Page 50 of One Last Whisper

I think of Theresa’s words about the demon in Lady Cordelia and our futile attempts at rescuing her. I’m not sure there was anything Hargreaves could have done for Lady Evelyn.

He sniffs and stands. “Well, I have to get back. Got paperwork to file, you know. Mary, if you can send your evidence as soon as you think of it, that would be appreciated. Miss Theresa… I’m sorry. You’ve been caught in the middle of all of this. Both of you have.”

She shrugs. “Would’ve been in the middle anyway. Like the saying goes: The elephants fight; the grass gets trampled.”

“Quite so.” He smiles slightly. “But not anymore. Not by this elephant.”

He leaves the room leaving both of us to ponder the future of Blackwood Manor now that its lady is comatose, and its lord is jailed. I suppose that future lies with Oliver now. What a cruel fate for a young, sickly child.

But then, fate's wheel turns with no regard for the people ground under it. I suppose, in that way, Oliver is no worse off than many of us.

Besides, he won’t be alone. There are still people alive and well who care for him. The sky is dark now, but the sun will rise on House Blackwood again.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

“So once more, you’ve put your life in danger rather than let the police handle a situation better suited for men with guns than middle-aged governesses.”

“I did what I had to, Sean. They would never have found that room if Theresa and I hadn’t found it first.”

I'm in the parlor talking to Sean while Theresa makes dinner. We've spent the day doing chores mostly because there's nothing else to do. Oliver is in surgery right now to repair some of the damage to his lungs. Dr. Thornton assures us over the phone that the surgery is nothing to worry about, but he'll be kept under for at least another day, so we can't visit him yet.

“Yes,” Sean replies, “and you wouldn’t have come face to face with a crazed murderer. Seriously, Mary, you could have died.”

“We’ve discussed this. If you stay with me, you’re likely to find me in that sort of situation quite often.”

Sean sighs. “Yes, but… I wasn’t there with you this time. I wasn’t here to save you.”

I smile slightly. “You did, though. I warned Lord Edmund about you, and that if anything happened to me, you would be able to prove it.”

“That would have been small comfort to me if he’d thrown you to the rocks.”

“Yes, but he didn’t.”

He sighs again. “What unimpeachable logic you show, Mary. It reminds me of the drunk driver who said he would keep driving drunk because he hadn’t yet crashed and killed anyone.”

Such a comment would ordinarily make me laugh, but I don’t have the energy to laugh right now, so I only smile. A moment later, he asks, “So when are you coming home?”

I take a deep breath. “It’ll be a while, Sean. Oliver’s infirm, and he’s alone now. It’s going to be a while before he’s strong enough to return home, and when he does, he’ll be… Well, to be honest, things here are so messed up that I don’t know if he’ll even come back here.”

“He won’t. The castle will have to be sold to pay for the family’s debts, along with probably everything in it. Some of those portraits might be enough to leave him with a little to put in a trust, but it will be a modest one. He’ll probably be sent to Lady Cordelia’s family in Cornwall.”

“Yes, that will be best,” I agree. “But that will take some time. I will stay at least until he is placed with them.”

“At least?”

“He’s so ill, Sean. And he’s just lost the rest of his family. Lady Cordelia might never wake up, and if she does, she’ll leave most of herself behind. He needs someone who cares for him to help lead him through this and find his way to shore.”

“I love you, Mary.”

The phrase comes out of nowhere and stuns me so much that I don’t respond. It’s the first time he’s said that to me.

“Shite,” he says. “Well, I’ve stepped in it, haven’t I?” He chuckles. “Well, I’ve said it, and I won’t take it back. You don’t need to say it to me right now. I just… well, I think it’s wonderful that you’re such a caring person. I know this is a lot to ask right after declaring my love, but would you mind if I joined you? It’s lonely here, and if you’re going to insist on being noble, I’m going to insist on a cuddle every now and then.”

I grin widely. I don’t return his sentiment right now, but I’m sure my appreciation shows in my voice when I say, “I’d like that very much.”

“Wonderful. I’ll book a ticket, then.”

“I’ll see you soon.”

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