Chapter Three #3
They exited the maze and proceeded along the path toward the staircase leading up to the terrace. The house glowed with candlelight. For the first time in years, Will felt comfortable—Margaret gave him hope and a future to look forward to.
Entering the drawing room, the first thing he noticed was the absence of anyone except Nick who was still with a book in his hand.
“Mother and Jane went to look at the suite of rooms she wants to redecorate for herself,” his brother said. “Jane said to join them if they’ve not returned if you like.”
Will poured brandy for both of them while Margaret settled into an overstuffed ivory chair. “I think I’ll stay here. The two of them need some time alone together.”
“She’s right,” Will replied. “Mother’s moving into the dowager house affected Jane more than it did either of us, Nick.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Nick responded, adding, “By the way, when’s the wedding?” He grinned from ear to ear.
Rather than say anything to out his brother, who’d obviously heard part of Margaret and his conversation, Will changed the subject, surprising his brother. “Are there any young ladies in your life?”
“No, I’m saving myself for the upcoming season,” he replied cheekily.
The unexpected answer caught Will completely off guard. He found himself spewing a mouthful of brandy. Luckily, he’d had good sense to turn his head slightly. He gathered his composure quickly. “Of course you are.”
“I need to have all the fun I can before becoming an officer in the navy. I imagine things will change quite a bit regarding one’s social life,” Nick said solemnly.
“You’ll still have a social life,” Will sighed.
His brother had asked several times not to be sent to the naval academy, but his requests fell on deaf ears.
Will knew his father had wished this for his second-born son and had gone as far as to purchase a commission for his brother.
Nick was determined he was going to have a wild time before this huge change in his life.
The following morning Will found both his mother and Margaret in the breakfast room. Jane and Nick were noticeably absent. Both women, who’d been engaged in a lively conversation, suddenly silenced themselves.
“Ladies, good morning,” he said as he walked to the sideboard and began making his choices of breakfast items. He turned and found his place at the table, leaving a footman to fill his plate.
“Mother, I wasn’t expecting you until later in the morning,” Will said.
“I want to get this over and done. I’d appreciate if you could spare a footman to take me across the lake.”
“I can take you, if you’d like,” he replied.
“This is something I must do alone. If I need help with moving anything, I’ll alert the footman.”
Will nodded. “Very well. I’ll trust your instincts.”
“Thank you.”
Looking at his mother and Margaret, he noticed they were watching him closely. He took a sip of coffee as he waited for the footman to deliver his plate. Just as his food was placed in front of him, his sister joined them at the table.
He took another sip of coffee as he waited, feeling the weight of the ladies’ expectant gazes upon him. The quiet in the room made each sound seem amplified, and Will wondered what news his mother intended to share that required such solemnity.
“What do you ladies have planned today?” he grunted.
“We’d like to go to town if we may use the carriage,” Jane said.
“Of course you can.”
“Why don’t you accompany us, brother?”
“I would love to, but I have things needing my attention in my study.”
“Pity,” Margaret said without looking directly at Will. Her tone was gentle, but there was a hint of disappointment lingering in her words, as if she had hoped he might reconsider.
The room was quiet for what seemed to be hours. Will exhaled and took a deep breath. “I tell you what. Give me two hours and I will take you wherever you ladies would like to go.”
“That would be amenable if you take us to lunch,” Jane replied. She was trying not to smile, but Will knew his sister well enough to know she thought she had him under her thumb. He would just continue to let her think she had outsmarted him.
Will pushed back his chair. “I’d be delighted,” he said his focus on Margaret. She offered a smile to which Jane glanced from her friend to her brother and back.
“We’ll meet you in the drawing room in two hours then,” Jane replied.
Will stood to his full height and began walking toward the door. “Ladies.”
He had barely been in his study for a few minutes, peering over the mail that had arrived earlier that morning, before he would have to dive into sorting out the estate’s financials. The stack of correspondence sat unopened on the edge of his desk, promising both news and obligations yet unknown.
Will lost all track of time, including meeting Margaret and the others in the drawing room in two hours. The two hours had doubled into over four. He pushed away from the desk as reality set in.
Suddenly there was a loud, urgent knock on the door. The door flew open before he had a chance to say a word. In front of him stood the footman who’d gone with his mother to the ruins of the cottage.
The young man had a panicked look on his face. “Your Grace, there’s been an accident.”
“Explain yourself,” Will demanded.
“Your mother found what she was looking for. It was a good-sized box that took everything I had to place it in the boat. Since it took up so much room and the weight of the box, we decided your mother would wait and I would return for her.”
“Go on,” Will said, standing up from behind his desk.
“I was in the middle of the lake when the boat collapsed and sank under the weight of the box. I had to swim to shore. I told the duchess I would return with help.”
“Let’s go.”
All Will could think of was that the lake was cursed.
Boats sank, the cottage had burnt down, and his father had drowned in the water.
Every tragic event, every unexplained misfortune, seemed to trace its origin back to the lake’s dark and silent depths.
The persistent feeling of dread lingered, as if the water itself harbored secrets and sorrow that refused to let go.
“Go to the stables and have a wagon made ready. I’ll meet you there.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“If you want to change out of your wet clothes, do so before you go to the stables.”
“Thank you, Your Grace, but not necessary.”
Will nodded. “As you wish.”
Knowing he should inform Jane and Margaret what was going on, he left his study in search of the pair. It took him a few minutes to find them huddled together, laughing about something in the small parlor the family used.
Jane glanced up as Will entered, her laughter fading. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but Mother’s footman just came back alone,” Will announced, his tone changing to commanding.
“What happened?” Jane asked solemnly.
“Evidently, the boat sank while the footman was taking a rather heavy box from the cottage. He decided to take the dowager in a separate trip because of the weight of the box.”
“Where is Mother?”
“Still at the cottage. I’m leaving now to rescue her.”