Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
After putting Brennan, Theo, and Stanley to work, Trent went back and put himself to work on his least favorite tasks, budgets and invoices. Ash would be expecting some numbers soon for the repairs that had been completed recently.
He still struggled with this part. If he was honest, his education had not been adequate for this job.
He was always meant to be a laborer. But he’d thrown himself into learning it the best he could, and it was getting easier.
Although, he still frequently had to refer to his notes.
He reached into the drawer to pull them out, but beneath that folder, was another one, labeled The Raven’s Den.
It contained all the information Warwick had given him for the robbery.
A picture flashed through his mind of Ash, on the floor, bleeding and scared for his life after being shot.
He dropped the folder on top of the desk and ground the heels of his hands against his eyes.
He wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to forgive himself for that.
God how he wished he could take it all back.
After another hour of staring at the numbers, his guilt was beginning to suffocate him.
He got up from the desk and left his office.
When he reached the bottom of the stairs, his eyes landed on the portrait of his father, and anger swelled in his chest. No more.
Every picture of that monster needed to be taken down.
He wrenched the large frame from the wall, but lost his balance and bumped into a plinth, knocking the bust off the edge.
Somehow, Moulton was there, and caught it before it hit the floor, as if he was a magical protector of this place.
The man would have been devastated if it had shattered on his watch.
“Thank you, Moulton.”
“Is there something I can help you with, sir?”
“Yes, this one, and the one in the blue drawing room need to go.”
“Where would you like me to put them?”
Trent shook his head. “Anywhere that I don’t have to see them.”
Moulton lowered his voice slightly. “Do you think His Lordship will approve?”
Trent scoffed. “I may not be the lord of this estate, but I am the manager of it. If His Lordship wants these portraits on the walls, he can come up here and tell me to put them back.”
“Well,” a deep voice said from the doorway. “Speak of the devil and he shall appear.”
Trent whipped around. “Ash!” Surprise nearly knocked him over. What in God’s name was he doing here?
“My lord!” Moulton rushed across the foyer to take his hat.
After handing it over, Ash walked straight to Trent.
“I’m sorry, Ash, I meant no disrespect.”
“I heard no disrespect.”
“If you don’t want these paintings taken down, I'll put them back.”
He simply shrugged. “Burn the lot of them for all I care.”
“What are you doing here?”
His smile was kind as he placed a hand on Trent’s shoulder. “I came to check on my brother.”
He had to fight back tears as it finally sank in.
Ash really was his brother, and saw him as a brother in turn.
Trent knew what this house was for Ash, and the nightmares that would haunt him here.
And yet, he was here. Trent threw his arms around him.
“I don’t know why you’re here, but I’m glad you came. ”
After a moment, Ash stepped back, his gaze scanning Trent’s face. “Everything is going to be alright. You’ll see.” There was the unmistakable sound of running feet in the upstairs hallway. “But we can’t talk about it yet, I have to be an uncle first.”
Trent nodded and Ash walked to the bottom of the stairs and waited for her.
“Uncle Aaaash!” Her voice shook as she ran down to him. Ash lobbed his cane over his shoulder and Fogg snatched it out of the air. From five steps up, Maggie flung herself into his waiting arms. She squealed as he spun her around.
“Let’s go see my pony!”
Her smile was never brighter than it was when she was with Ash. Somehow, she’d recognized his kindness from the very beginning.
“We're going to see a pony,” he said to Trent. He held out his hand and Fogg threw him his cane. He didn’t rely on it the way he had the last time he’d been here.
At least he was healing. That was some consolation.
Maggie leaned in and whispered something into his ear.
Ash threw his head back and roared with laughter.
“You named her Ashley?” Maggie nodded, moving her whole body, and Trent burst out laughing.
“It’s perfect,” Ash said, pressing a gentle kiss against her cheek.
“I’ll let you two figure out who’s going to take care of me this evening.” He waved his cane between Benson and Fogg.
“I’m afraid I may have a prior engagement this evening, my lord.” Benson’s eyes flicked to Trent.
“No,” Trent said. “Our game of backgammon does not take precedence over taking care of… His Lordship.” Sometimes Trent still stumbled, not sure how to address him in certain circumstances.
Ash raised a goading brow. “It most certainly does.” And with that, he was gone. Out the door to go see the pony he’d bought for Maggie.
* * *
By the time Samantha reached the front door, it was dark out. Hopefully Trent wasn’t worried about her.
He was just crossing the entry hall when she walked in and he stopped in his tracks. His gaze swept over her. She must be a disheveled mess. But he didn’t scowl or look at her with condemnation. Instead, he smiled.
“What have you been up to?”
“I went to visit Mrs. Elmhurst.”
“Did you walk all the way there and back? Alone?” he added.
“Yes,” she said, coming to stand before him. “I did walk there and back, but not alone. Anthony escorted me in both directions.”
He raised a brow. “Did he?”
Samantha laughed. “Trent Gibson.” She poked him playfully in the stomach. “Are you jealous?”
Butterflies fluttered in her own stomach as he stared into her eyes.
“What if I am?”
She did want him to kiss her, but she just wasn’t ready yet. She turned away, and her eyes landed on Ash’s form in the drawing room doorway.
With a gasp, she stumbled backward. Trent’s hand was immediately against her back, holding her steady. His other one gripped gently onto her shoulder. “It’s alright, Samantha.”
