Page 146 of The Lyon Whisperer
Once she’d entered Chase’s den to find the pup sprawled on his back, fast asleep on a palate near the glowing grate. Her husband had given her a vague story about Rose and Fergus having run roughshod over the smaller pup while playing, and knocking him into the river.
Apparently Chase deemed the drying room too chilly for the soaked dog. “I quite forgot he was in here,” he added. But he had not returned the dog to the kitchens ’til much later.
Another time, she found the two napping together on the sofa, Chase’s ledger open on the floor as if it had slipped from his hand. She had retreated, closing the door softly behind her without saying a word.
Amelia eyed her maid. A spontaneous question formed in her mind. “Sally, is it true servants gossip, between houses, I mean?”
Sally’s eyes widened. “Never think any one of us would spread word of the goings on here, ma’am.”
Amelia grinned. “Of course not. Besides, what could anyone say about Lord Culver and me? We live quite humdrum lives, comparatively, I expect.”
“Oh, to be sure, ma’am. If you heard about the happenings at some other grand houses, your toes would curl. Why just the other day, my cousin, Bea, told me…” Her words died as it evidently dawned on her what she had revealed.
“So itistrue.”
Sally ducked her head. “I suppose, when one or two of us get together, especially those of us what’s family, we might share a bit o’ news.” Her eyes turned very earnest. “Still, ye must believe me when I tell you, we who work for you, well, we could not, we would not, say anything against you. You’re an angel, ma’am, and that’s a fact.”
Amelia felt her face grow hot. “I’m no angel, Sally. You need only ask my father.” She cleared her throat. “But I thank you for your kind words and your loyalty. Sally…” She hesitated.
“Yes, ma’am?” She sounded wary now.
“I heard something last night and I wondered…” She shook her head, feeling more than a little silly for broaching the matter with her lady’s maid, especially as Lady Tully had likely fabricated the whole thing.
“Should we get back, milady? It looks like it may rain.” Sally set about gathering the dogs.
Amelia glanced up through the canopy of tree limbs overhead. Clouds liberally dappled the sky, but rain hardly seemed imminent. Suspicion lanced through her.
“Sally, look at me.”
Sally lifted her gaze with evident reluctance.
“Have you heard anything at all that might indicate my marriage with Lord Culver is owed to…” She cleared her throat. “A lost wager on the part of Viscount Culver?”
Sally blinked rapidly. “Now, ma’am, you mustn’t worry over bits and bobs people might say—”
Her stomach dropped, as it had last night. “What do you know, Sally?”
Sally wrung her hands in front of her. “There was talk a ways back, came by way of Lord Culver, the elder’s home. Something to do with a bet between him and your father, the earl. None of us thought much about it until…”
“Until?”
“Until the other night when Lord Culver and the earl had words in the front drive, after your party.”
“What was said?” Amelia asked.
“Now, milady, no sense in asking through all that and getting yerself upset. It was clear they both had your interests at heart, just saw things a bit differently.”
“My interests,” she aped. “What was said?”
Sally looked on the verge of tears. “Something about a bet, and six months’ time. The baron was spitting mad in defense of you, and the way James, the new footman, described it, he was every bit the Iron Lion that night.”
“Yes, yes, the Iron Lion of Barrosa,” she said with an impatient wave of her hand. “Mad about what?”
“I can’t say, ma’am. James only got bits and bobs.” Her lady’s maid trembled visibly. “Whatever the case, I honestly think Lord Culver adores ye, ma’am. We all do.”
With an effort of will, Amelia forced herself to present an air of calm. She sent Sally a reassuring smile. “I’m sure you’re right.”
She called the dogs, who loped to her side, then tossed a large stick toward the manse.
