of her burr.
“I, too, am glad that I am here, Sarah. Eating your meals has been such a delight! Your cooking is simply divine! After eating that grand meal at dinner last evening, and breakfast today, I knew I must come say thank you and congratulate you myself.”
Sarah’s eyes twinkled as her cheeks blushed red.
“Pshaw, certainly, ye dinna mean tah flatter me so.”
“Quite the contrary. I meant every word I have just said. You have my undying gratitude.” Judith paused and turned to the servants who had waited on them.
“I must thank all of you, too. You have been most wonderful to me.”
They too blushed, and Judith could tell that they seemed taken aback.
The women dropped into shallow curtsies, muttering replies Judith failed to make out. Sarah was the one who spoke for them.
“A good thing ye have done, milady! You honor us.”
Judith, for the first time since watching Mr. Giraud breathe his last, began to feel a little better about herself.
She had been right to come here. It was a step in the direction of becoming a better person and righting her wrongs.
Perhaps it might also be the start of the returning the light, joy, and warmth to this household again.
She smiled at Sarah again. “You are all most kind.”
Just then, Mr. Beauregard broke his silence. “Will that be all, my lady?”
She turned to him. “Yes, thank you.”
“Then, I shall take my leave. Please enjoy the rest of the day as you see fit.”
He rose, bowed his head, then turned to leave.
As he did so, Judith felt it again … eyes hidden in the dark shadows, watching her. She turned quickly but, as always, saw no one.
Shaking her head, she tried to rid herself of the notion that there could possibly be ghosts.
It must be someone in the household who did not want to be seen, playing wicked tricks on her.
She would not allow it to bother her.
With that in mind, she turned to Amy.
“Come, Amy. I think it is a good day to embroider.”
“I cannot say I disagree, my lady.”
Bidding the Sarah and the servants goodbye, the pair took their leave of the kitchen.
Chapter 11
Stephen stuck to the shadows as Lady Judith went on her way, taking great care not to be seen.
He knew she could sense his presence, was aware that she was being watched. It was a good thing he still had good reflexes. Otherwise she would have caught him a long time ago.
He was aware that he was being a rude host. Why must he choose to stay in the shadows, when he could simply reveal himself and have his fill of the sight of her?
At first, he had good reason to watch from a distance. She was a guest in his home, and even when he was not yet ready to show himself, he had been curious about her.
He had wondered what she looked like, what kind of lady she was, eager to know if he had made a good decision in taking the two women into his home.
All entirely reasonable.
Ah, but when he had at last laid eyes upon her, something strange that had not happened in a long while occurred. Something had shifted in his heart.
He had planned to remain in the shadows a little longer. Perhaps even to the very end of their stay. However, he had been unable to help himself.
She seemed very gracious.
After the scene he had spied in the kitchen, he could very well say she was also kind and humble.
She was also truly beautiful.
Her hair, so long and lush, was golden, like the sun. Her eyes were the green of the forest. Vivid, gorgeous.
When he had arrived at dinner the evening before, he had no idea what to expect. Alas, the stirring inside of him had grown as he beheld her face.
His breath had almost caught in his throat, and he had had to take great care to get his heart to beat again.
She was simply breathtaking. He had not thought in such a way as that about any lady, any woman at all, in fact, since … since Abigail.
The feeling had both awed and discomforted him. Which was not a big surprise, given he had become a recluse by his own volition, keeping himself locked away from the world, having Thomas attend to most estate business. He himself had scarcely had to speak with anyone outside his household in a long time.
Still, there was something about Lady Judith. And he knew it was her who was