Page 30 of The Dravenhearst Brides
Perhaps she had.
“Margot?” he called again, a bit impatiently. She imagined his fingers reaching for the doorknob.
“Y-yes,” she managed. “I’m here. What is it?”
“May I come in?”
“No!” She pushed all her weight against the door in case he tried. “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m…I’m indisposed.”
A creak of floorboards. She pictured him adjusting his stance, separated from her by the mere inch of wood beneath her palms.
“I just wanted to let you know that I’ll be going to Greenbrier Estates today. At your father’s invitation.”
Greenbrier?
“He’s going to show me around, teach me about the family business.”
Margot nodded even though he couldn’t see. “Thank you for telling me.”
She looked at the recently finished letter to her father on her vanity, wondering if she might trust Merrick to bring it to him directly. There was nothing incriminating in it, just a few bland words about her new home, assuring her father that married life was treating her well…
A pack of lies.
Merrick cleared his throat on the other side of the door. “I was wondering if perhaps you might like to join me?”
“What?” She stepped back in surprise.
“I assume you’d like to see your father, maybe show me around Greenbrier yourself?”
Her heart rate skyrocketed at the suggestion. Her legs grew weak, and she sank to the floor in a puddle of silk.
Greenbrier…
No, the place was full of ghosts. She simply couldn’t.
“Margot? Are you there?”
“I’m here,” she whispered.
“I’ll likely depart within the hour. Can you be ready?”
“No!”she cried, the word coming out far harsher than she’d intended.
“No?”
“I don’t wish to go.”I can’t.She took a deep breath, trying to salvage the situation. “But…but I hope you have a lovely day. Give my father my best, will you?”
“I shall.” He shifted his weight again. Now that Margot was on the floor, she could see the shadow of his feet beneath the door. They were bare.
“I suppose I’ll just get ready then…look after Beau for me, will you? Keep him out of mischief.”
She nodded, unable to speak. When she heard the floorboards groan, she swiped a hand up to her vanity, pulling down the letter. “Wait.”
He paused.
“Would you give this to my father?” She slid the envelope beneath the door. “I was going to post it today, but since you’ll be seeing him…” She trailed off.
“Of course. I’ll give him your best.”
