Page 25 of Waking Roslyn

By the time he’d finished telling it, enough time had passed that I felt safe returning to the main house.

John held the lantern aloft while we made our way back through the old wing and into the kitchen. He opened the door just a little and peeked through. “It looks empty,” he said, and then opened it wider. “Quickly,” he encouraged. “Someone could return any moment.”

I squeezed past him, and as he repositioned the table in front of the seldom-used door, I crossed to the door that led to the new wing. Just before I reached it, the sound of voices reached us from just outside the door that led to the yard.

“Go” was all he said.

I didn’t need telling twice. I was incredibly grateful for John’s help, but I had no wish to cause rumors and speculation to start churning about me. So I dashed out the door that led to the corridor and up the stairs to the main floor. I paused to listen, hoping that it was late enough that Edmund and Lisette had retired.

I didn’t hear anything and was able to pad quietly up to my room without encountering anyone.

Easing the door shut, I turned to see Everly jumping up from where she’d been waiting for me.

“Where have you been, miss?”

“I was just exploring. Why?”

“Lady Rockwell was looking for you.”

“Was she?” I asked, trying to sound innocent and oblivious.

“Yes. She seemed worried about you.”

I had no doubt. “I’ll be sure to speak with her first thing tomorrow. I believe she’s retired for the evening.”

“Yes. Everyone has,” she said, looking confused. I wasn’t usually prone to staying awake after everyone else.

“I assume Lord Rockwell’s guest is staying the night,” I commented as I turned my back to allow her to unlace my dress.

“Yes, and he is a strange one.”

Everly was not an overly chatty maid, so this observation was out of character.“Why do you say that?”

“Well, because he talked to me, miss.”

My chin pulled in. “What do you mean, he talked to you?” Granted, I had regular communication with some servants, but that wasn’t the norm. Most nobility hadn’t been raised by a common mother and taught to respect everyone, regardless of station.

“I passed by him as he was being shown to his room by a footman. Lady Rockwell had inquired about you, so I asked the footman if he knew where you were. He didn’t, but then Lord Farbury asked about you.”

My stomach clenched. “What about me?”

“Just your name and where you were from.”

My chest felt suddenly weighed down. “What did you tell him?” I was grateful I faced away from her so that she could not see the terror on my face.

“Just that you were from a small village out in the country.” She pushed my dress down over my shift.

I stepped out of my dress. “You didn’t mention I was from Saldine?”

“No, miss.” She started on the laces of my stays. “That’s not something you regularly share with people. I thought I should keep it to myself.”

I tried not to make my relief obvious. “Thank you, Everly.”

Still, I was far from comfortable, and I would not be at ease until he left. I wondered how long he would stay. A few days? A week? How long would I have to avoid him, making up excuses and pretending to be busy or sick? Luckily, I knew that Lisette would help me steer clear of him, but the next few days were going to be tense. I had to keep myself safe. I could not be complacent and foolhardy. I had done that in the past and paid the price.

The ache in my right shoulder worsened as the memories poured in. I hated that the presence of Lord Farbury was causing them to intrude here and now, in this place that had offered a little promise for being a haven. I didn’t want the shadows of Saldine to ruin the bit of joy that felt so close here.

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