Page 67 of Surrender to the Earl
“Two years old, ma’am.”
Two years, Audrey thought, keeping her smile in place. That was how old her own son would have been. Every so often, she would think on the date, and wonder what he would have been doing, had he lived.
The little boy gave another squeal.
“Please, I hope you are not holding him back on my account. Does he want to explore?”
“We’re teachin’ him the dangers of the kitchen,” Mrs. Sanford said. “And he’s not payin’ much attention.”
Audrey laughed. “He sounds like any child. I heard his ‘No!’ from down the hall.” She turned toward where she thought the young woman was sitting. “I would like to express my condolences on the death of your husband, Louisa. I well understand your grief at his loss.” But did she? She hadn’t loved Martin. Perhaps this girl knew more about love than Audrey ever would, since she’d never been that close to anyone—and didn’t plan to be, ever.
She heard Robert’s wicked voice in her mind, remembered his touch, and then banished the thought quickly.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Louisa said.
She spoke so softly that even Audrey with her sensitive hearing barely heard it. “Well, I’ll leave you to your visit. Stay as long as you’d like, Louisa.” Now the Sanford family should know they had nothing to fear from her. Maybe things would be better.
“But your luncheon, Mrs. Blake,” the housekeeper began.
“You enjoy your meal together. Just send up a tray for Molly and me to her room. Is Evelyn with her?”
“I’m here, ma’am,” the maid piped up.
Audrey had more than once asked the servants to always tell her who was in the room, but she would let it go, since Louisa was visiting.
“I think Francis was going to check up on her before trimmin’ the lamps,” Evelyn continued.
Francis and Molly seemed to have quite the friendship, Audrey thought, amused. She left the kitchen and ascended to the servants’ quarters. She heard laughter, Francis’s in the corridor, as if he stood in the doorway of Molly’s room.
“Mornin’, Mrs. Blake,” he said cautiously.
“I think it might be almost afternoon, Francis,” Audrey said cheerfully. “How is Molly doing?”
“I’m well!” Molly called. “Too well to be trapped up here.”
“The doctor will be the judge. Francis, your mother will be preparing a luncheon tray for Molly and myself. Please bring it up when it’s ready.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She heard his big boots clomping down the stairs.
“So how was your expedition?” Molly asked.
Audrey briefly told her about buying a bonnet with Blythe, and a future invitation to tea.
“A success then!” Molly said with satisfaction in her voice. “I’m not surprised.”
“But then I arrived home.” She explained about Mr. Sanford’s peculiar behavior and finding the Sanford grandchild. Lowering her voice, she murmured, “It was as if they didn’t want me to meet their daughter.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” Molly insisted. “Although come to think of it, Francis hasn’t mentioned her at all.”
Audrey bit her lip, trying to hide a smile.
“Now don’t give me that look,” Molly said. “He’s a nice, friendly man who makes the hours up here not so dreary with his brief visits.”
“Then I’m glad for you. But I think, now that I’ve met and accepted Louisa, perhaps my servants will at least realize I mean them no harm. I’ve told them she could visit anytime, and now maybe they’ll believe me.” She gave Molly a smile. “Are you hungry? They’ll be bringing up a tray soon that we can share.”
“I could eat in the kitchen,” Molly grumbled. “I’ve started standing up, just to test my legs.”
