Page 62 of The Duchess' Replacement

There was a slight rustle in the bush next to Sarah. She swallowed. “No. I do not and neither do you.”

“I don’t?” Nora did not sound convinced.

Sarah shook her head resolutely. “No, you do not. If you believe something you give it power and no one holds power of you, Nora. Remember that.”

The rustling grew louder.

Nora tensed but Sarah decided to use this time to prove her point. She took a stick from the ground and prodded the bush.

“Who’s in there?” She chastised the trembling bush.

The bush began to shake more violently and Sarah had the immediate fear that she may have made a grave miscalculation.

She looked back to Nora whose face was drained of color.

Sarah took a deep breath and straightened her back. She needed to show this young girl that she could be capable of taking care of herself and she was no burden to anyone.

Sarah pushed the stick farther into the bush and wiggled it around. She said a silent pray that it was just a small forest creature and not a man eating beast biding its time until two women unknowingly crossed its path.

Just then a rabbit jumped out of the bush causing screams to escape from both Sarah and Nora.

The two watched as the agitated bunny hopped further down the path before disappearing into another bush.

“Ah, see,” Sarah said while trying to catch her breath from her scream. “Just a rabbit.”

Nora’s hand was resting on her chest. “I thought you said there was nothing to be scared of?”

“There wasn’t. It was just a rabbit.” Sarah noted as she tossed the stick down.

“Then why did you scream?” Nora rose an eyebrow, taunting Sarah.

Sarah bristled in jest. “Well, I screamed because you screamed.”

Nora giggled. “I’m sure that was the reason.”

Both laughed at their fright.

“Regardless, I proved my point. If you give into fear, the fear will control you. We could have run and told your brother there was a monster in the bushes when all it was was a tiny bunny. How silly is that?”

Nora pondered that for a moment. “Ah, or we could tell him that there was a monster and we took it on and came out victorious!”

Sarah laughed freely. “What an imagination you have. You remind me a lot of my younger sister, Beatrice. She reads a lot and comes up with the most fantastical stories.”

“Do you think I would be able to meet her one day?” Nora sounded hopeful.

Sarah pulled Nora closer to her. “I would love for that to happen. And one thing you must know about me, Nora, is that when I want something, I will do whatever it takes to make it happen.”

Nora smiled. “Well, now you sound like my brother Charles.”

Sarah wrinkled her nose. “You are now the second person to say that to me. I find great offense in that sentiment, take it back.” She teased.

Nora erupted in a fit of giggles that warmed Sarah.

“Come on, you. I don’t want your brother mad at me for bringing you in after dark.” Sarah pulled a laughing Nora on towards what was hopefully the house.

The two set off into the night, the rising moon their only light.

CHAPTER 17

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