Page 37 of The Masked Baron
Matilda added the cooked eggs to the spread of hash, plum cake, and kidneys on the table before sitting down herself. “He’s a man now, and he has a right to go where he pleases.”
Hannah ignored Matilda and looked at Andalin. “He’s broodin’.”
Matilda tsked her tongue. “His soul is tormented. He has to do what he has to do to put it to rest. I don’t agree with his ways, but I can’t argue with someone trying to follow his heart.”
Hannah disagreed. “It’s bitterness that’s eatin’ at him. How is this to bring him any sort of peace?”
Perhaps company wasn’t the best idea after all. They weren’t supposed to be talking about the same thing eating at Andalin’s conscience.
Mrs. Lewis cleared her throat. “Look how uncomfortable you’re making our lady! You both should be ashamed of yourselves.” Mrs. Lewis reached over and squeezed Andalin’s hand. Andalin gave her a small smile of gratitude.
Mr. Lewis didn’t seem to hear his wife. “I think we ought to talk to him. This has been goin’ on long enough. It’s time he focused on turnin’ this place around.”
“Mr. Lewis,” Mrs. Lewis started, “can’t we discuss this another time?”
“We’re all here now, aren’t we? What better time to discuss it than the present?” Mr. Lewis asked. He stabbed a forkful of cake and shoved it between his whiskers and into his mouth.
Matilda folded her arms, seemingly disinterested in eating. “I think we’re all agreed. It’s past time for his lordship to be done grieving; only, his acceptance isn’t going to come just because we want it to.”
Mrs. Lewis looked embarrassed on Andalin’s behalf. “Are you sure we should discuss this in front of... ?” Her voice carried off when the others glared at her.
“Sweetheart, Miss Durante is one of us now,” Mr. Lewis said. “She knows well enough about what goes on around here. She has every right to participate in this discussion.”
Andalin squirmed. She should be grateful she didn’t have to pry for an explanation; instead she felt guilty she wasn’t sharing with them in return. There was far more at stake on this particular forest ride than on past trips. Should she tell them? The last thing she wanted was to breech Ellis’s trust and cause more problems for him.
Matilda caught her eye. “What is it, child? Ye look like yer stewing over something.”
Andalin bit her bottom lip. “I’m just worried what Lord Cadogen might do to himself.”
Everyone around the small kitchen table nodded their heads in agreement.
“So what do we do about it?” Hannah demanded.
Mrs. Lewis looked positively flustered. “Lady Kerrigan will be here in two days hence! We can’t worry about this right now!”
Hannah thumped her finger on the table. “There ain’t a better time than before the guests arrive. Why, I’d wager if he got himself to some social functions, it’d pry him away from his melancholy. I could resign and move in with my sister in Yorkshire.”
“It would be nice if his lordship could find himself a wife and settle down,” Matilda said wistfully. “The hole in his heart cannot be filled by revenge. Only love can fill a hole that big.”
Mrs. Lewis held out her hands. “It’s one thing to discuss how we feel about the situation, but it isn’t our place to meddle in the master’s affairs. The only action we can take is to make the upcoming visit go as splendidly as possible and stir his memory of better times.”
Mr. Lewis pushed his chair back and reached down to tie his boots. “It’s a nice thought, sweetheart, but we’re the only family he has now. If someone is going to help him see reason, then it will have to be us.”
“It won’t be me! I can’t persuade his lordship to do anythin’,” Hannah said.
Matilda shrugged. “He just laughs at my suggestions.”
Andalin looked at Mrs. Lewis, who obviously was not going to be a willing party to any of it.
Mr. Lewis sighed. “I guess that leaves one of us. Miss Durante?”
Andalin’s startled gaze flew to meet Mr. Lewis’s.
“Well?” Mr. Lewis asked.
Andalin had listened quietly to the discussion, not believing she was truly part of it. Only yesterday no one would answer her questions. Now she was privy to more information than she knew how to handle. “I have voiced my opinion, but he continues to follow his former life with little regard to my concerns about his welfare. He is stubborn.”
Mr. Lewis chuckled and scratched his whiskers. “It looks like we all fall short of having the ability to change his mind. We will have to stand together.”
