Page 46 of Halstead House

The conservatory was one of my favorite rooms in the mansion. Being surrounded by the lush plants and glass walls made me feel as though I’d entered another world. The smells were earthy and warm, and I’d cracked two windows to allow a through-breeze. It was heaven.

“Of course, that’s just fine. I’m off to...” Eliza began, but was interrupted by Lucas as he marched into the room.

“I just ran into Derek in the foyer,” he stated, referring to a member of the day staff.

“I’d imagine that happens on occasion,” Eliza replied with a serene face.

A muscle in Lucas’s cheek twitched and he took a deep breath. “Yes, but it’s not often he’s hauling your luggage along behind him. Where are you going?”

I had been fascinated at the sight of Lucas losing his cool exterior, but that immediately shifted as the words he’d said penetrated.

“Wait. You’re going somewhere?” I squeaked out to Eliza.

Derek entered the room just then with luggage under each skinny arm. He couldn’t have been more than eighteen and looked funny juggling the large bags. “I’m ready whenever you are,” he said to Eliza, unaware of the tension in the air.

“Excellent. Let’s go.” She spun around and exited the conservatory doors without saying another word.

Lucas was hot on her heals, with Derek following directly behind him. There was nothing for it but for me to join in the procession while doing my best to figure out what was happening. Based on Lucas’s face, and the rigidity of his movements, this was not a happy, celebratory parade but a parade of horrors. I grabbed my crutches and tried to keep up.

“What’s going on?” Lucas asked Eliza as I navigated the stairs down to the gardens.

“I always spend a few weeks in Maine each summer and...” Eliza began.

Lucas jumped in. “It’s not summer yet. It’s the first week of May.”

“True. However...” She drew out the word when she saw his mouth begin to open again. He slapped it shut. “Some things have come up and I’m going now. I’ll be back before you know it.”

Lucas tried to shift in front of her, but she skillfully dodged him while continuing to walk purposefully ahead. “What about our upcoming events?”

Eek, the events! I had been more concerned with her leaving—and what that meant for me emotionally—than about the events. I would now be solely in charge of those in her absence. She just saidweeks, right? As in plural? Lucas was right. What was she thinking?

We had reached the garage, although I was a few paces behind and my armpits were getting the workout of their life trying to keep the crutches from falling. Lucas paused to hold the door for Derek and Eliza before turning to wait for me as well. I hustled to enter, not wanting to redirect his frustration toward myself.

“I have total confidence in Grace,” Eliza said as Lucas and I entered the garage. “She knows everything you need for the luncheon next week. The next big event we have isn’t until the end of the month. I’ll be back by then.”

“But...” Lucas tried again.

“Not to mention this glorious technology we have that will make it possible to keep in touch. I’m not needed here right now.”

I begged to differ. Truly, I did.

“Which car did you want to take today, ma’am?” Derek squeaked politely.

“My sedan will be fine, thank you.” Eliza gestured to a sleek, shiny black car parked next to Lucas’s.

“Oh, no, no, no.” Lucas strode up and planted himself in front of the trunk before poor Derek could heave a bag in.

Eliza’s face opened into a delighted smile, and she leaned up to kiss Lucas on the cheek. “How wonderful, darling. I’d love for you to drive me.”

While Lucas blinked at her sugary sweet manipulation, Eliza turned to Derek and told him to put the bags in Lucas’s car. He did so, and then with a polite nod to all of us he returned to the mansion and his other duties. I wished I could do the same, but my duties were being directly affected by what was happening here.

What exactlywashappening here? All I knew was that no more than five minutes ago I’d been happily basking in ferns and sunlight. Now, things were crumbling and I couldn’t seem to gather my thoughts. Eliza had said she’d be back by the end of the month. That was a long time. A really long time. Weeks. The word made me shudder.

“Do you need anything from me before I leave?” Eliza turned to me, pulling me out of my inner thoughts.

I almost laughed at the absurdity of her question. “I’m still trying to process you leaving. I don’t even know what questions to ask.”

She walked to me and put a hand on my arm. “You’ll do wonderfully. If I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t be leaving.”

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