Page 38 of The Duke's Unclaimed Bride
Edith smiled at her little girl. They walked a few more steps before she noticed that Laurence was lagging behind, looking at something.
“Go ahead,” he urged. “I’ve seen something that needs my attention.”
Edith hesitated. For some reason, she had allowed herself to hope that all of them would walk back to the castle together.
“We’ll see you back at home,” Edith said softly.
Tilly, focused on her posture, hadn’t noticed Edith’s expression.
Why must he be so insufferably vexing?
One moment, she felt protected by his warmth; the next, he abandoned them for the sake of duty. At least in her first marriage, her husband had been consistently absent.
She had learned to be alone because she had not been given an alternative. Laurence’s inconsistency gnawed at her. His fleeting presence made the stretches of time alone even more bitter.
She swallowed hard, praying that Tilly was unaware of it all. For now, Tilly was walking tall, her shoulders unburdened, and her face bright.
I pray that she will always feel this way.
“Where are we going, Tilly?” Edith asked as Tilly dragged her from the parlor to a drawing room.
“I need to show you something. It’s important!” Tilly insisted as they walked, her grip on Edith’s arm surprisingly strong.
“What could be so important that you need to take me there immediately?” Edith pressed.
“You’ll see!”
Edith raised an eyebrow but didn’t pull away.
Tilly marched her into the room and pointed at Laurence, who was reading. He looked up at the pair and offered a small, questioning smile.
“What’s happening?”
“I’m not sure. Tilly said that she had to show me something?—”
Click.
Edith’s eyes widened as she heard the door close. When she tried to open it, it only rattled in its frame. On the other side, she could hear Tilly giggling.
“Tilly! Open the door!” Edith called out.
Laurence rose from his seat. “What’s happening?” he asked, and also tried the door. “Tilly. Open. The. Door,” he growled.
“No!” Tilly laughed.
“Miss Tilly! Where did you find that key?” they heard Abigail ask.
“I’m not telling you!” Tilly cackled and sprinted away, her footsteps fading down the hall.
“Tilly!” Edith called out.
“Catch her!” Laurence shouted through the door.
“Where did she go?” they heard another servant ask.
“This way!” someone else, more distant, called.
A thunder of footsteps rushed past the room, and then there was only silence.
