The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson (grave mercy .TXT) 📕

not to mention that part to her . . . among other things, like my being in your room. Your, well, let me just say, thetiming of your arrival has proven to be a bit awkward.”

“Awkward? Whatever do you mean?”

She gave an indifferent shrug, her hair glinting in the firelight. “Nothing all that dreadful. Certainly not worth the histrionicsMama has enacted this last hour or more. She’s got the entire house in an uproar. Surely you remember how dramatic she canbe.” Seline shot me a coy glance. “Ridiculous, since the whole thing was nothing but a silly accident.”

I inched down onto a nearby chair, lost as to what could possibly be amiss at Loxby that had turned the entire household upsidedown. Granted, at least now I wouldn’t have to talk about Ceylon.

I fumbled with my fingers in my lap. When my mother proposed the idea to spend a year with the Cavanagh’s while she and Papa visited my brother in Boston, I’d latched on to the notion at once. It was a golden opportunity—the perfect distraction from my difficult memories, time away to start anew. Yet the tone of Seline’s voice and her uncertain countenance sparked an all too familiar wave of repressed nerves. Had I made the wrong decision after all?

Seline seemed to follow my thoughts as she knelt by my chair, patting my hand as if I was a child. “Do not fret. Everythingshall be made right within the week.”

I stared up. “Tell me what has happened.”

A spark of mischief lit her eyes. “I suppose you must know the whole. Living in this house, you’ll learn of it soon enough,only I beg your discretion as it is rather personal in nature.”

Personal indeed. As a child Seline had steered headfirst into any trouble that came her way, and I was always right therewith her, joining in, keeping her secrets.

There was the time she’d dared Lord Kendal to touch her ankle and laughed so prettily when he’d done so. And the day she temptedHugh Daunt to take her fishing all alone for the afternoon. She never did reveal to me what they’d done on that riverbank,but Hugh couldn’t take his eyes off her after that.

Thankfully her elder brothers had always shielded her. But now? I produced a weak nod. “Oh, Seline. Years ago we promisedto look out for one another, and I have every intention of continuing to do so.”

Her shoulders relaxed as that dainty smile she affected so well returned to her lips. “You were always so wonderfully trustworthy,and I can see you haven’t changed a bit.” She squeezed my hand. “Perhaps it is a good thing you came to Loxby at such a dreadfultime. I daresay you can help protect me from Mama.”

I angled my chin. “Only if you tell me what you’ve got yourself into this time.”

“I’m afraid it is a bit of a bramble.” She fought back a laugh. “Well, you know how men get?”

I sighed, for I did know just how men got around her. Even at fifteen she’d been enticing. How she’d made it to twenty without an engagement I couldn’t guess.

She turned her attention to the arm of the chair, tracing the pattern with her finger. “It all started when Mr. Lacy, ourhead groom, took on a new stable hand—his nephew.” She snuck a peek beneath her lashes. “His name is Miles, and you know howI love to ride early every morning.”

I seemed to remember her sleeping until midday, but now was not the time to quibble.

“So you see, it wasn’t exactly my fault. I couldn’t help but interact with him alone day after day. It was only natural . . .I mean, I was simply humoring the man. Neither of us were the least serious. He knows full well I will settle for nothingshort of a title. I told him so from the beginning.”

“A title, hmm?” I wondered why Lord Kendal had not yet come up to scratch. The two had been inseparable since childhood.

She huffed, her hands suddenly animated. “Wouldn’t you know, this morning, one of the dratted servants slunk into the stablesand found Miles and me . . . well . . . you know, kissing.”

I sat up straight. “Oh, Seline.”

“Then the wretch dared to tell Papa. And now Mama thinks it likely the rumor will circulate the neighborhood.”

Seline had been labeled the village flirt years ago, but kissing a stable hand—it was the outside of enough. No wonder thehouse had been a veritable mausoleum when I arrived. Mrs. Cavanagh was right. This was much more serious than Seline’s usualnonsensical whims. Her very respectability was at stake. “What do you plan to do?”

“Well, deny it of course. Miles has been paid to leave the estate and keep his mouth shut. He is lucky Papa is willing to do that.”

A line squirmed across her brow. “You needn’t look at me like that. You always were such a curst innocent. I vow I never couldsay or do anything without ruffling your feathers.” She leaned forward, the hint of a laugh on her breath. “There is moreto discover than books, my dear, but I daresay you wouldn’t have the least idea what I’m even talking about.”

My jaw tightened. Why was it that people always assumed those who are quiet or shy know nothing of the world? How shockedSeline would be if she learned what actually happened in Ceylon, but I had no intention of sharing that day with anyone besidesmy mother. Not now, not ever.

I touched my forehead. “Won’t there be a scandal?”

“Not if I can squelch it or head it off. I do have a plan.”

A plan, hmm? I waited for her to say more, but she rose and made her way to the fireplace and poked the logs.

She angled her shoulders to steal a glance back at me. “What about you? Any special gentlemen you met at a ball? If you evenhad those in Ceylon.”

I cringed as the memories of the dreaded house parties I’d been forced to attend on those blustery summer nights came to mind.Goodness, how I’d hated them.

“If you remember, I have