Page 8

Something was up at Winchester House, though everyone behaved as though it was not. Which, to Laurel's mind, was the exact proof that a plot was afoot.

Since the incident in Hyde Park, she had done her best not to become completely morose, though considering her reputation was in ruin, her friends had abandoned her and her home was now the property of the government, it was a daunting task, indeed.

To make matters worse, if such a thing was possible, her association with the Winchesters was only going to do more damage to them, which was hardly the best way to repay their incredible kindness and generosity.

With sheer force of will, she had gotten out of bed each of the last two days and joined the family for breakfast. She found that company was better for her than hiding in her room, much as she still wished to hide under the covers ad infinitum.

She still had not ventured outside again.

However, it had been two days and with a strange sense of mystery and secret glances passed between Lady Katherine and Lord Winchester, even Cassie was acting cagey.

Laurel decided she had to get some space between herself and Winchester House, if only for a short walk in the fresh afternoon air.

Of course, she could never show her face again in Hyde Park, but there was a small park at the end of the block where few people bothered to go since Hyde Park was so near.

Laurel felt she could go there and enjoy the solitude and collect her thoughts.

She was exceedingly anxious about what was in the offing at Winchester House.

Could it be that they planned to send her away?

A message arrived for Lord Winchester two days ago and since then it seemed he and Lady Katherine had some sort of secret plan. Even Cassie was acting a bit different.

She could not blame them if they sent her away. She was nothing but a problem with no prospects for a husband or even to have a bit of spending money of her own.

Oh good heavens. What if they had secured some sort of position for her as a governess or lady's companion? Oh dear. Of course, it was the proper sort of ending for someone in her circumstances, but it also felt like a sign of absolutely giving up all hope.

She hurried to the park, grateful she had not encountered anyone.

Slipping into the coolness beneath the canopy of trees she felt like she could finally breathe.

Her jangled nerves settled somewhat as she moved into the greenery of the park.

Fresh sprouts pushed through the dirt, signaling the new start of spring.

It did not take long before Laurel felt somewhat better though she was not ready to return to Winchester House. Finding a bench, she sat and loosened the pins in her hat, removing it so that she could secure it better as it had come loose during her brisk walk.

She remained hatless for a few moments and retrieved a crust of bread from her pocket. As if they had been on alert for this eventuality, squirrels and sparrows gathered ‘round her as she broke off pieces and scattered them about.

At least I have value to someone, even if they are wild animals .

When the bread was gone, she dusted off her hands and re-pinned her hat.

It was nearing teatime and she ought to get back to Winchester House.

If Lady Katherine knew she had been out and about on her own, as well as without her hat for some of that time, she might not be pleased with Laurel and Laurel had no desire to upset the Winchesters.

However, she still had an uneasy feeling that something strange awaited her.

She stood and retraced her path through the park.

Behind her, a dog barked and she turned toward the sound.

A flash of red in the bushes caught her attention and she moved in that direction.

As she did so, she heard the sounds of a child crying.

With even more urgency, she pushed her way into the thick shrubs.

A young boy, no more than seven or eight she guessed, had his foot caught between two tree roots. Next to him, his dog whimpered and nudged the boy's leg with his head.

Just as she was about to exit the bushes and assist the boy, a gentleman emerged to the left of her. He was tall and well-dressed. A gentleman of means, no doubt, though Laurel had never seen him before in this neighborhood park. She could not help but notice his handsome profile.

He hurried to the boy's side and knelt down on the fresh earth. Laurel stifled a gasp at a gentleman dirtying his clothes in such a way, but the man moved without hesitation.

The boy sniffled and the gentleman reached into his jacket and retrieved a handkerchief that he handed to the boy without comment. "I'm sorry," the boy said. "I ought to be brave."

"You're being plenty brave," the gentleman said, pulling the two roots apart and freeing the boy's foot.

"I'm sure it hurts. I did the same thing myself when I was about your age, except I was out in the woods behind our estate and no one found me for nearly three hours.

I fear I was not so brave as I would have wanted to be. "

Charmed, Laurel continued to watch the gentleman with the boy. He even patted the dog.

"Is that when you went off to become a pirate?" the boy asked, obviously much chattier once his foot was no longer caught.

The man paused, then straightened. It was then that Laurel saw it. A black patch covering his left eye.

Laurel held her breath, wondering how he would respond to the boy's innocent question.

"Argh. Of course it was!" he said, clapping the boy gently on the shoulder. "But you had best go on home. I'm sure someone is missing you."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." The boy took off, the dog close on his heels.

The mysterious man with the patch returned the way he had come while Laurel stared after him, her mind spinning with questions.

Julian reached into his pocket for his handkerchief, hoping he could wipe away some of the dirt encrusted in the knees of his trousers. Then he remembered he'd given the item to the boy he'd rescued from the tree roots, just moments ago.

In his defense, Julian was distracted. He'd been on his way to Winchester House for tea when he had seen the small park on the corner.

He'd been avoiding Hyde Park and other overly populated areas.

Sometimes pretending he didn't care about peoples' reactions to his patch was exhausting and he simply didn't have the energy for it today.

But the small park had seemed ideal for a few minutes of quiet while surrounded by nature as he prepared for whatever awaited him at the home of Lord Thomas Winchester.

During his sojourn in the little park, he'd seen a young lady doing the same, though she was seated on a bench. Not wishing to be seen and assuming she'd ducked into the park for the same reason, he'd held back but observed her without her knowledge.

