Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman

Author:Nicole Castroman [Castroman, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: Young Adult, Historical, Romance
ISBN: 9781481432719
Google: 1z7VCQAAQBAJ
Amazon: 1481432699
Barnesnoble: 1481432699
Goodreads: 21936937
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Published: 2016-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

Anne

Anne clutched the pocket watch in her hand as she entered the drawing room. Master Drummond rarely asked to have a word with one of his staff. When he did, the person was typically dismissed. Anne’s insides flipped uncomfortably as she closed the door behind her. She wasn’t sure if she was still an employee, which made her even more anxious.

“You wished to see me, sir?” she asked, attempting to keep her voice level, pressing the pocket watch into her palm.

Master Drummond turned from the window. His sharp green eyes, so similar to Teach’s, studied her. “Yes, I did. Please, won’t you have a seat?”

Anne’s heart pounded in her chest, but she did as he requested.

He sat down across from her. “I don’t know exactly where to begin, as I have apparently made quite a mess of things. But I shall attempt to rectify the situation.” Taking a deep breath, he leaned forward and looked Anne squarely in the eyes. “I believe I owe you an apology.”

If Anne hadn’t been sitting, her legs would have given out beneath her at his words.

Master Drummond continued. “A long time ago your father asked me to look after his cook and her daughter in the event that something happened to him. When you came to this house, I had no idea who you really were. Henry Barrett merely mentioned that you’d been employed in his father’s household. If I’d known you were Andrew’s daughter, I would never have agreed to let you work for me.”

The pocket watch slipped from Anne’s hand and fell to the floor. Too stunned to move, she watched as Master Drummond picked it up and examined it, turning it over in his palm.

“I know this watch. I was with your father in London when he bought it,” he said softly. Popping it open, he read the inscription inside, which said For my Jacqueline, before handing it back to her.

“Thank you.”

Master Drummond sighed. “No. You have nothing to thank me for. At least not yet.”

Anne remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

“Looking at you, I can’t believe I didn’t see it earlier. Andrew never told me he had a daughter with Jacqueline, but I should have guessed as much. He was lonely after his wife died.”

Anne did not like the insinuation that loneliness was the only reason her father had turned to her mother. “They cared for each other.”

Master Drummond’s gaze did not quite meet hers. It was clear he was uncomfortable speaking about the relationship between Anne’s parents.

“Your father sent me a letter, asking me to make sure Jacqueline and her daughter were looked after. He said he’d leave the money in a trust and I was to oversee it.”

Anne’s eyes widened in surprise, for this was the first she’d heard of such arrangements.

“When Henry brought you here, I asked after Jacqueline and her daughter. He said you’d returned to the West Indies. Clearly, that was not the case,” he said.

She shook her head. “No, it wasn’t. My mother and I were removed from the house hours after my father passed away.

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