Born to Be Wilde_The Wildes of Lindow Castle by Eloisa James

Author:Eloisa James [James, Eloisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2018-07-30T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Later that morning

The route they took led around the northern edge of Lindow Moss, the vast peat bog that lay to the east of the castle. Lavinia had paid little attention to the bog before, but as she sat at the window and mile after mile rolled by, she understood for the first time how large it was.

It was a chilly cold September, and when they first got in the carriage, frost rimed each blade of grass. By mid-morning, the frost had melted from hillocks, but in lower-lying areas, it stayed, turning into pools colored by fish with flashing silver scales. Or shimmering Indian silk.

“Do you know the story of Lindow Moss?” Annie asked, breaking into her thoughts. “I learned all about it when we visited before.”

“No, do tell,” Lavinia said.

“It’s swallowed up people, hasn’t it?” Mary, one of the seamstresses, interjected with a shiver. “I heard as one of the duke’s own children was swallowed up there.”

“The heir to the dukedom,” Annie said, lowering her voice. “Horatius, his name was. He had been drinking in the tavern, more than was good for him. He wagered he could ride across Lindow Moss in the dark and come out safe on the other side.”

The other seamstress, Tabitha, leaned across and peered out at the bog. “It doesn’t look terrible.”

“There are holes that will suck you down,” Annie declared, obviously relishing her role as local expert.

Tabitha shuddered and sat back against the seat. “I wouldn’t go in there if you paid me ten shillings.”

“The poor man never made his way home that night,” Annie said. “They managed to save his horse, but the heir was gone, his body swept underground and never recovered.”

“Underground?” Lavinia asked.

“Rivers run under there,” Annie said, nodding out the window. “The ground looks as if it’s solid, but it’s not. You can hear the water rushing along under your feet, going to the sea.”

Tabitha wrapped her arms around her chest. “That’s awful.”

“There’s them as say Horatius was murdered,” Annie whispered. But then she frowned and looked at the two seamstresses. “It’s worth your position to say anything like that in front of Mr. Prism. You have to follow the castle’s rules or you’ll be dismissed without a reference. Might even be thrown out and told to make your way through the bog by yourself!”

“I doubt that very much,” Lavinia intervened. “What are the rules?” Mary and Tabitha were sitting up straight, eyes wide.

“No talking to anyone that asks about the Wildes,” Annie said. “Even if they seem like the friendliest person in the world, say, an old woman, just curious about what they ate for dinner the night before. I can promise you that it’ll end up in the newspapers and Mr. Prism always finds out where the information came from.”

Mary pursed her lips. “Who would care about food?”

“The world does, and that’s not a joke,” Annie said. “Those gossip columns are mad for any sort of information.”

“I was offered two pounds if I would describe the wedding dress,” Tabitha said.

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