Page 51 of One Last Whisper

“Right. Soon, Mary.”

He hangs up, and I sit and allow the glow to build in my heart. It truly is a wonderful thing to be in love. I never thought I’d experience it this late in life. Even with Sean, I never let myself believe that things between us would go this far. I just enjoyed what we had without hoping for anything more.

But now it’s here. For the first time in my life, my luck is good.

I should have told him. I was too shocked to say it at first, but now I wish I had.

Well, I’ll tell him when he gets here. I think I can find a way to say it that he’ll appreciate very much.

“What’s the smile for, Mary?’

I jump when I hear Theresa’s voice. “Oh. Oh, um…” My cheeks flame. “I was talking with my friend. He said some very nice things about us for helping to bring Lord Edmund to justice.”

I consider Theresa my friend too, but we are not close enough yet that I want to share the real reason for my happiness. She gives me a knowing smile, though, so I think she can see behind my lie. She doesn’t press me, thankfully. “Well, supper’s ready. I hope you don’t judge me too harshly, but I’ve opened a bottle of his Lordship’s wine to drink with it. I’m not given to alcohol, but I could use something to take the edge off.”

"I am in full favor of that," I assure her. "Thank you. And thank you for helping me. You risked your life, too. I appreciate your courage. I'll be honest, I… well, I couldn’t have done it without you.”

She flips her hand dismissively, but I can tell she’s pleased. “Oh, you’d have been fine. You’re a far braver woman than you think you are.”

We head to the dining room, the larger one. I’m a little pensive about eating in Lord Edmund’s grand dining hall.Obviously he no longer has need of it, but it still seems a little presumptuous of it.

The thought doesn't linger, though. I start on the food, and as always, Theresa is an excellent cook. The lamb roast flakes off of the bone, and the mashed potatoes are creamy and smooth and delectable. Humans really are simple creatures when it comes down to it. There's nothing like a good meal to soothe the soul.

The wine is just as delicious. Like Theresa, I am not given to alcohol, but I can recognize the quality of this claret. I shudder to think how valuable this bottle is.

For several minutes, we just focus on eating. We finish our first glasses and Theresa goes to the kitchen to pour us another. “Air’s not good in here for decanting wine,” she explains.

“I know nothing of wine, so I trust your expertise, Lady Theresa,” I reply.

The wine, it seems, is already getting to me. I try to remember the somberness of the circumstances. “So what will you do?” I ask.

She frowns. “Do? What do you mean?”

“Well, you won’t have a job soon,” I reply. Now it’s my turn to frown. “Oh, I’m sorry. That was terribly rude of me to say so bluntly.”

“No need to apologize,” she says. “You’re not wrong. To be honest, I don’t know what I’ll do. I suppose I’ll stay here for as long as I can. I have a little saved up, so I can be here long enough at least to ensure no vandals get into the place before the assessors come to take everything. After that, I can stay with my sister in Lancashire until I find a new position. There’s always some lord or another looking for help. What about you? What are your plans now that you’ve dragged all of these bones into the light?”

I grimace a little at the way she says that. “Well, I’ll stay for Oliver as long as I can. I have enough money to live off of, so Ican focus on taking care of him until he goes to his grandparents in Cornwall.”

Theresa chuckles. “Always the hero, ain’t you? Have to save everyone.”

My brow furrows at that. There's something in her tone, something odd. Her eyes, too. They're hard now. I haven't seen that expression before.

I blink, and when I open my eyes again, the hardness is gone. She’s only smiling pleasantly.

I sigh and push my glass away. “I think I’ve had enough of this. That’s strong stuff.”

She tilts her head a little, the nods. “Aye. I think it’s enough to work.”

I giggle at that. “Yes, I think so. I’m positively soused.”

“Doesn’t take much with you, does it?”

I shake my head. “No, I rarely drink. I never smoke either.”

“That’s good. Sensible. Drugs and alcohol are the worst things to happen to humanity.” She sips her own wine, something I find deliciously funny, although I control my laughter. “People who fall into that trap are no good. Weak. Just like Lady Evelyn.”

The disquiet comes back. There’s really no need to speak ill of the dead. My curiosity gets the better of me, though. “You mean Lady Alivia, right?”

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