O’Connor’s, Eleanor said, “You may confide in me if it will help. I know how to keep my own counsel.”
The woman’s gaze flew to hers, and her eyes shone with sadness.
