by Abby Ayles
“There you go, old chap,” Jayden said with spunk. “I am sure you will find Miss Tara most appealing to you. If not, I already have a mental list of other prospects.”
“Shouldn’t you be more concerned about finding your own prospects?” Sebastian retorted, not wanting to be anyone’s pet project.
“Oh, I have plenty for myself,” he waved off.
Jayden was certainly handsome and charming enough to secure a wife.
“I think I will still enjoy myself a while longer. Father is still young and in good health, so really I have no need for it.”
“Oh, to be young and free,” Sebastian said with a teasing tone.
Both men relaxed a bit at the turn of the conversation. They spent the rest of the morning speaking on trivial matters, though Jayden still found moments to add Miss Tara into the topic of conversation.
It was a most enjoyable and distracting morning for Sebastian. As he returned home to prepare for his afternoon outings, he was happy to review the morning and realize that he had only thought of Miss Jacobson minimally. Perhaps this trip to London was just the ticket he needed to remove her from his mind. That way when he returned to Brighton Abby, he would see her in no more of a light than that of all the other household.
Chapter 15
Hannah had to admit she was startled by Grimshaw’s abrupt departure. The girls too struggled to continue with their regular schedule with their father gone. What ate at Hannah the most, however, was how he acted before leaving.
She had a distinct impression that is was because of her that he chose to flee his own home. She couldn’t guess why, however. She had felt that over the last few months they had really started to get along well. They didn’t interact that much, but the interactions they did have were vastly better than the ones they had shared at the beginning of her employment.
She told herself often, when her mind would wander to him in his absence, that she should be glad for his removal from Brighton Abby. Certainly it gave her more freedom. She had less fear when visiting Grannie and because of this increased their trips to twice a week.
On occasion, more so than before, Mr. McCarthy could also be found at Grannie’s cottage. Hannah hoped it was because he was taking more interest in seeing to his mother’s needs but she wasn’t entirely sure if that was the truth of the matter.
Either way, she no longer had to worry when Mr. McCarthy was present that news would travel to the earl. In that respect, she had a breath of fresh air as she went about her day. It seemed to be overshadowed, however, by something much more sinister.
Without the earl’s presence, David Poole became much more of a constant threat. It started the first night that Lord Grimshaw was absent from the house. She woke in the middle of the night not sure why.
Normally it would take her a moment to adjust to the darkness of the room, but this night there seemed to be a glow. Sitting up in bed she realized that the glow was from a candle shining from underneath her door frame.
She did her best to stay still, waiting for the light to move on. She had no idea who would be up at this hour, or why they would be near her room. She had the last occupied room on this side of the estate and there seemed no reason to be down this far unless it was to visit her.
The light did not move, however. Very quietly she got out of her bed to inspect what the curiosity was. To her surprise she saw the shadow of two feet standing still, breaking the beam of light that shone below her door.
In her tired haze, she couldn’t make much sense of why a person was standing directly in front of her door and not moving on. Nor did the person knock to inform her of a reason for being there.
She stood very still, barefoot and in her nightgown, as she listened to the silence all around her. She thought perhaps she was making it all up, a trick of the mind, and that it was no more than the morning light shining in through her door.
There was no light to be seen out her window though. She was just about to open the door to see the cause for the strange flickering candlelight when she heard the deep sound of breathing.
It froze her in her tracks. She spent enough nights seated at the dining room table listening to that ever-present breathing behind her to know who it was. It was David Poole standing at her door. What he was doing she had no idea, for he just seemed to stand there.
Edging her way closer as silently as she could she reached for the lock just under the doorknob. She knew he would hear her turn it and she feared the noise almost as much as the silence. With each step she took forward she was sure several minutes passed.
Hannah was torn with fear. Any minute he could open the unlocked door and attack her if she didn’t act quickly, but a wrong step could also cause his reaction before she could properly secure the door.
Finally standing just in front of it she placed a hand on the cold metal of the lock. With nothing but a few inches of thick wood between them, she was sure she could almost feel his filthy heat upon her. Taking one steady breath she twisted the lock as quickly as possible and jumped several steps back.
The sound, though she was sure was quite subtle, was akin to a crashing wave in her mind. She stood breathless from fear and panic. The candle shifted for a moment with the action. She could swear she could hear chuckling before a sound of scuffling shoes on the wood floor and the light dissipated.
She stood in the cold darkness a few minutes longer until she was sure that the only light that remained was that of the stars and moon through her window. Quickly she hopped back into bed and tugged at the covers for protection.
