Chapter Fourteen #3
“No, I’m staying at the Black Horse Inn tonight.
A nice little place. A half-hour walk, maybe.
It’s nice to breathe some country air, to be honest. Heading back to the city first thing tomorrow.
” He took his hat and umbrella from the hallstand, and then turned to her, his expression serious.
“If you need to contact me for any reason, Miss Fairfax, do not hesitate. You can do so through Archibald or directly through Scotland Yard. In the meantime, to reiterate, though I do not actually fear for your safety, please remain vigilant.”
After the inspector left, Annie waited in the hall for a few minutes, seeking calm. The day, so far, had been an endless seesaw of emotions, from dismal to euphoric. She needed to think, to explore all that had happened that day, to put things in perspective or at least into some kind of order.
The creak of the kitchen door pulled her from her reflection.
“He’s gone then,” Hattie said.
“Yes, he has.” Annie moved past her into the kitchen. “And I’ve no doubt he’s wondering what all the shouting was about while we were trying to hold a conversation.”
Janet looked up from kneading some dough on the kitchen table. “If I want to raise my voice in this house, young lady, I will do so.”
Annie, weary of Janet’s persistent mood, opened her mouth to counter the remark, but stopped herself.
Her subsequent apology, however, was not without a touch of resentment.
“You’re quite right, Janet, this is your house,” she said, barely managing a smile, “and I apologize for bringing the chaos of my life into it. I assume Hattie has told you why the inspector was here?”
Janet heaved a sigh and looked contrite. “Yes, she has. Are you worried?”
“Not in the least, and neither is he,” Annie replied, and gestured to the kitchen door. “Hattie, may I speak with you in private please?”
“I know what this is about, Annie, love,” Hattie said, following her along the hallway and into the parlor. “Janet’s in a bit of a mood, but it’s nothing to worry about.”
“I’m more puzzled than worried,” Annie replied. “May I know what you and Janet were arguing about earlier?”
“We weren’t arguing. We were conversing loudly.”
“And I assume it had to do with me and Mr. Northcott.”
“Well, yes, actually, it did.” Hattie winced.
“Janet was a little put out that I hadn’t mentioned your previous encounter with the fellow, but I explained I’d had no cause to mention it.
I wasn’t aware of the Northcott connection to Myddleton House, so not for a moment did I think you’d bump into him there, or anywhere else, come to that.
Could have knocked me down with a feather when she told me you’d met him today, not to mention his family. I mean, really, what are the odds?”
“But why is she so against it, Hattie? That is what I cannot understand. I’d have thought she’d be pleased for me, but it seems the opposite is true. She embarrassed me today, speaking to me the way she did in front of Mr. Northcott. I was shocked, frankly.”
“Oh, dear.” Hattie frowned. “Perhaps she is afraid you’re heading for heartbreak, that your Mr. Northcott is not being sincere in his dealings with you.”
Scowling, Annie folded her arms. “Well, I hope you told her.”
Hattie blinked. “Told her what?”
“That Julian Northcott is a respectable man. A true gentleman, by birth and by nature, and he is simply not capable of taking advantage of a woman.”
“Yes, of course I did! That is, I told her he seemed to be an honorable man, and I had no cause to believe otherwise. But she’s of the opinion that things are not always as they seem, especially since you’re not, it has to be said, the kind of woman who moves in the same circles as he does.”
There was some truth in that. Annie had even alluded to it herself in conversation with Julian Northcott, but he’d brushed her concerns aside, and more than once.
Annie drew a deep breath and took a moment to search for any remaining doubts of her own, traces of trepidation she might have chosen to ignore.
But they no longer existed, if they ever really had.
“Janet is wrong about him, Hattie, totally wrong,” she said, with solid conviction.
“And frankly, even though we’re currently residing beneath her roof, my relationship with him is none of her business.
I think her opinions and fears are misplaced, and I cannot help but wonder why she refuses to believe otherwise.
Might it have something to do with what happened to her all those years ago?
I confess I find it odd that she never remarried. ”
Hattie’s cheeks colored slightly. “It’s possible. It’s a bit of a long story, to be honest, and it’s not my place to elaborate on it. Suffice to say, certain events took place which broke her heart.”
“Which is sad, indeed,” Annie replied. “But it makes no sense to assume that what happened to her will also happen to me.”
“When it comes to heartbreak, it already has, pet.” Hattie shrugged. “Well, in a way.”
Annie shook her head. “Leo’s behavior shocked and disappointed me, but he didn’t break my heart.
The collective circumstances of that awful day broke my heart.
In any case, I refuse to believe that Julian Northcott is anything less than an honorable man, and while I’ll be forever grateful to Janet for allowing us into her home, I think it’s time to consider moving back to the city. ”
“Oh, no.” Hattie pressed a hand to her chest. “No, please, Annie, it’s not what you… I mean, I’m certain Janet doesn’t want you to leave. I have no doubt the inspector would urge you to stay here as well, for the time being at least.”
Frowning, Annie rubbed her temple. “Forgive me if I sound ungrateful, Hattie, but I’m getting a little tired of being herded.
So far, I’ve followed everyone’s well-meant advice and done exactly as I’m told.
I’ll grant you, it was probably all for the best, but things have been said today that lead me to believe we’ve outstayed our welcome here.
Besides, all this nonsense really isn’t fair on Janet.
She’s done more than enough, I think. That being so, I intend to write to Archibald Mason and ask him not to renew the lease at the end of September, so we can move back home.
In the meantime, I’ll ask him to find a suitable place for us to rent in the city. ”
“Annie, love, please reconsider.” Hattie moved closer, her gaze intent.
“It’s been a strange day. An extraordinary day.
Not a day to make rash decisions. I guarantee you’re not thinking straight right now and neither is Janet.
At least wait till there’s news on the whereabouts of Leopold De Witte before you even consider returning to London. ”
“Wait for how long?” Annie threw her arms wide.
“How much time should I allow before I consider it ‘safe’ to return to London? A month? Six months? A year? No, I’m sorry, but I refuse to be cowed by an irrational fear.
And I totally resent the implication I’m not good enough to be taken seriously by a man like Julian Northcott. ”
“You misunderstand, pet,” Hattie replied, softly.
“If I do, it’s only because the reasoning makes no sense.”
“Janet is worried about you. That’s all.”
“Well, she has an odd way of showing it.” Stifling a sigh, Annie wandered over to the rain-spattered window, hugging herself as she gazed out at the lane and the fields beyond.
Despite Janet’s assumptions, Hattie’s opinions, and Inspector Taggart’s suspicions, Annie’s optimism would not be subdued.
Extraordinary didn’t quite sum up the day.
It had been unimaginable. Pivotal. A day she would never forget.
The persistent shadows of uncertainty and apprehension had all but dissipated.
In their place was a promise of happiness and a future she’d only ever dreamed of.
Right now, as earlier, she wanted nothing more than solitude.
A quiet place to revisit, over and over, all that had happened since that morning.
Specifically, her time spent with Julian Northcott and his family.
“I need to think,” she said. “I’m going upstairs for a while.”
“But luncheon is almost ready.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“But you haven’t eaten since breakfast.”
“I’m not hungry, Hattie.”
Hattie scowled. “Now you’re being childish.”
“No, I’m simply doing what I actually want to do.” Annie went to the door and opened it. “You’re right. It’s been an extraordinary day. That being so, I’d like some quiet time to consider all it has held. I’ll be down for dinner, I promise.”