But now Vicky would work at the estate with his mother for a whole year. Vicky couldn’t be with him.
After the shock of hearing about her true identity, he realized he loved her regardless. But because of who she was, he would have to take her to his mother’s estate to live as a housekeeper for twelve months. He would not be able to see Vicky every day or talk to her about her life...or kiss her. Their passionate moments would be far between and very few, unfortunately. The thought tore him apart both physically and emotionally. His chest squeezed painfully tight, making him bend over in agony. He wouldn’t be able to marry her for at least a year.
As he rounded the corner on the second level, a noise from the third level jerked him out of his thoughts. He lifted his gaze to the stairs, just in time to see the pant leg of one of his servants before they entered the long hall on the top level of the manor.
Cole gritted his teeth and bunched his hands by his sides. He’d bet money that his servants were gambling. Again!
This time the throbbing pain in his head beat erratically as anger flowed through him. He marched up the steps, ready to confront his slothful servants. They wouldn’t like what he was about to say, but he didn’t care.
Just as he reached the top floor, the door to the room clicked closed—the very room Rebecca held her little gambling parties when she was alive. Irritation ran rapid through him now.
He shoved open the door and stepped inside. Toppy, along with three other servants, were seated at the table with poker chips in front of them as they held their cards. And all three looked at him with wide eyes.
“I have warned you before,” Cole growled, “so take note that this time will not be a threat. All three of you are released from your duties.”
“But Master, Mrs. Rebecca said...” Toppy jumped from his chair and stepped toward Cole.
Shaking his head, he held up his hand, stopping his servant. “Does my wife rule this house from the grave? I think not.” He huffed. “She was lenient with her servants, but I won’t be as merciful. I will absolutely not tolerate gambling in my home. All of you will collect your things and leave the estate posthaste. If you do not, I’ll summon the police.”
Cole swung around and left the room as abruptly as he’d entered. Rage flowed through him as he headed back down the stairs to his room. He shouldn’t have allowed Rebecca’s servants to be so controlling. For once, he wanted to feel like a man in his own home.
He entered his bed chambers and went directly to his bed, slumping on the edge of the mattress. He dragged his fingers through his hair. Closing his eyes, he tried pushing the problems with his servants aside so he could focus on the issues with Vicky.
Was there any way around this clause that Hollingsworth created? Was the dead man really in control? If Cole didn’t allow Vicky to work as the housekeeper, the deed to his family’s estate would never be his. If she didn’t work as the housekeeper, she would not get the inheritance promised to her. Of course, Cole would gladly pay for the release of Vicky’s sister. In fact, he would insist Annette come to the estate to live and be with her sister. She could even be one of the maids until her sister was free of Hollingsworth’s clause.
A small knock came upon his door, and he snapped his head up, peering in that direction. His heart beat with excitement. It had to be Vicky. He was sure of it. He’d take her in his arms and kiss her and reassure her that together they could figure out a way to be together. They would make Hollingsworth’s instructions work to their advantage.
But just as he jumped to his feet, the door opened and a different woman walked inside, closing the door behind her. Disappointment washed over him, and he scowled. “What are you doing in my chambers?”
He figured Adora had heard what happened with Toppy and the other two men and was coming to try and dissuade his decision. Well, he definitely would not let her win.
Adora sashayed toward him, wearing a pout. “I couldn’t help but overhear what happened downstairs with Mrs. Hampton—eh, I mean Miss Owens.” She shook her head. “How awful you must feel that the woman you hadn’t wanted to come has been here this whole time.”
He stiffened. She’d heard? But it didn’t matter. The maid shouldn’t be so curious, anyway. “It’s not like that, Adora.”
“My darling, Cole.” She stopped in front of him and placed her hand on his chest. “You don’t have to hide your feelings. I know your heart well.”
Anger surged through him and he pushed her touch away from him. “Actually, you don’t.”
“I always have.”
“Please leave this room. I did not invite you inside.” His voice turned harsh.
