Page 63 of The Masked Baron
Even if she would have told him her thoughts, as it was clear he had not sensed them, there had been no chance to remedy his mistakes. No one could have predicted a madwoman would be capable of destroying their family’s happiness so completely. He was unable to say goodbye—to any of them. It haunted him.
Ellis pulled his arms into his jacket and straightened his collar. Today, with Annie by his side, he would finally have peace again in his heart. He was determined.
Ellis went to the kitchen first. Matilda was measuring porridge into serving bowls to be sent up for breakfast.
“Will ye be eating in here this morning?” Matilda asked cheerfully.
Ellis slipped onto a stool. “I will be joining Miss Durante in the dining room. I just wanted to ask if you would pack another picnic today for the two of us.”
“Certainly.” Matilda looked very, very pleased.
Ellis didn’t want to gratify her with explanations, but the smile that escaped at the thought of spending more time alone with his ward gave him away.
Matilda wagged a finger at him. “It’s not wise for ye to keep taking Miss Durante out without a chaperone. I heard Birks simply took off yesterday. Even a capable and intelligent young man like yerself must be on his guard. Forgive me for speaking so candidly, but yer reputation has already been sullied; hers has not.”
Ellis gently pushed down Matilda’s bony hand pointed so accusingly in his face and said, “You needn’t worry—”
Matilda interrupted him. “I know I’m just the help, but I haven’t been down in this kitchen so long I’ve forgotten what happens between a man and a woman.”
Ellis chuckled. “I was just going to add that after today, we will follow strict social protocols. Today, however, it cannot be helped.”
Matilda seemed satisfied, because she went back to spooning porridge.
Ellis stood to leave but turned around to say one last thing. “I hope you know you have always been more than ‘just the help.’ It would grieve me if you did not know how much I have appreciated your loyalty these last ten years.”
Matilda winked at him. “Ye were a good boy and have been a good master. I wouldn’t speak up to ye like I did just now if I loved ye any less.”
Ellis felt a prick in his heart, and gratitude filled him. Once in the passageway he wondered why he suddenly felt so happy. He didn’t even have Eliana home yet. Was it the idea of it being so soon in his future? Or because he was finally capable of caring about more than just the lost memory of his family?
He needed to find his sweet Annie. He strode the distance of the house to the dining room as quickly as he could. He had only begun to tell her all the things in his heart the afternoon before. While it would take time to be able to express many of his feelings, he was anxious to have Annie in his arms again to at least show her what he felt. Now that he was sure she returned his affections, he was finally free to do so. He was ever hopeful she’d forgive him for his last secret.
Ellis entered the dining room with a grin the size of a schoolboy’s only to have it immediately flee and be replaced with a scowl. Kerrigan had arrived without him knowing. He was sitting next to Annie, holding her hands. Annie pulled back the moment she saw Ellis in the doorway. Kerrigan followed her line of vision and promptly stood.
“Morning, Cadogen. It looks as if you have overslept.” Kerrigan gave him a nod and then sat down at the table.
“I did not oversleep, and neither, by the looks of it, did you,” Ellis said grumpily. He filled his plate at the sideboard and then sat at the head of the table.
“I was earlier than even I expected,” Kerrigan began as he unfolded his napkin. “I arrived late last night and slept in the inn in town so as not to interrupt the household. I was anxious to be here early so I could tell you firsthand that my mother, as well as my sister and her husband, are to join us tomorrow.”
“Oh?” Ellis asked, surprised. “Well, they are always welcome in this home.”
Kerrigan took a long drink. “They were confident you would feel that way, so they hurried me ahead to prepare you for their arrival. It seems my sister cannot be without her new friend, Miss Durante, for long.” Kerrigan turned and grinned at Annie before continuing. Annie’s gaze flicked to meet Ellis’s. She was clearly pleading for his understanding. He lost himself for a moment in her eyes. She loved him, not Kerrigan. She blushed deeper, which only assured him the more.
Kerrigan, oblivious to their shared look, added, “Mrs. Trenton has some great news, and she won’t breathe a word of it until we are all together.”
“I will let Mrs. Lewis know they are coming,” Annie suggested, “if you will excuse me.”
Ellis grabbed her hand to stop her. It was as good a reason to touch her as he could think of. “It can wait until you finish your breakfast.”
She gave the smallest hint of a smile and slipped back into her seat.
Ellis ate silently for a moment and then dabbed his napkin over his mouth. “Kerrigan, there have been some new developments since we last saw you.”
Annie’s eyes grew wide, and he wanted to laugh. She must have thought he was going to share their confessions of love. It would be nice to have Kerrigan know he needed to keep his distance, but he wouldn’t dare announce anything without discussing it first with Annie. He gave her his own look, hoping she would take his meaning.
“Yesterday Miss Durante and I were riding by the waterfall when Miss Durante saw a woman watching us.”
Kerrigan sat back in his seat. “Sephira?”
