Page 25 of A Rogue to Forget

“It is a good idea,” Hannah replied. “However, for one day, or two, I would like to not think about that odious object.”

“What about the money?” Felicity pointed out. “You need it, Hannah. It will ensure you are secure and can provide for yourself well. Although admittedly, you still require a chaperone or a better living arrangement than the present.”

“Marta is my chaperone. I have not heard from my aunt. Which, her being my mother’s sister does not surprise me. It is obvious they are selfish people.”

“I am so sorry.” Felicity reached out, placing her hand on Hannah’s forearm.

Felicity’s mother sighed. “I would have never thought Margaret would be so heartless. How could she just leave?”

“Oh if you would have seen her, Missus Murray, you would have understood. She is not well mentally.”

Her friend gave her a bright smile. “Evan and Henry have hired a private investigator to find this Jules Brown and what he is about. They’d planned to find him themselves until I threatened to call the constable.”

“Always the heroes,” Hannah said with a smile. “I appreciate everything. All of you have replaced the family I have lost.”

Poor Silas was exhausted by the time the ladies left. Each of them had ideas as to what furniture should be placed where.

The sideboard from the dining room was moved to the entryway, as well as a rug that had not been used in a long time.

Hannah polished the piece and then placed a large vase that was also from the dining room atop it. Immediately, the area was transformed beautifully, and she took a step back to admire the work.

“Missus Murray has a good eye for décor,” Marta said, coming up behind her. “Eileen is here to help clean. I will take advantage of her keeping you company, Miss Hannah, and go visit my sister.”

“Yes, please go,” Hannah replied while adjusting a picture on the wall. “I will be fine. Please take Silas so that you are safe just in case.”

Hannah walked into the empty dining room, and unable to do much in there, found herself ambling into her father’s office.

With the housekeeper in the parlor, she decided it was as good a time as any to begin searching for more information.

First she sat in the chair behind the desk and placed her hands flat on the surface. “What other secrets did you have, Father? Why were you murdered?” Her gaze moved over the familiar surface. On the desk was an inkwell and quill. A lantern, wax, and seal along with small stacks of invoices and notes.

Her father took advantage of every scrap of paper to scribble notes that made no sense to anyone but him. Reminders of deliveries, of items to order, even who was owed what.

The corner of a page stuck out from one of the ledgers and she pulled it out. It was another of his notes that listed items. Milk, black tea, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg. Nothing unusual, except it was strange that he would list such basic ingredients. He must have been considering a blend of coffee perhaps. At the bottom of the paper, the words caught her attention.

Margaret must know. Ask again.

Her poor father. Was he trying to goad his wife into telling him where the box of money was? It was possible he was receiving threats on his life and the only way to save himself would be to find the money.

Then again, if he had no idea where the money was, or if it even existed, then he could not very well find it.

Why hadn’t her mother torn the house apart to find it? In the end, it had not been too hard to find the loose floorboard and, in turn, the box.

Hannah placed the note atop the ledger and stood. She walked to a shelf and began pulling books in order to look behind them.

By the time she was finished searching the bookshelves, the sun was setting. Other than the note, she’d found nothing of interest.

“That is because you did not know anything,” she murmured. “Mother was who kept the secrets.”

It was a good thing her mother was closeted far from there and in a convent because Hannah would not have been able to control her reaction if she saw her. How could the woman stand by while her husband asked about the money?

A tear trailed down her cheek at the thought of her father’s last moments. He must have been so afraid.

Footsteps sounded and Hannah wondered if Eileen was leaving.

“Eileen? Have you finished?” Hannah asked, walking out of the study. There was only silence.

“Marta?”

Again, no reply. Sure she’d heard footsteps, she inched back into the study and scanned the room for something she could use as a weapon.