“No, Cole.” The sympathetic expression stayed on her face. “You need someone to talk to, and haven’t I always been that person?”
He narrowed his gaze on her. “Not this time.”
She stroked her palm along his arm. “I know you think you’re infatuated with Vicky, but—”
“It’s none of your concern, Adora.” Cole shrugged away her touch, once more.
She stared at him closely as if trying to study his eyes. She’d done this before, but Cole didn’t want her help. Not ever! He didn’t even want her in his chambers, and he especially didn’t want her in his life. He wanted Vicky and only her.
“It’s more than infatuation, isn’t it?” she asked slowly. “You actually believe you are in love with her.” She hid a laugh behind her hand.
He fisted his hands, trying to keep himself from physically tossing her out of his room. Adora had gone too far this time. “What I believe isn’t your concern.” He nodded toward his bedroom door. “Please leave. Now!”
She frowned. “You cannot be serious, my darling.”
When she placed her hand on his chest again, he wrapped his fingers tightly around her wrist and removed her touch. “Adora,” he said sternly, “I’m warning you, leave now.”
Malice was the emotion spreading across her face. Her nostrils flared as her mouth tightened. She ripped her hand out of his clutch.
“How dare you,” she hissed.
Surprised at her statement, Cole blinked with wide eyes. “How dare I? Adora, you are the one who is out of line. Not me.”
“Have I not been the one to support you all this time? When your father died, I showed you more affection than Rebecca. When she died, was I not the one who believed in you when the other servants gossiped behind your back?”
Blotchy memories resurfaced of those days, especially after Rebecca’s death. He’d been delirious most of the time because of his fever. His wife’s last days were only a misty fog in his memory.
“I honestly don’t remember much about those days,” he said.
“Well then, let me remind you.” She pointed a finger at him. “It was rumored that you were the reason Rebecca died. The servants said that while you were delirious and in a fit of anger, you had pushed your wife down the stairs which broke her neck and she died.” She lifted a chin, stubbornly. “I stood by your side, nursing you until you were well. I was the one who put those rumors to rest just in case word got back to the constable and he arrested you.”
Guilt crept over him again and he sucked in his breath. Could she be telling him the truth? While in the military, he’d killed the enemy. But deliberately killing his wife was unthinkable. And yet, in the back of his mind, he wondered if Adora was telling the truth.
Bits and pieces of that time when he was recovering from the fever, passed through his memory. He recalled that the servants weren’t the same. They whispered behind his back. They shot him nasty glares. None of them looked him directly in the eyes. He’d heard bits and pieces from them about how he was the reason for his wife’s death. Of course, he didn’t believe it. Not really. After all, he’d never harmed a woman before. And yet, what if he had truly been responsible?
“You are remembering, aren’t you?” she asked softly, cupping the side of his face with her palm.
Annoyance shot through him, and he pushed
her touch away. “I’m very grateful you were by my side, but I require your assistance no longer. In fact, I’m now ready to release you from your position in my household as I have let go three other of my servants. You may seek employment elsewhere.”
Adora gasped and slapped a hand over her mouth. Her eyes grew round. “No,” she muttered against her palm.
He turned away from her and walked toward the window. “For several days now, I’ve been thinking about replenishing my staff. You were all devoted to Rebecca, and she allowed you to be lax in your duties. I think it’s time I found servants who were solely devoted to me.”
“You cannot do that. This was all Rebecca’s before you married her.”
Slowly, he nodded as he paced the floor. “Very true. However, I’m weary of carrying the burden of guilt. I admit, I had married Rebecca because of her money, but then, most of England has married because of money.” He shrugged. “And I cannot believe I have overlooked one important point. Rebecca married me, which means all of her money was put in my name.”
The maid rushed to him and grasped his arm. No longer did her expression appear as if she was controlling the conversation. Her wide eyes and pale face let him know how panicked she was because the table had turned in his favor.