Hannah couldn’t believe that Mr. Poole had stood outside her door. How long had he been there? Clearly, he had waited until his presence had woken her. If he had wanted to do more he could have entered at any time.
He was stalking her like prey, just as the baron had done. She knew all too well where these escalations would lead. What made things worse was that Poole was far bolder now than he ever was before. Nor did he have the few constrictions of a gentleman of the ton. She feared what he would do next.
Hannah sat up in her bed, covers tucked snug around her, unable to sleep. It was ridiculous to fear his return as she had locked the door, but she feared it nonetheless. As the morning light started to break in her room, she realized that she had been gripping the sheets and holding her breath all night long, so gripped with fear.
She relaxed the hold she had, doing her best to stretch out her now stiff fingers as the sound of the house waking soothed her. There would be no chance for his return now. In the safety of the light, Poole could never make the trek down to her room without being stopped. He had no purpose for being here.
She slid out of her bed, exhausted, frightened, and cold, to start a fire. In the heat of these warm months, she had not needed the comfort from the hearth in her own room. This morning, however, she was chilled from the inside out and though she didn’t know if even the blaze of a roaring fire could thaw her fear, she was desperate to try anything.
“Were you chilly this morning?” Mary asked, noticing the fire as she brought in Hannah’s breakfast tray.
Hannah had just finished dressing for the day and turned with a start at her entrance. Though she had unlocked the door to not cause alarm when the maid came, and even bade her enter when Mary knocked, she still felt unnerved by another body in her room.
“Why, Hannah, you look liked you’ve seen a ghost. You’re as white as a sheet. Are you feeling well?” Mary asked, setting down the tray and coming over to the governess.
She took Hannah’s hands in her own, “Your hands are ice cold too. What is the matter?”
Hannah wanted to tell Mary what happened the night before. How she had stayed up in the darkness frozen with fear of the man who might return and harm her again. She could do no such thing.
Surely if she was to accuse Mr. Poole he would retort with his own accusations. Now not only would it be her word against his, but he also had proof on his side. The lock of hair that he h
ad stolen from her head. He would no doubt use it to his advantage, claiming she gave it to him of her own free will.
Would anyone believe that a long-standing household member put a knife to her throat and took it by force? She had to remember that she was the outsider in this house from both the staff and the earl. There was no way that either would take her word over his in such a situation.
No, she would have to endure the taunting of Mr. Poole. She would just have to continue to be vigilant in that fact. Hannah would lock her door from now on and always endeavor to be in another’s company outside the safety of her bedchamber.
“I just didn’t sleep well, is all,” Hannah said with the faintest smile.
It was all she could seem to muster.
“Are you sure? Perhaps you are taking ill. Should I ask Mrs. Brennon to send for a doctor?”
“No, no,” Hannah tried to wave her off as coolly as possible. “It would be a silly waste. I assure you I am well. Just lacking in sleep is all. I will be right as rain by tomorrow.”
Mary wasn’t sure if she believed her, but she didn’t press the matter any further thankfully.
“Are you still wanting the cart made ready for you and the little ladies? I could go and tell Johnson in the stables that you won’t be needing it today?”
“That’s very kind, but I wouldn’t want to disappoint the girls. They so look forward to the rides in the cart each week.”
Hannah felt that familiar pang of guilt for lying. It wasn’t a total lie though. They did take a ride in the cart each week and the girls did enjoy it. She just left out the fact that their ride had a very specific destination.
She hated keeping this even from Mary, whom she had grown to see as a friend, but she couldn’t risk the secret getting out until she was ready. With the sudden change in the earl’s attitude before his sudden departure, she was sure that she wouldn’t be ready to tell anyone for a much longer time than she first had anticipated.
“Though if you are needing an excuse to go to the stables,” Hannah said, hoping to change the subject from her poor complexion, “I am sure it wouldn’t hurt to remind Mr. Johnson that we will be needing the cart.”
Mary flushed red in her cheeks at Hannah’s words. She had divulged to the governess that for some time now they had been developing a relationship. It hadn’t come to courting yet, but Hannah was sure that that wasn’t far behind.
It was a difficult process however with Mary always busy in the house and Johnson having his duties out in the stables. Rarely did they even get to eat their meals at the same time in the servants’ hall.
Hannah was sure that over time things would play out well. She couldn’t have been happier for both Mary and Mr. Johnson. Mary was a smart girl who was sure to go as far as her station would allow her. Johnson was an able-bodied man as well. He was skilled with the horses and had big dreams.
Though the process would be longer than either one of them wished, Hannah was sure they would find their way to the other and have the happy life that all hoped for in the end.
