Chapter Fifteen
T revor waited, holding his breath for Wellesley’s answer.
“My cousin’s name was Bessie. That was the nickname I called her, anyway.”
“Her name was Elizabeth?” Hawthorne asked.
“Yes.”
Sadness crept upon Trevor as his whole body relaxed. He hadn’t realized until now how tense he’d been. “I’m very sorry to hear this, Wellesley. I thought one of my brothers had died a few years back, but thankfully he was found alive.” Trevor clapped his hand on Wellesley’s shoulder. “I do understand your loss.”
“I thank you, Your Grace. I must admit, when I heard about Tristan being alive, a part of me wanted something like that for Bessie. Not only was she my cousin, but we were betrothed at a young age. I had prayed that somewhere—someone would find her alive and bring her back home. However, after six years, I know that can never happen.”
“Forgive me for asking,” Nic interrupted, “but am I to presume your cousin’s body was never found? Is that why you had hoped she would still be alive?”
Wellesley nodded. “You assume correctly, Hawthorne. She was at school when it happened. Her body was never found.”
“Perhaps there is still hope—”
“Hawthorne,” Trevor barked. “Do not give the man false hopes. I do know how that feels, as well.”
“Quite right, Your Grace.” Nic looked at Wellesley. “Forgive me for speaking out of turn.”
“Not to worry, my good man.” Wellesley smiled. “As I mentioned before, we are all past the stage of hoping. We have come to accept her death.”
Before long, Nic and Wellesley started a new topic. However, Trevor couldn’t stop thinking about Louisa. A part of him had hoped she would be Wellesley’s cousin. That would explain so much. If the girl had been raised by noble parents, Trevor would definitely consider courting her. He already adored her unpredictable sense of humor, and she made him laugh too many times to count. He thoroughly enjoyed being with her and talking and dancing.
He smiled wide. How could he not after what they’d shared in her bedroom? It had been so long since he’d been that comfortable in a woman’s presence. He couldn’t even remember being that way with his wife. Yet being with Louisa seemed so natural.
So perfect.
Unfortunately, everything was not perfect. He was a duke, for goodness’ sake, and there were certain rules he had to follow when courting a woman. Servants were not included in those rules.
Dominic’s belt of laughter brought Trevor out of his thoughts. Nic and Wellesley were still talking about something mundane, and Trevor needed to be alone with his thoughts.
“Gentlemen, if you will excuse me.” Trevor bowed before turning and leaving, heading straight out of the room to find the butler. Leaving posthaste was necessary, since he couldn’t possibly be good company with his turbulent thoughts.
Before making his departure, he apologized to the hosts, then hurried out to his awaiting buggy. Just as he reached his vehicle, two gentlemen standing by the stairs broke away and came toward him. Trevor didn’t know them personally, but had been introduced years ago—and of course knew them by reputation.
“Hold up there, Kenbridge,” the Earl of Langston called out.
Out of politeness, Trevor stopped and waited for Langston and Sir Johnstone to join him on the bottom step. “Good evening,” Trevor said and bowed. The other two men returned the gesture.
“I’m glad to have caught you before you left,” Langston said. “Johnstone and I were just discussing the sudden and tragic death of Lord Hollingsworth.”
Confusion washed over Trevor. “And why did you need to talk to me about it?”
“Because of the rumors.”
“What rumors?” Trevor shrugged. “I fear I have not heard anything besides his servant found him dead in the stables.”
The other two men traded nervous glances. Sir Johnstone rubbed his chin. “You have not heard about your brother?”
Fear crawled up Trevor’s spine. “Which one?” he asked, but pretty much knew the answer already.
“Tristan, of course.”
Trevor knew what the men were trying to get out, but he wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of gossiping. “What about him?”
“I have heard rumors that the police are suspecting your brother.”
“Suspecting my brother? Of what, may I ask?”
Once again, the other two men exchanged glances, but this time their expressions were almost perplexed—as if they thought Trevor was the one who’d gone daft.
“Killing Hollingsworth, of course,” Johnstone replied.
Trevor rolled his eyes. “You cannot be serious. Have the police nothing better to do than suspect Tristan of murder?”
“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 as she 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 had not been 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’t want to 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.
*
Trevor walked out of the house, down the steps to the lawn. Louisa’s high-pitched voice made him pause. When he noticed her atop his horse—the very animal Trevor had instructed to be saddled and ready for him—annoyance grew inside his chest. But then he noticed where Louisa was heading. Mrs. Jacobs’s cry of alarm pulled his attention to her as she lifted her skirt to her ankles and dashed down the hill toward…
He hitched a breath. Adam and Amanda!
Cursing, he broke into a run, calling out to the stable boy who stood with his mouth agape. “Bring me another horse. Immediately.”
By the time Trevor made it to the stables, the lad had pulled out another horse. Not caring if he rode bareback, Trevor jumped on the horse. Clutching the animal’s mane, he urged him toward the stream, his gaze fixed on the children.
Just before Louisa reached the twins, Amanda fell into the stream. Panic washed over him. The little girl couldn’t swim. Flaying her arms, she screamed. Adam cried as he backed away from the turbulent water. Trevor pushed his horse faster, praying he’d reach her in time.