“Cole, you cannot do this. I will talk to the servants and let them know they need to respect you as their master, just as I have.”
He arched an eyebrow. “You have respected me? When have you done that?”
“You cannot be serious. I have always respected you.”
He’d really had enough of Adora’s antics. It was time he started acting like the master of the home instead of allowing the servants—especially Adora—to tell him what to do. “That’s quite enough. If you respect me as your master as you have mentioned, then I wish you to leave my room immediately, and when you reach the stairs, you can keep on walking right out of the house and never return.”
“Cole, no.” She clutched the front of his waist-coat, pressing herself against his chest. “I cannot leave until you promise not to release me from your household. I have no other place to go. Grand View has been my home for many years.”
Guilt crept in his mind, once again. He wished he would stop feeling this way. “Adora, please leave me alone. This is the reason I cannot have you as a maid. You are too personal with me.”
“No, Cole.” Tears gathered in her eyes. “You cannot let me go. I’ll do anything to stay. Anything!”
He scowled. “For starters, you can do as I requested and leave my chambers.”
She pulled herself up straight and backed away, keeping her eyes on him. “I shall do as you wish, as long as you promise to rethink your decision. If you let me go, it will kill me, and probably destroy your future happiness.”
Adora darted out of the room before he had a chance to say anything. What was the maid talking about his future happiness? Was she threatening him in some way? He’d definitely put a stop to that before anything happened.
TWELVE
Sleep didn’t come to Vicky during the night. Tossing on the bed and crying most of the night kept her awake. The morning came and she was up with the sun. She dressed, fixed her hair, and strolled around the estate. Surprisingly, she really wasn’t that tired. Of course, this might be the last time she gazed upon this beautiful land. The lovely house, the impressive estate with many types of flowers, not to mention the horses Cole had bred, would never be hers. Her mother hadn’t been Cole’s wife, which in reality relieved her greatly, however, knowing about her past and everything her small family had done to try and survive made her want to switch places with Victoria Hampton right away. At least that woman had been raised better.
Vicky hadn’t been a horrid person, or even a deceitful one. However, there were times when she snatched a loaf of bread or a bag of apples from a street vendor just so she and her sister could eat. She hadn’t wanted to stay working for Murphy. That man was cheating his clients, and Vicky didn’t want to have anything to do with that lifestyle.
She had certainly paid dearly for trying to be good.
Especially now. Cole didn’t love her, and he didn’t want her staying here. She waited for the moment he would send her to his family’s estate to live as the housekeeper.
She reached the field where Cole’s horses were grazing. They were all magnificent animals. She had hoped to one day ride them, and perhaps even train them. That wasn’t going to happen now.
As she fixed her stare on the horses, she frowned. Why was nobody out here with them? She expected at least one of Cole’s servants to be overseeing their care. Worry expanded in her chest, and she moved toward the animals. Lying out in the middle of the field, a red color grabbed her attention. The closer she came; she noticed one of Cole’s servants resting in the grass.
Or was he resting at all? His body appeared too still.
She lifted the skirt of her dress a little higher and darted toward the man. Reaching him, she fell to her knees. He lay on his side with his face in the grass. She recalled Cole addressing him as Toppy, the overseer.
The man’s pale face had streaks of blood oozing down from his head. His matted auburn hair was darkened with his own blood. She jumped back and screamed. Scrambling to stand, she couldn’t take her eyes off him. She didn’t need to listen for a heartbeat. The man was certainly dead.
As soon as she was steady on her feet, she ran toward the manor faster than she had in a long time. Pushing the strength in her legs and ignoring the pain in her chest from running, but she wouldn’t stop until she informed Cole about his overseer. When she reached the house, she screamed to the top of her voice for Cole. A few servants were the first to show themselves, but as she hurried up the steps and flung open the door, Cole legs were rushing down the grand staircase as fast as his limp would allow.
They met at the bottom of the stairs. When his warm hands clasped her shoulders, her weak legs threatened to collapse, but she struggled to keep standing.
