I will never learn everything,” Mrs. Milken said, sighing heavily.
“It will get harder before it gets easier,” she warned as she rubbed her own belly. “But this tiny one is so worth it.”
“When will your babe come, my lady?”
“In February. The second or third week.”
“You look ever so pretty. You have a glow about you.”
Anna knew Mrs. Milken wasn’t using mere flattery. As she had put on a little weight after leaving the asylum and then more as the baby grew within her, she had noticed her features softening, although she tended to think being in love also had something to do with her appearance.
They chatted for a few more minutes and then she mentioned that she had brought a roasted chicken for them to eat from for the next few days.
“I also had Cook bake you some scones,” she added. “I have found I have a fondness for them while I have been with child.”
The younger mother giggled. “I have always had a fondness for scones, child or not. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, my lady.”
“I am happy to do it for you.”
“All the tenants talk of how lucky we are that his lordship wed you. That you both care for this estate and its people, more so than the previous earl ever did.”
Having known Dez’s brother and his wayward tendencies, it didn’t surprise her. She merely smiled graciously and told the woman that she would be back in a week to visit and see how things were coming along.
She removed the food from her sack and slipped it back over her head. As she started out, the October afternoon’s breeze had picked up and the sting of cool was in the air. She gathered her shawl about her as she left the Milkens’ abode and headed back to Torville Manor. On her way, she decided to cut through the woods and go by the lake, still one of her favorite places to walk. As she passed by what she fondly thought of as her and Dez’s cottage, she thought the door stood ajar.
Leaving the path by the lake, she cut toward the cottage and as she approached it, she saw the door was definitely open. She wondered if they had failed to secure it properly after their last visit here a week ago and today’s wind had blown it open. She reached the door and started to close it when she noticed dirty dishes on the table. Frowning, Anna stepped inside, wondering if someone had come across the cottage and thought it unoccupied.
She ventured further in and crossed to the bedchamber, finding the bed unmade, the bedclothes hopelessly tangled. Some unauthorized person had definitely been staying here. She would alert Dez the minute she reached home. He could have a footman or groom stationed at the cottage and warn the trespasser off. It would also be wise to have a maid come down to the cottage and clean it. Anna didn’t like a stranger having been where she and Dez came for brief respites. Perhaps they should start locking the place up when they left each time, even if it did stand on Torrington lands.
As she turned and came back into the main room, a figure stood in the doorway. The way the sun streamed in, the person’s face was in shadow.
Before she could ask who stood there, the person took a few steps forward.
Matron.
A chill rushed through Anna. Then she saw the light reflect from something in Matron’s hand and saw the woman held a knife. Fear now seized Anna and she dug her nails into the palms of her hands to keep from screaming.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice calm despite the nerves rippling through her. “Have you been staying at this cottage? If so, I must ask you to leave. You are trespassing. I won’t tell my husband but you need to go. Now.”
Matron took a step forward, her wrist turning the knife she held menacingly.
“Oh, I’m not going anywhere, Miss Browning. You always were a troublemaker, from the moment you came to Gollingham.”
“I am Lady Torrington and this is not Gollingham. Leave, Matron,” Anna said firmly.
“You can act all high and mighty—but you’re not going to chase me away. I came for what’s due me.”
Anna bit her bottom lip to still its trembling.
“First you. Then Lady Jergens, Lady Eastman and Miss Stone. Then a few others. Men came. All the patients were removed. And it was all your fault. You and