“Well, he does have a good motive,” Langston said matter-of-factly. “After all, he was in love with Hollingsworth’s wife.”
“That was about four years ago.” Trevor scowled. “Tristan has since recovered from the ordeal. I do understand why my brother would think badly of Hollingsworth—the very man who nearly killed Tristan, mind you—but time heals all wounds, and I assure you, Tristan wants nothing to do with Hollingsworth or his wife.” He took a deep breath to try to calm his ire. “I can also assure you my brother had nothing to do with the lord’s death. I sincerely hope the police find the culprit soon and put all rumors involving my brother to rest. Has Tristan not been through enough already?”
Before either of the other two men spoke, Trevor gave them a quick bow. “Now if you will excuse me, I was on my way home. Good night.”
When he was in the buggy and the door closed, he blew out a frustrated breath. He prayed the police would indeed find the murderer and leave his brother alone! Trevor feared what might happen if the police arrested a Worthington. He was certain his life—and that of his family—would never be the same again.
*
Louisa hummed asshe worked beside Mrs. Smythe going from room to room dusting and straightening—and anything else the housekeeper deemed important. Although Louisa should be paying attention, her thoughts were filled with memories of last evening. Of dancing with Trevor. Of kissing him to distraction. And especially, enjoying every second.
He didn’t apologize for kissing her and holding her so close. And she hoped he had the same kinds of stirring feelings in his chest that she had in hers. She wished he was falling in love with her as she knew she was with him.
Her chipper mood was also due to the fact that she remembered those dances. While he walked through the dance steps, she pictured in her mind when she’d been dancing as a young girl. She couldn’t have been more than ten years of age. A boy just a few years older shared the dance, and off in the distance the faint voice of an instructor echoed through the ballroom. Louisa couldn’t remember anything about the instructor or the boy who’d been with her, but she did remember learning how to dance. Best of all, she remembered wearing a pretty frock with matching-colored bows in her ringlets. She hadnotbeen a servant.
Until now.
The unanswered question swimming in her head since she realized she couldn’t remember, returned. What circumstances brought her to this point in her life? The more she pondered this question, the more she realized her troubled life may be the very reason she couldn’t recall now. Perhaps her past had been so horrid she didn’twantto remember.
“Louisa, I do believe you have accomplished something this morning without it turning disastrous.” Mrs. Smythe beamed.
Louisa chuckled. “It’s hard to believe, is it not? But the day is still young, and I do not dare feel confident yet.”
The housekeeper patted Louisa’s shoulder. “If you tell yourself you will fail, it will happen. But if you switch your thinking around, I’m quite certain positive things will come out of it.”
Louisa nodded, not wanting to give the housekeeper any false hope—even though Louisa still wondered if something bad would happen today.
“I would like you to work in the kitchen this afternoon. His Lordship is having a small social this evening, and we need all hands in the kitchen to help.”
Louisa gulped down the dread crawling up her throat. “Are you certain? Remember what happened last time I helped the chef?”
Mrs. Smythe shook her head. “You will not be working with the food this time. I have already discussed this with the kitchen staff.”
“I thank you, Mrs. Smythe. I will do my best today.”
And Louisa meant it, even when she walked into the kitchen and noticed the distrustful glances from the staff. She raised her chin defiantly. Although she might not have a skill, she could definitely be a good helper.
After an hour passed and she hadn’t broken a dish or had anyone yell at her, Louisa felt more at ease. By everyone’s tone of voice when they spoke to her, they were feeling relieved as well. This gave her more courage and determination to make them like her.
Soon she had completed the tasks assigned to her and was given permission to leave—as long as she returned in two hours to help prepare the actual meal. She agreed and left out the kitchen’s back door. Earlier today, the spring weather had been slightly chilly, but now the heat in the kitchen nearly suffocated her, so she welcomed the cooler air as she walked toward the stables.
From the hillside near the stable, she spotted the old biddy, Mrs. Jacobs who stood talking to Mrs. Fitzwilliam. Louisa stopped and scanned the hillside again, but did not see the children. Fear crept over her as panic settled in her stomach. Why weren’t the children by their nurse? A movement down the hill caught her attention. Adam and Amanda were skipping in merriment toward the gurgling stream.
Louisa snapped her gaze back to Mrs. Jacobs who was thoroughly engrossed in a conversation with the other servant. Would the children’s nurse notice they were so far away?
Louisa feared the worst. If the children moved any closer to the stream they could slip and fall in the water. Their nursemaid was too far away to help.
A memory invaded her mind. She was in her twelfth year, and with another girl a few years older. Louisa had been distraught and ran toward a large body of water. She slipped, and fell in, her heavy cloak, taking her under, until her friend pulled her out.
Louisa’s heart twisted. The twins had nobody close by to save them as Louisa had when she was young.
The clip-clop of horse’s hooves thudded on the ground, pulling her focus to the animal. One of the stable hands led the large animal out of the stable. Immediately, she knew what she had to do. She ran to the boy and yanked the reins out of his hands.
“I need to borrow the horse. I will return him soon, I assure you.”
The lad opened his mouth to reply while shaking his head in denial, but she didn’t care. She ripped the reins out of his hands and jumped on the saddled horse astride. Kicking her heels into the animal’s belly, she hollered a command, and the horse took off toward the stream.
The children were now near the stream, throwing rocks into the water. Louisa knew they didn’t have any idea how much danger they’d be in if they fell into the encompassing water. As she directed the horse toward the twins, she prayed they would be safe until she got there.
