A Scandalous Lady by Karla Hocker

Author:Karla Hocker
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626815766
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2014-12-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Sensing Philip’s restlessness but not wanting him to interrupt with questions at this point, Meg said quickly, “And this morning, Elspeth? Would you say Nanny Grimshaw is having one of her good days?”

The girl wrinkled her brow. “Well now, miss, if you’d asked me that just after I first saw her, I’d have said yes. Auntie recognized me and was talkin’ as clear as a bell. But then she slipped off, and there was no makin’ sense of her at all.”

“But she still talked?” Meg remembered the silent old woman whose vacant stare had gone right through her. Even if Nanny Grimshaw spouted nothing but nonsense this morning, it must still be considered one of her better days. “What does she talk about, Elspeth?”

“I don’t pay much heed when she’s like that, Miss Megan. She just keeps mutterin’ about people I don’t know. Most of ’em dead, I should think.”

“So this morning her mind is wandering in the past?”

“Aye, miss. Matter of fact, Auntie’s been goin’ on and on about Miss Lydia Carswell, the one that looks like you.”

“The lady in the portrait?”

Elspeth nodded vigorously. “And she’s been dead I dunno how many years! Mayhap sixty. Mayhap five-and-sixty years. But Auntie’s insistin’ that Miss Lydia stopped by to see her.”

Meg’s heart started to beat faster. Turning in the saddle, she said, “Stanbrook, would you mind if I went to see Nanny Grimshaw for a few minutes?”

“Not at all.”

He dismounted quickly, and when he stepped around Patches to help her down, she saw a gleam in his eyes—a gleam of excitement, as though he knew that something might be afoot.

Effortlessly, he lifted her from the saddle. “I’ll wager a pony that you’ve already been to visit with Nanny,” he said softly. “And I’ll offer odds that the Miss Lydia she’s talking about is really you.”

“Too bad there’s no one around to take you up on the wager,” Meg replied in equally soft tones so Elspeth wouldn’t overhear. “You might have won.”

Looking at the maid, she said, “Would you come with me, Elspeth? It may upset your aunt if I’m by myself.”

“I dunno, Miss Megan.” Elspeth twisted her apron nervously. “I s’pose I could go with you, since you asked and I’m s’posed to be your maid. But I dunno what Mrs. Elmore will do if I’m back late. I don’t want her to put Auntie away!”

Meg and Philip exchanged glances.

“Run along, Elspeth,” he said. “I’m sure Miss Megan worries unnecessarily. Your aunt probably enjoys visitors.”

“Aye, that she does. And I can use the time to get Miss Megan’s bath ready.”

Not trying to hide her relief, the girl hurried off.

“I could tie the horses,” Philip offered, “if you want me to go with you?”

“Truthfully, no,” Meg said with her usual candor. “I would have taken Elspeth to put Nanny at ease, but I fear you’d be dreadfully in the way.”

Philip grinned. “I hope you’ll never marry a diplomat. Our country would be in great trouble.”

Marry? A diplomat? Meg slowly descended the sloping path to Nanny Grimshaw’s tiny cottage.

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