A Lady Most Intrigued: A Grimm Regency Tale by Ward Jenni

Author:Ward, Jenni
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Miraworth Books
Published: 2024-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

The ride back home seemed to take less time than the journey to the town. Hannah sat beside me with her head propped on my shoulder, asleep. We had the coach to ourselves after two gentlemen got off at the little town a few miles back. I felt a little guilty as I watched her. I hadn’t expected helping her would pique my curiosity about my past.

As the familiar streets came into view, I felt a pang of something like homesickness. Funny, that. I’d never been one for sentimentality, but after all the grand hotels and fine carriages, the sight of the cramped houses and narrow alleys was almost a comfort. This was my world, grime and all.

“Hannah, Hannah, we’re almost there,” I said, gently tapping her shoulder.

“Did I fall asleep?” She sat upright. “Sorry, I seem to have turned you into a pillow.”

The carriage clattered to a halt outside the manor. I hopped down and held out a hand to help Hannah. With our feet on firm ground, we watched together as the carriage went on its way.

“Miss Hannah.”

We both turned to see a young girl dressed in a maid’s uniform hurrying towards us. Her head looked back and forth as if she’d stolen a biscuit that wasn’t hers.

“What’s wrong Kitty?”

“It’s Lady Catherine. She sent word by messenger. She plans to return to Frogmere by tomorrow nightfall. You had me worried she’d return and you’d be nowhere in sight.”

“Luck appears to be favouring me at the moment. I need to refresh myself, Kitty.” Hannah stepped towards the front of the manor.

“Oh no, don’t go that way. Housekeeper is on a bit of hunt. She’s been complaining about you not giving notice you were staying a few days with Miss Mildred.”

“You lied to her?”

Kitty looked at the stones that made up the path in front of the house. “You’re not mad at me, are you? Oh, please say you’re not. It’s just that she started asking questions and when she found out you’d gone and went in a carriage with a man, well, Miss Mildred came to mind since her brother is here with the militia.”

“You know I don’t condone lying, but on this occasion, I say: job well done. Take my bag to my room and unlock the door to the conservatory so I can sneak in undetected.”

“Yes, Miss.” Kitty picked up the travelling bag and scurried away from us, following the wall of the manor until she disappeared from view.

“John,” she said, her voice low and urgent. “I need your help with something else.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Another rescue mission? Should I fetch something better to swim in?”

That coaxed a small smile from her. There and gone in a flash. “No, nothing like that. I need…I need to get into that locked room. The one my mother forbade me from entering. If I’d seen anything years ago, it meant nothing then, but I do remember some papers in his desk.”

I frowned. Breaking into locked rooms in grand manor houses wasn’t exactly something I wanted to get caught doing.

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