Legacy of the Clockwork Key by Kristin Bailey

Author:Kristin Bailey [Kristin Bailey]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Published: 2013-03-05T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“WE SHOULD LEAVE EARLY IN THE MORNING,” I SAID, “before the first light of dawn. It’s best to travel when fewer people might see the coach.”

“That would be wise,” Oliver agreed. He led us back out of the passage and into the library. He shut the bookshelf then proceeded down the hall to the narrow servants’ stairs.

We descended the steep treads and returned to the kitchen. Oliver helped Lucinda to the bench and handed her a new rag. “Lucinda and I can disguise ourselves with some of the clothing left about here then hitch her horse to one of the carts in the stable,” he said.

Slowly Oliver lit the lamps in a neat labyrinth of clean white halls and rooms. I could picture the whole area buzzing with prim servants in crisp uniforms, marching with military precision through their large, well-organized barracks. Only now it was silent, though not dead the way Rathford’s house had felt. No, it was waiting.

Oliver showed Lucinda and me to a small room with modest white beds and a simple washstand.

“You can freshen up in the laundry,” he said. “I’ve rigged a few things. If you leave your clothes in the tub, I can have them clean and dry by morning. There’s a chest with some night rails and dressing gowns in the back. We shall make do.”

Lucinda gave Oliver a quizzical look. “You’ve very much changed.”

Oliver seemed to drift away for a moment, lost in a memory. “I spent a lot of time alone. I learned a few things.” He let his hand slide over the soft leather of his sleeve as if soothing a deep wound there. “About what I’m really worth. What I really need.”

His gaze locked on Lucinda with such intensity, even I felt it. Her lips dropped open, just the slightest bit, as if she wanted to say something, but instead she turned and escaped to the beds.

I felt a giggle deep in my chest, but I didn’t dare let it out. Whatever jealousy I’d felt for Lucinda had abated and turned into a deep curiosity about her past with Oliver.

Why did she scowl so?

Oliver offered me a conspiratorial wink, then disappeared down the hall. I shut the door behind me and leaned against it.

“What are you smiling about?” Lucinda grumbled as she opened the chest and explored the contents.

“He fancies you.” I didn’t mean for my voice to sound so gleeful, but I couldn’t help it.

“I know.” She pulled out a stack of neatly folded clothing and let the lid fall shut with a loud crack. “That’s the problem.”

“It’s a problem to have a dashing young duke fall in love with you?”

Her eyes narrowed as she thrust a soft lump of clothing into my arms.

“Yes.” She paused. “When it’s Oliver.”

“He’s the boy from the picture, isn’t he?” I couldn’t help it. I had to know more.

She sighed. “Leave me be and go get cleaned up.”

She gave me a friendly push out into the hall. I nearly bumped into Oliver, who was examining a small jar in his hands.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.