“What’s wrong?” he asked in a raised voice.
“Top...Top...Toppy. I found him out in the grassy field. Dead.” She took a deep breath.
Cole’s gasp rang louder than the few servants who had gathered around. He angled his head toward the butler. “Are you certain?”
She nodded as she tried to regulate her breathing. Her chest burned from the exertion. “His head is bloody. His body is lifeless.”
Cole switched his gaze to two of the maids. “Fetch me Gunter and Samuel. Tell them to meet me out in the pasture.”
The servants nodded, turned and quickly left the room. Cole’s warm gray eyes moved over Vicky’s face slowly. For a moment, she doubted that he held feelings of hatred for her.
“Vicky, I want you to go to your room and stay.” He cupped the side of her face with his hand.
“Why? I’ll need to show you where he is.”
He shook his head. “A lady shouldn’t have to witness—”
“But I’ve already seen him.”
Cole took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Please, do as I say. Have Beatrice bring you a hot cup of tea and some biscuits.”
She gasped. “Tea and biscuits? Cole, are you insane? Why would I want refreshments at a time like this?”
He shrugged. “Your face is pasty. You don’t look well. I think you need to relax.”
By the crazy beat of her heart, she was sure he was right. Although she wanted to argue with him, his caring voice tugged on her heart. Whether his tenderness was for her or his dead servant, she didn’t know, but it really didn’t matter. Regardless, he was a kind man with a loving heart.
Sighing, she nodded. “I’ll go to my room.” She pulled away from his soft touch and climbed the stairs to her room. From over her shoulders, she noticed Cole rushing around the hallway with a few of his servants. Worry etched on his face. Her chest tightened. She hoped he discovered what happened to the overseer.
Vicky reached her room and opened the door. Quick footsteps ru
shed up the corridor. She glanced to see who was coming her way. The maid—who was obviously in love with Cole—hurried up to Vicky and stopped.
Adora grasped Vicky’s hands. “Something horrific has happened. You should leave here immediately.”
“Yes, I know,” Vicky said in a steady voice. “Toppy is dead.”
Tears filled Adora’s eyes. “It’s much more than that. You...are not safe here.”
Vicky hitched a breath. What, pray tell, did the maid mean by that? “I don’t understand.”
“The less you know, the safer you are.” Adora pushed past Vicky and entered the room. “I shall help you pack. I’ll take you to the Baroness Baldwin’s estate where you can begin your new employment.”
The maid hurried to the adjoining room and snatched a satchel before she moved to the armoire and flung open the doors. Unease settled in Vicky’s stomach. She didn’t like the way the other woman took charge. She also didn’t like the confusion filling her head. Why was the maid really trying to make Vicky leave?
“Stop, I say!” Vicky stepped between Adora and the armoire, and glared at the maid. “I insist you tell me what is going on, because until I hear from Major Baldwin directly, I’m not moving from this spot.”
The woman’s cheeks reddened and her gaze narrowed on Vicky. Her nostrils flared and her jaw hardened.
“I shall tell you,” Adora began, “but I fear you will not like what I have to say.”
Vicky lifted her chin a notch higher. “Tell me, anyway.”
She huffed and folded her arms across her bountiful chest. “Major Baldwin isn’t the man you think him to be. He...” Hesitating briefly, she bit her bottom lip. “He has a dark side.”
Dark side? Vicky held her breath. Did she truly want to hear such things about the man she’d given her heart to? She chuckled uncomfortably and rolled her eyes. “Everyone has a dark side, Adora.”
Adora’s gaze hardened. “Enough to kill?”
Emotion lodged in Vicky’s throat, making it hard to swallow. He couldn’t possibly. Then again, he had been a soldier. “Come now, Adora. You know as well as I that Major Baldwin was in the king’s military. I’m quite certain he had to kill a few men or be killed himself.”
Sweet Memories Page 12
