A Dreadful Splendor by B.R. Myers

Author:B.R. Myers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2022-08-23T00:00:00+00:00

When I reached the main entrance, Mr. Pemberton was waiting, top hat in place, an umbrella tucked under his arm, and a lantern in his other hand.

“After you, Miss Timmons,” he said, opening the door for me.

I nodded. “Lord Chadwick.”

The night air scratched at my throat with every breath. A strong gust blew against my hair, rustling my bonnet. I lifted a hand to hold it down. Before meeting Mr. Pemberton in the foyer, I knew I couldn’t leave the tiara in my room unguarded and risk Mrs. Donovan discovering it. Instead, I took it with me, wearing it beneath my hat, carefully tucked close against my curls.

“I should ask Flora how to earn your favour,” he said. “She must be a confidant to feel comfortable calling you Jenny.”

“She calls me Jenny because I invited her to do so,” I replied. I was grateful again for the wide brim of the bonnet. Our last conversation rang in my ears with a tired shame, turning them red.

We paused at the top of the steps. “It’s raining,” I said unnecessarily.

He put up the umbrella, holding it in the hand that was closest to me. Once again, he preferred a barrier between us.

With the dim light of the lantern, we made our way past the stone lions, then to the side of the house, following the footpath to the back gardens. I moved to the side to avoid a large puddle. The umbrella moved with me, keeping me dry. I had no time to appreciate the gallant gesture; my mind was tumbling over possible scenarios of what Mr. Pemberton really had planned. Was he leading me to the parish constable? Was he going to send me off into the night with only the clothes on my back? Was he going to push me off the cliff? I shivered against the chill.

The wind picked up, lashing at us. I clutched my bonnet as he struggled to keep the umbrella over our heads. The lantern created deep shadows under his eyes. “Come, we’re getting close,” he said, leading me to the greenhouse. “It’s the only part of Somerset where we can truly be alone.”

Alone for what, though? I wondered. I walked into the glass building first. He handed me the lantern, then shook out the umbrella and propped it against the door. Water dripped down, making a pool on the stone floor.

The quiet of the room surrounded us. It was warm in here, a stark contrast to the icy rain. He took off his top hat and ran a hand through his thick blond hair a few times.

“This way,” he said. We started to make our way through a path of potted ferns. I held the lantern out, craning my neck around the curve of greenery, expecting to see a copper hidden among the leaves. If I had to, I would make a run for it.

He cleared his throat. “I want to apologize for what I said in the library this afternoon. It was an unwarranted reaction on my part with no consideration to your feelings.

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