The Masked Baron by Anneka Walker

Author:Anneka Walker [Walker, Anneka]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2020-03-01T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Andalin’s fingers hurt after shortening the hem of one very full skirt. It was getting late, and she was eager to sneak down to the kitchen before the staff retired for the night. She slipped as noiselessly from her room as she could, priding herself for being nearly as quiet as Ellis was. When she reached the kitchen door, she heard voices just inside. She hesitated when she heard Hannah mention her name. She bit her lip and leaned against the door to listen.

“She has to look just right, or no one will marry her,” Hannah said.

“Nonsense,” Matilda countered. “She’ll have a sizable dowry to entice any man.”

“Yes, but she’ll have the reputation of Braitwood Hall along with it. No one in their right mind will want to be attached to the Dark Rider.”

“Hannah!” Matilda said in a shocking tone. “I won’t have ye call our boy that name! He’s done right by us for plenty of years. He doesn’t deserve that kind of talk.”

“Oh, I know. I didn’t mean anythin’ by it. Only that Andalin will have to look and act her very best. She’ll have to fool a lot of people into believin’ she’s a real lady.”

Hannah was right. How could the daughter of a merchant possibly turn into a lady? Everyone was counting on her, and suddenly the pressure overwhelmed Andalin. An urge to sneak back to Corbridge, or maybe a different place altogether, tempted her. But no. She’d promised herself she would try, and try she would.

Andalin braced herself and entered the kitchen.

“Oh, Andalin, come in, child,” Matilda invited cheerfully. “Come and eat a slice of pie. I know ye like my berry pie the best.”

Andalin glanced at Hannah, who sat at the table, knitting. Hannah nodded her head in her typical stoic manner.

After accepting the pie, Andalin sat in what was quickly becoming her stool. Ignoring what had just transpired, she focused on her reason for coming to the kitchen in the first place. “I know I’ve been busy with our guests the last few days, but I haven’t forgotten about wanting to help Lord Cadogen. Has anyone come up with a plan?”

Matilda glanced at Hannah before smiling uncertainly. “Well,” Matilda said, “we did have one idea we’ve been thinking on.”

“It was my idea,” Hannah corrected.

“Yes, but all of us were thinkin’ it,” Matilda muttered.

“But I was the first to say it,” Hannah added.

Matilda rolled her eyes. “The point is it ain’t somethin’ that can be taken care of right away, so we’ll just bide our time some.”

Matilda turned and started mixing something in a bowl as if the conversation were finished. Andalin glanced at Hannah to see if she would reveal any more on the subject, but she was knitting away as if Andalin weren’t even in the room.

“Aren’t you going to tell me the idea?” Andalin asked, her impatience showing in her tone.

Neither answered. They passed a look between them, sending Andalin back to the days when she was an outsider. The sudden feeling of rejection pushed her to her feet.

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