A Treacherous Engagement by Keysian Elizabeth

Author:Keysian, Elizabeth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Elizabeth Keysian Books
Published: 2019-10-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

The following day, Phoebe hurried across to the main house so she could examine the stores more closely.

With a sinking stomach, she was inclined to think Goodrich was right. The shelves looked remarkably empty, considering how much food she’d ordered. By her reckoning, there were eight penny loaves, several pounds of hard Somerset cheese, and four full legs of ham missing, as well as numerous smaller items.

Fear shot down her spine. Not because her plan to marry quickly was in danger, but because Addyman might actually be a traitor. Such men were dangerous and unpredictable. How was she to defend herself and her fragile aunt if matters came to a head?

As soon as she got back to the Dower House, she delved into the window seat downstairs where she’d hidden the box. Safe, thank heaven! Certain Molly was happily occupied in the kitchen preparing luncheon, she took the box out and rifled through its contents.

She sorted all the letters into one pile to read later and tucked them back in the box. The puzzles—as she’d originally thought them—were laid on top.

Was this all? Could there be a hidden drawer she’d not yet found, containing the key to the codes? If only she knew how these things worked.

A shadow engulfed her heart. Up until now, she’d hoped Papa might still be alive, just ill or unable to get word to them some reason. But if what Goodrich had told her was correct, the truth was much harder to cope with. Papa had been involved in perilous missions. He was, in all likelihood, dead.

Another shadow fell across her, this time a real one. Glancing up, she realised with a start someone was watching her from the other side of the window.

Addyman.

Despite the painful lurch of panic, she wasn’t going to hide everything guiltily—she’d brazen it out. With a smile, she stood, nodded in the direction of the front door, and went through to let him in.

“Miss Phoebe.” He removed his hat and saluted her with it. “Are you alone?”

An odd beginning for a conversation. “No, my aunt is in the kitchen.”

“Good.” He walked through to the kitchen, greeted Aunt Molly, and said, “Miss Phoebe and I have some business to discuss. We’ll use the sitting room. It won’t take long, but I’d appreciate it if you were not to disturb us.”

Phoebe repressed a shiver. She was about to be closeted with Addyman. Would Molly be able to help if things became…unpleasant?

His gaze strayed across the open box, but he made no comment. Seating himself close to the window, he waved Phoebe into a chair by the door. Excellent—she wasn’t trapped. However, with his back to the window, she couldn’t read his expression. Had he done that deliberately?

“You were reading some letters when I came by. Your own, I take it?”

She must do nothing to antagonise or alert him. She’d stick as close to the truth as she dared. “I have a copy of my father’s will in that box.”

“I see.” He sounded disinterested.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.