Louisa flew off the horse like a long-winged bird, swooped into the water and grasped Amanda by the waist. The sobbing little girl clung to Louisa as she pulled her out of the stream onto the grassy bank, safely.
Trevor yanked the horse to a stop, but jumped off even before the animal had stilled. Trevor rushed to the shivering girl who still held tightly to Louisa’s neck.
“What in the blazes happened here?” His voice rose due to the irritation—and panic—flowing through him right now.
“Trevor, give me your coat.” Louisa’s voice came out sweetly even though worry lines still etched in her face.
Nodding, he shrugged out of his garment and handed it to her. Carefully, she wrapped little Amanda in the coat.
“There now, Amanda,” Louisa said in a reassuring tone. “You are safe.”
Louisa’s lovely green eyes silently pleaded with Trevor as she held Amanda toward him. Understanding her plea, he took the little girl in his arms. Within seconds, she cuddled against his chest, still crying.
Ever since realizing his wife had deceived him, Trevor had not wanted to give his heart to the twins. But as he listened to Amanda’s little cries, the wall of ice he’d built around his heart slowly thawed. This little darling needed his comfort—his protection—like never before. And heaven help him, he wanted to give it to her. To both of the children.
Louisa moved to Adam and lifted him in her arms. She stroked his head and cooed softly that everything would be all right. The boy snuggled against her bosom as his sobs subsided. Louisa’s gaze met Trevor’s and she smiled.
A lump formed in his throat and he could hardly swallow. He motioned her closer. She followed his instruction until he slipped his arm around her and the boy.
“All is well now,” Trevor whispered, still meeting Louisa’s tender gaze.
“Oh, good heavens.” Mrs. Jacobs ran up to them, huffing and out of breath, with Mrs. Fitzwilliam trailing not far behind. “I honestly don’t know what happened, Your Grace,” the nursemaid said.
“I do.” Louisa’s expression turned firm as she aimed a harsh look at the obtuse woman. “You were not watching the twins as you should have and they wandered away.” She took a deep breath. “I shudder to think what might have happened if I had not seen Adam and Amanda so near the stream.”
Stubbornly, the heavy-set woman lifted her chin. “You are incorrect. I was watching them.”
“Apparently, not closely enough,” Trevor snapped before Louisa could rebut the nurse’s explanation. “Mrs. Jacobs, this is not the first time you have slacked in your duties—but it will be the last, I assure you. Pack your things and leave my household immediately. You are no longer in my employ.”
“Oh no, Your Grace. I assure you, Miss Louisa is mistaken—”
“Leave now, Mrs. Jacobs. I have made my decision and there is no swaying me.”
The older woman gave him a curt nod, turned and marched up the hill toward the manor. Mrs. Fitzwilliam stood, wringing her hands against her middle.
“Is there anything I can do?” she asked.
He nodded toward Mrs. Jacobs. “I would like it very much if you could help her pack so she could leave today.”
“As you wish, Your Grace.” She turned sharply and hurried after the other woman.
For the first time in a long while, Trevor was quite satisfied with his hasty decision.
“We should get the twins back to the house,” Louisa said.
He glanced at the woman still by his side and smiled. Her eyes gleamed, and he couldn’t keep his heart from melting. “Indeed we shall.”
The clatter of wheels pulled Trevor’s attention away from Louisa. His groomsman and the stable boy rode up in the curricle and stopped. The lad jumped down and collected the horses ridden by Louisa and Trevor.
Trevor grinned at his servants. “Quick thinking, Jenkins.” He glanced back at Louisa. “Please return with me back to the manor.”
Jenkins helped Louisa inside, still holding Adam, and Trevor tightened his hold on Amanda as he climbed in the vehicle.
“Your Grace,” Louisa said after the curricle had lurched into motion. “May I take care of the children until you find another nursemaid? I probably don’t have much experience—”
“That’s a perfect suggestion.” He smiled wide. “Louisa, you have shown more interest in my children and concern for their welfare than Mrs. Jacobs ever did. I think you are well suited for this position, and I would be extremely happy if you would take over immediately.”
Louisa’s face lit up as her smile widened. Excitement danced in her pretty eyes as she nodded. “Oh, thank you very much. You don’t know how happy this makes me.”
He wanted to take Louisa in his arms and hold her—and yes, even kiss her. Thankfully, his arms were full or he would have done that very thing.
Glancing down at Amanda he pulled her away just enough to lift her face toward his. “How do you like that arrangement, my little one? Would you and your brother enjoy having Miss Louisa as your playmate?”
The frightened look on Amanda’s face disappeared and a bright grin replaced it. “Yes, Papa.”
“Me, too,” Adam chimed in.
“Splendid. I know the three of you will have a pleasant time together.”
Cheering, the children clapped their hands.
Relief swept over Trevor the more he watched Louisa and the twins. Deep inside his chest, an unknown and confusing sensation grew. He didn’t want to ponder over the emotions flowing through him at this moment, but one thing was certain. Louisa’s presence had blessed his house immensely. He never wanted this pleasure to end.