“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to just go and remind him of the task,” Mary said, flushing a deeper crimson.
“Yes, it would be most inconvenient if he forgot,” Hannah added, knowing full well that he wouldn’t. “You would be doing me a great favor to see that he is reminded.”
Mary nodded in agreement, knowing the words neither one of them was speaking. It was nothing more than a ruse to give her a chance to spend some time with her beau. She squeezed Hannah’s hands one last time and thanked her kindly before leaving the room.
Hannah waited until the girl was far down the hall before locking the door again. Even in the daylight, she couldn’t be completely sure that she was safe from David Poole in her own room. With the door secure she let out a sigh of relief and sat to her breakfast.
She tried her best to eat, knowing full well that with lack of sleep she would need all the strength she could muster to drive the horse to and from Concordshire. She just didn’t have the stomach for it, and after barely nibbling on her toast she gave up on the task altogether and went to fetch her wards a little earlier than expected.
Chapter 16
Rather against his own desires, Sebastian accepted the invitation to dine at Lord and Lady Waldorn’s house at the encouragement of his brother-in-law.
His saving grace was that at least Jayden Marsh would be there to keep good conversation with if nothing else.
Dressed in his finest black dinner jacket and with his necktie knotted far more intricately than he wore on most occasions, Sebastian found himself standing before Lord Waldorn’s house.
He had been told that this was a small party of intimate friends and relations but he wondered if that truly was the case when he stepped out of the carriage. There seemed to him to be quite a lot of guests already inside, more than would be considered small or intimate.
So it was that for the first hour of the evening he was introduced around the room by his brother-in-law who seemed to be in very good acquaintance with most of the parties present.
Naturally, Jayden made sure that their first stop of introduction after greeting the host and hostess was that of their daughter, Miss Tara Marlow.
Sebastian had to admit that the lady was very enchanting to look at. She was of a lean figure with a fine shape to her lavender silk gown. Her hair was as black as night and her eyes seemed to match so that it was hard to distinguish between pupils and iris.
He guessed that Miss Marlow had been Jayden’s first choice in finding a partner for the earl because she resembled Ann so much.
Even in the narrow set of her eyes and elongation of her nose, she reminded Sebastian of his late wife. He wondered if that was actually a good quality to have or not.
He was sure he could never love someone as he loved Ann. At the same time, he wasn’t sure he could live with a constant reminder of her loss.
“Is it true, Lord Grimshaw, that you don’t come to town often?” Miss Marlow asked.
“No, I don’t,” Grimshaw responded, then remembered that he probably ought to speak more to keep up polite conversation.
“That is to say, I prefer to stay in my county seat where my two daughters are.”
“Yes, Mr. Marsh told me of his nieces. They sound like such gems,” she cooed over a smile of pearly white teeth.
“They certainly are gems to me,” Sebastian agreed.
At least it seemed that the lady had an affection for children. That was a mark in her favor during this test of compatibility that was waged between them.
“Why not bring them to town with you though?” she continued. “Then certainly you could come every Season.”
“They have their studies to attend to with their governess.”
“Oh, so you don’t plan to put them in a proper girls’ school then?” Miss Marlow said a little surprised.
“No, I never actually considered doing such.”
“Well you should,” she continued. “I went to a girls’ school myself. You will find that the education is vastly superior to what can be given by a governess. There are far fewer distractions for the children and in my opinion, the teachers are far more qualified.”
“It is an interesting thought to consider. My oldest is just eight, however, and her sister five. I am not sure I would be ready to be away from them for such extended periods of time.”
“I went when I was just eight. I assure you it is most suitable for all girls preparing to make their way into society.”
Sebastian didn’t really like how she was pressing the matter. He thought perhaps her passion came from the fact that she seemed to enjoy her days in a girls’ school so much and hoped it was nothing more.
He rather hoped to move the conversation away from his children’s education no matter the reason for her passion. Any talk of them instantly brought to mind the governess he had left back in Brighton Abby.
He thought it was best to turn the conversation to Miss Marlow
. He felt that it was a general rule of thumb that conversations ran much more smoothly and with little addition on his part if he got the other party speaking about themselves.
“It seems you have a great enjoyment of your time here in London for the Season.”
“Oh yes,” she said excitedly. “I insist that Father brings me with him every year since I was fifteen. Naturally, I enjoy the social aspect that cannot be compensated for in our country house, but more than that I love all the things that only London has to offer.”
“And what would you consider to be your favorite offering, Miss Marlow?”
“The plays and operas by far. I do enjoy them so much. I make it a point to go at least once a week while I am here.”
