Page 6 of The Wedding-Crashing Duchess

Augusta stared at her, impressed that she had gotten the answer correct.

Matilda lifted her chin proudly. “I was listening yesterday.”

“Then there may be hope for you after all,” Augusta said, a positive note in her tone.

Augusta watched as Matilda leaned over the cradle, careful not to touch anything. The baby’s tiny face was peaceful, his mouth slightly open as he slept.

“He is very fortunate,” she said quietly. “To have all of us.”

Matilda had been young when their parents died, but not so young that she had forgotten them. She rarely spoke of their loss directly. Instead, it appeared in small moments such as this one.

It was a bit too heavy for her, and she decided to not think about the matter for the moment. She glanced at the clock upon the mantel and wondered how much longer Charity and Duncan intended to keep her waiting. They were due to leave for Phillipa’s wedding shortly.

Once again, Augusta’s thoughts returned to the engagement party and the strange incident in the garden.

Several days had passed, yet the memory remained as clear as it had been that night. She could still see the rain falling through the darkness and make out the hooded figure standing beneath the trees, one hand resting upon a cane that had a raven-like figure on top of it.

With every day that passed, Augusta had become more convinced that fear had deceived her. The thought was humiliating, but it was still far preferable to believing that someone had been harmed.

Seeking a distraction, Augusta reached for the newspaper Duncan had abandoned upon the table after breakfast.

“Does that mean the lesson is finished?” Matilda asked, looking hopefully at the paper in Augusta’s hand.

Augusta unfolded the first page and replied, “It means that you are to read the next section by yourself.”

Matilda regarded her suspiciously while Augusta gave her younger sister a warning look. “Read the next page, Matilda.”

Matilda released a long, put-upon sigh, but she opened the etiquette book once more.

Augusta turned her attention to the newspaper, but none of it held her interest. She turned to the next page and had nearly passed over a short notice near the bottom when something caught her eye.

WOMAN FOUND DEAD UPON MERRIGOLD ESTATE

A woman’s body had been discovered near the boundary of the Merrigold Estate early that morning. Her identity remained unknown, and the article offered very little information about the circumstances surrounding her death. It stated only that the woman appeared to have died several days earlier and that the local constable had begun making inquiries.

Several days earlier.

Augusta suddenly felt a strange sensation overcome her.

“Augusta?” Matilda’s voice sounded distant as she closed the etiquette book and leaned forward. “What is wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong,” Augusta replied, though the words came out too quickly.

“Are you sure about that?” Matilda studied her face. “You have gone pale suddenly. Would you like for me to get you a glass of water, or something sweet?”

Augusta glanced back at the article. Suddenly, she was the least bit bothered about lessons, or anything else that was going on. All she could think of at the moment was the news that she had just read.

Merrigold. Why did she know that name? It sounded a bit too familiar, though she couldn’t place it properly.

Matilda rose from her chair and came nearer, seeming more curious than she had all evening. “Did you read something in the paper? Is it about the wedding?”

“No,” Augusta answered abruptly.

“Then what is it about?” Matilda asked, not convinced in the slightest.

Augusta folded the newspaper hurriedly, but not before Matilda caught sight of the headline.

“A woman was found dead?” Matilda asked, her curiosity immediately sharpened. “Is that what has gotten you acting so strange?”