“I’m sorry, Ash. I didn’t mean to…” Her words simply trailed off. She wasn’t sure how to finish that sentence. She laughed at herself for the dramatic response, pressing a hand to her chest to calm her heart.
“My apologies, Samantha. I didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”
“I wasn’t expecting you there. That’s all.”
His features softened and a proud smile grew on his lips. “Your brother told me you had blossomed up here, but I didn’t expect this. I knew you had it in you.”
Something had certainly happened since coming to Woodburn Hall, because she was no longer afraid of him.
She wasn’t sure why she never saw it before, but for the first time, she recognized the kindness in his eyes.
Perhaps, because she’d seen it so often in Trent’s.
She crossed the room to him. “I couldn’t have done it without your help. ”
He held his arm out to the side, and she stepped into it. Never would she have thought to find comfort there. It wasn’t like with Trent, more like with her brother, but it was comforting all the same. “You women, who overcome so much, will never cease to amaze me with the strength you possess.”
It was strange that in this moment, when she finally had the support of so many people, she could feel the strength within herself. She looked up at Ash. “Thank you for not giving up on me.”
He shook his head. “Thank you, for not giving up on you.”
“I should go get freshened up. I expect I’m a mess.” He squeezed her one more time before she walked away from him and back to Trent.
“I’m going to get rid of some of this dirt and I’ll meet you in the dining room.”
When Samantha opened the door to her room, Sandra shot to her feet. She’d been sitting on the sofa.
“Miss! Apologies! I shouldn’t have been…”
Samantha merely laughed. “You are welcome to hide in my room any time.”
She blushed and looked shyly at her feet. “Thank you.”
“I’m glad you’re already here, actually. I need your help.” She gestured down her front.
“Of course!”
“And I don’t know if there’s anything that can be done with this.” She ruffled her hands through her short hair.
“I may have just the solution. While you’re getting that dirty dress off, I’ll fetch a few things we’ll need.”
A few minutes later, she returned carrying a basin of water and an assortment of other things. “Is that honey?”
“Yes.” Sandra nodded. “My sister had unruly hair as a babe, and my mother swore by it.” After setting everything down, she used water from the basin to wet Samantha’s hair.
Then she smeared a thin layer of honey on her palm.
“And just a few drops of orange blossom water, to make you smell divine.” She added enough water to thin everything out and worked it through Samantha’s hair.
After helping her to dress, Sandra finished it off, pinning in a silk hairband and some flowers.
“Perfect.”
Trent and Ash were in conversation near the bottom of the main staircase as she descended, Maggie in Ash’s arms.
“Apologies if I’ve kept you waiting.”
“That is what you’re supposed to do,” Ash said. He and Trent had matching smiles, but Maggie’s was the brightest.
“You look so pretty, Mantha!”
It was the kindest compliment she could have received. Trent held out his arm to escort her into the dining room. He leaned in and spoke quietly into her ear. “I would have said beautiful, or stunning, even. But I suppose pretty is true, as well.”
A flush warmed her cheeks and her stomach rippled. “You’re just trying to flatter me so you can get out of our dance lesson.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m quite looking forward to it.”
Ash went to the head of the table. “This one, Trent.” He pointed to the chair to his right. “The place at my right hand is reserved for you.”
Samantha’s heart swelled with pride and she wanted to cheer for him.
Instead, she had to settle for squeezing his arm.
Trent’s features shifted and she watched as a succession of emotions filtered through him.
Confusion, repudiation, hesitation, hope, gratitude, and finally, with a subtle nod, acceptance.
“You are worthy,” Samantha whispered into his ear before settling into the seat that was pulled out beside his.
Slowly, he sat down in his designated place, and Ash looked so proud. He was a good man. They both were.
With the master here, the meal was presented properly, each course being served at the table.
Samantha wasn’t sure how long she’d be welcome as part of this lovely little family, so she sealed every moment away in her memory.
Each image of Ash teasing Maggie and Trent laughing and smiling along with them.
It was impossible not to join in. The scene was idyllic and pure and wonderful.
She hated to see the meal come to an end, but eventually, they all finished with their last bite and their last sip of wine.
“Will you join us for story time, Uncle Ash?”
“Your room isn’t big enough for all of us, Little Mouse.”
“How about tonight, I read to you instead?” Ash suggested. “A special night. Just you and me, Poppet.”
Maggie clapped her hands. “Yes!”
He helped her out of her chair and put her on the floor. “Go with Mrs. Baird and get changed. I’ll be up soon.”
With laughter floating behind her, she ran to her nanny who was already waiting in the doorway.
“Thank you, Ash.” Trent shook his head.
“You don’t have to thank me for doing something I will thoroughly enjoy.”
Samantha bumped her shoulder against Trent. “That means we can get started on our dance lesson.”
Ash raised his brow. “Dance lesson?”
Trent’s cheeks flushed and his smile was shy. “Yes. I mentioned that I don’t know how, and Samantha has graciously offered to teach me.”
“Well,” Ash said, getting up from the table. “If you need accompaniment, let me know.”
“Are you a musician?” Samantha asked.
Ash shrugged. “I tinker on the piano a bit.”
Trent rolled his eyes. “He’s being humble. He’s actually very talented.”
“Really? Will you play for us?”
He inclined his head and picked up his cane. “First, I have a niece to read to. Then, I will gladly join you in the ballroom.”