Page 89 of The Lovers (Echoes from the Past #1)

Mercy pressed herself against the wall when she heard the voices of the two men.

Uncle James told her to stay out of the way since Lord Asher didn’t want her in his house.

She’d never met him, but she’d seen him at the funeral for his mother when they buried Harry on the sly.

He did not look like a kind man, and the other man with him was downright frightening.

She’d studied him when she peeked through the keyhole while they dined.

Mercy remained perfectly still as the two men dragged Elise and James down the stairs and toward the end of the dark passage that led to the cellar.

She couldn’t see them anymore, but she heard them.

They were talking and laughing as they descended into the bowels of the house, pleased with the night’s work.

“It will take them ages to die. I must admit, this is cruel even for you, Edward,” Lord Fillmore said.

“They made their bed,” came Lord Asher’s reply. “A shame really, she could have borne me more children. But I have a son, and that’s what matters. Let’s get them into the chest before they come to.”

They both laughed as a body hit the floor with a thud.

Mercy didn’t wait to hear anymore. Lord Asher meant to kill Elise and James.

There was nothing she could do to save them, but there was something she could do to save their baby.

They thought she was young and na?ve, but she knew about babies and knew about love.

Elise was married to Lord Asher, but she loved James, and he loved her, and they’d made Charlie together.

She would not let their baby be raised by this frightful man.

Mercy climbed the stairs on silent feet and crept into Charlie’s room, where the baby slept in his cradle.

The nurse was fast asleep, her mouth slightly open and her arm over her face.

Mercy lifted Charlie carefully out of the cradle, wrapped his tiny body in a warm blanket, and slipped out of the room.

She would take Charlie to her mam, who would raise him as her own.

He was James’s son, her mam’s nephew. Her mam lost two children, so Mercy would give her one back.

Charlie wouldn’t be rich, but he would be loved, and he would grow up knowing that his parents died for loving each other.

Mercy froze when she saw the ghostly silhouette of Barbara in the corridor. Barbara gazed at Mercy and the baby, her face scrunched up in concentration as she tried to figure out what was happening. Mercy put a finger to her lips.

“ Shh . Don’t tell anyone, Barbara. It’s a game, and it will be our secret.”

Barbara smiled happily. “Secret. I like secrets.”

“Go back to bed.”

“All right,” Barbara said and went back into her room.

Mercy slipped out of the house and ran through the empty streets, desperate to get home before daylight began to sweep away the darkness.

She was cold and scared, but Blackfriars wasn’t so far away, and her mam would tell her she’d done the right thing.

Her father always wanted a son. Now he would have Charlie to follow in his footsteps and learn the trade.

Charlie would be a carpenter. If it was good enough for the Lord, it would be good enough for the son of his servant James.

*

Were you hooked on Quinn’s journey? The story continues in The Forgotten , where Quinn faces a new case and learns surprising revelations about her past.

Get it here, or read on for an exclusive extract!