Some people call that spying.

He was simply respecting her privacy.

He'd been enchanted when she'd removed her hat to reveal hair the color of a fine claret.

Then she had withdrawn a crust of bread from her pocket and fed the squirrels and birds that gathered round her.

He could not be certain, but he had a firm belief that she'd been talking to the little animals as well.

When he finished helping the boy who'd gotten stuck, he'd looked again for the crimson-haired young lady, but she was nowhere to be seen.

It was just as well. Only little boys thought that a man with a patch over his eye was appealing.

In all honesty, the boy’s reaction had been a relief to Julian.

In his rush to help the lad he had completely forgotten about the blasted patch on his eye and when the boy had gazed up at him, Julian had braced for a fearful reaction, so the reference to him being a pirate had come as a pleasant surprise.

With a sigh, he brushed again at the dirt on his pants and then gave up. He could either go back to Rose Crest House and change his clothes and be late to tea or he could be on time but with dirt on his pants. Julian abhorred tardiness, so he turned toward Winchester House.

As he walked along the avenue, he glanced at the townhouses and wondered if the young lady he'd seen in the park lived nearby. It seemed likely since it was not a well-known park, and most people would have opted for the more popular Hyde Park. He wondered why she had chosen otherwise.

Before he could come up with an answer to a question about a stranger, he was standing in front of Winchester House. Time to find out what had prompted Lord Winchester to invite him to tea.

A butler answered the door, took his hat, glanced at the smudges on his pants and then looked quickly away before leading Julian to the drawing room where he was greeted first by Lord Thomas Winchester, a man he liked immediately for he exuded confidence and sincerity.

Lord Winchester in turn introduced him to his wife, Lady Katherine Winchester.

The rumors of her great charm and beauty were not exaggerated.

"Won't you sit down?" Lady Winchester said, gesturing toward an upholstered chair near the tea service and giving him a disarming smile.

Though it was phrased as a question, Julian knew it was more of a direct order. He sat.

"Thank you for your kind invitation," he said, addressing his host and hostess.

"We are pleased you could join us," Lady Winchester said, handing him a cup of tea.

Julian sipped his tea. It was the best way to prevent himself from asking questions, such as, why they had invited him in the first place. The connection to his grandfather was certainly plausible, but he could not help but think there was more to this invitation than just tea and chit chat.

"I understand," Lady Katherine began, "that you are in need of a wife."

Julian sputtered. He had not expected his hostess to be quite so direct.

"My wife does not mince words," Thomas Winchester said, gazing at his mate with affection and pride.

"No," Julian said, dabbing at his mouth with a napkin, "she does not."

"Well," Lady Katherine said, raising a perfectly arched brow. "Is that correct?"

"Yes, actually," Julian said. "It is. My grandfather has made it a condition of my taking over the copper mine which has been in my family for generations."

"So, you are not looking for a great love, I take it?" Lady Katherine pressed.

Julian was not sure where this was going, but he was too curious and too polite to evade her questions.

"It seems unlikely at this point, particularly as time is running short."

"I believe your grandfather's seventieth birthday party, which we plan to attend, is the deadline for this occurrence, is that not correct?" Lady Katherine asked. Julian glanced at Lord Winchester, but he simply put a piece of cake upon his plate and watched his wife with a look of utter delight.

"Yes," Julian said. "I have already been away from the mine for nearly five weeks and my prospects for a bride are nonexistent."

There was a long pause during which Lady Katherine and her husband exchanged a glance and then he stood and excused himself.

"There you are," Cassie said, taking Laurel by the arm as soon as she returned from the park. "I have been looking all over for you."

"Aren't you the one who keeps telling me I need to get out?"

"Yes, but I was worried when you did not leave word as to where you had gone."

"That was wrong of me. I apologize. I simply needed to do some thinking."

Cassie looked at Laurel's dress and hair. "It is nearly teatime. Let's get you upstairs and into a fresh gown."

Laurel glanced down at herself. The dress was a particular favorite of hers in a soft mint green that she felt set off her hair to its best advantage.

If she could do nothing about the color, she could at least wear colors which complemented it rather than clashed.

"This dress is fine. I wore it to tea last week and you had no complaints. "

"Yes, but this is a chance to wear something we have not seen yet. You can show off another of your designs." Cassie was practically dragging Laurel up the stairs and Laurel did not have the energy to argue.

"Fine," she said. "If you will help me, we won't need to keep Lady Katherine waiting." Everyone in the household knew better than to keep Lady Katherine waiting.

Within a few minutes, Laurel was dressed in another of her favorite creations. Similar to the mint green dress, this one was pale yellow and showed off the golden hues in her hair.

"Not that my appearance matters one whit," she mumbled as she and Cassie descended the stairs en route to the drawing room.

"Oh, there you are." Lord Winchester joined them at the bottom of the stairs. "Cassie, would you please join me in the library for a moment? Laurel, please go on ahead and join Lady Katherine. She's waiting for you."

Cassie nodded at Laurel so she did as her host instructed and walked toward the drawing room wondering what on earth Lord Winchester wanted to ask Cassie about in the library.

Obviously, it was a ruse. Lady Katherine probably wanted to talk to her alone to gently break the news to her about her new position as a governess to a houseful of children in the lake district.

Resigned to her fate, Laurel stepped into the drawing room.