Christmas Revels II by Hannah Meredith

Author:Hannah Meredith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hannah Meredith
Published: 2015-10-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Two

Jane slipped into the manor, heart pounding in her chest. She was late. Lord Walbeck would be in the front hall, watching the clock with increasing impatience. Those scenes always led to fearful consequences.

Instead, she discovered Lord Walbeck had locked himself in his study with orders not to be disturbed.

He had said “we” had much work to do at home, but now that they were home, he was in hiding in his office, leaving everyone else to guess what he wanted and do all the work. If only he would disappear into his study and never come out. That would be a glorious Christmas gift.

After she took a deep breath of gratitude for Lord Walbeck’s absence, she asked Harper, the butler, “Where is Lady Walbeck?”

“She went for a walk on the grounds.”

How odd. Lady Walbeck was an invalid who seldom left her room. What could have driven her outdoors into the snow and cold? “Did she ask for me to accompany her when I returned?”

“No, Miss Jane.”

Thank goodness. She was chilled enough as it was. But the lady never took walks unaccompanied. “Who went with her?”

“No one.”

How very odd. The world seemed to have turned upside down today. “Do you need my help with anything?”

“You could organize the decorating with the greenery.”

As she turned away to bring order to the staff, she said, “The vicar and his sister are coming to Christmas dinner.”

“Does his lordship know?”

“Yes. He told me to ask them.”

Harper wrinkled his brow. “What is he up to?”

“Sir Arnold and a man called John Rexford are coming to Christmas dinner also. We’re to be a large gathering this year.” She had never seen Lord Walbeck spend money on a holiday party, or anything, that didn’t involve some benefit to himself.

“I could scarcely believe my eyes this morning when I saw Rexford here.” Harper appeared overjoyed for a moment, but then looked crestfallen. “Then as soon as Mister Rexford left, he and milord spitting fire at each other in the front hall, his lordship sent for the Farleys.”

“Rexford said he met up with the Farleys.” She was very willing to share what she’d heard with Harper, but she lowered her voice. Safer to share it only with Harper. The two of them had been allies since she was thrown into Lord Walbeck’s household as an unwilling prisoner by her father’s death. The butler had made her welcome as her guardian and his wife had not.

“There was a fight, and they left Mr. Rexford bleeding in the snow. According to him, when they recognized him they took off. With his horse.” She shuddered. She’d learned to stay far away from the Farleys. They were the plague of the village and the surrounding countryside. Rude, belligerent, cruel, and vicious. Whenever Lord Walbeck felt someone needed to learn a lesson, he called in the Farleys.

Harper moved closer and murmured, “I was listening in earlier when his lordship received word that Rexford was returning. He wants him stopped at all costs. He needs him dead.

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