no interest in Sommerset. The only reason I have come here is to visit my sick uncle and to meet you and poor little Milo.”
A small bud of hope began to spring up inside Adele. Perhaps she did have a chance of winning Silas’s favor—especially if Isabella wasn’t in the race.
Leaning over, Isabella patted her cousin tenderly on the arm. “You are hoping that Uncle Silas will pick you—am I right, cousin?” Seeing the shocked expression on Adele’s face, she smiled. “It’s all right, cousin, you can trust me. We are family, after all.”
For reasons she could not fully understand, Adele found herself nodding, surrendering to the warmth and understanding in Isabella’s radiant blue eyes.
“That’s why I’m here,” she said softly. “The truth is, my mother wants—”
Adele stopped, the shame overwhelming her. How could she share the horrible truth about the professor’s threats with someone like Isabella, whose life was so perfect? Adele was certain that in her cousin’s world, mothers were not vile creatures who would throw their children away if they failed to please them.
“Yes, Adele, go on. What about your mother?”
Adele cleared her throat. “My mother…tries her best, but we are always in debt. If we had even a little of Uncle Silas’s money, it would make our lives so much easier.” Her eyes dropped down to the floor. “So much happier.”
“Of course it would,” said Isabella with certainty. “And I will tell you the truth, cousin—I do not believe Uncle Silas could find a more deserving heir than you.”
“Really?” Great waves of relief washed through Adele.
“Of course I do! In fact, I will do anything I can to help you in your quest,” she promised, kissing her cousin on the cheek. “In fact, I am going to make it my mission to see that you become the next mistress of Sommerset.” She smiled. “You just leave it to me.”
“There you are, girls!” said Mrs. Hammer, puffing madly in the doorway. “I’ve been looking all over the house for you two. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.” The housekeeper turned around, giving a wave. “Come on now, they won’t bite.”
From behind Mrs. Hammer’s broad black skirt Milo emerged, sliding sideways into the morning room like a crab.
“This is Milo Winterbottom,” announced Mrs. Hammer grandly.
In a single move Isabella jumped to her feet and rushed toward the boy, hugging him violently.
“It is wonderful to meet you, Milo!” she declared loudly. “I have prayed for you often over the years, cousin. Oh, it breaks my heart to think how horrible your life has been, you poor little creature. All alone in the world!”
“I am not alone,” Milo corrected her, his face still squashed into her shoulder. “I have my grandfather.”
“Well, of course you do!” said Isabella, releasing her cousin. She stood back, beaming at him madly. “You are a short little thing, aren’t you? Well, never mind that, none of us is perfect.”
Adele gave Milo a reassuring smile.
“I’m Adele,” she said softly. “Nice to meet you, Milo.”
“Nice to meet you,” said Milo, shaking her hand.
“The three of us are going to have such fun, Milo,” continued Isabella. “Just you wait—this will be the most wonderful adventure we ever had!”
“I’m sure it will,” agreed Milo. But he didn’t believe it for a second.
***
Dr. Capon fastened the latch on his medical bag and sat down next to his patient.
“The news is not good,” he said gently. “The illness is progressing faster than I anticipated. Your heart is very weak.”
Silas opened his eyes slowly and offered the doctor a thin smile. “Indeed,” he said faintly. “How long do I have?”
“That’s hard to say,” said the doctor stiffly. “If you get plenty of rest and take care not to excite yourself…well, who knows?”
“The truth , Doctor.”
“A month. Less, perhaps.”
“I see.”
“You must not give up, Silas; people in your
A small bud of hope began to spring up inside Adele. Perhaps she did have a chance of winning Silas’s favor—especially if Isabella wasn’t in the race.
Leaning over, Isabella patted her cousin tenderly on the arm. “You are hoping that Uncle Silas will pick you—am I right, cousin?” Seeing the shocked expression on Adele’s face, she smiled. “It’s all right, cousin, you can trust me. We are family, after all.”
For reasons she could not fully understand, Adele found herself nodding, surrendering to the warmth and understanding in Isabella’s radiant blue eyes.
“That’s why I’m here,” she said softly. “The truth is, my mother wants—”
Adele stopped, the shame overwhelming her. How could she share the horrible truth about the professor’s threats with someone like Isabella, whose life was so perfect? Adele was certain that in her cousin’s world, mothers were not vile creatures who would throw their children away if they failed to please them.
“Yes, Adele, go on. What about your mother?”
Adele cleared her throat. “My mother…tries her best, but we are always in debt. If we had even a little of Uncle Silas’s money, it would make our lives so much easier.” Her eyes dropped down to the floor. “So much happier.”
“Of course it would,” said Isabella with certainty. “And I will tell you the truth, cousin—I do not believe Uncle Silas could find a more deserving heir than you.”
“Really?” Great waves of relief washed through Adele.
“Of course I do! In fact, I will do anything I can to help you in your quest,” she promised, kissing her cousin on the cheek. “In fact, I am going to make it my mission to see that you become the next mistress of Sommerset.” She smiled. “You just leave it to me.”
“There you are, girls!” said Mrs. Hammer, puffing madly in the doorway. “I’ve been looking all over the house for you two. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.” The housekeeper turned around, giving a wave. “Come on now, they won’t bite.”
From behind Mrs. Hammer’s broad black skirt Milo emerged, sliding sideways into the morning room like a crab.
“This is Milo Winterbottom,” announced Mrs. Hammer grandly.
In a single move Isabella jumped to her feet and rushed toward the boy, hugging him violently.
“It is wonderful to meet you, Milo!” she declared loudly. “I have prayed for you often over the years, cousin. Oh, it breaks my heart to think how horrible your life has been, you poor little creature. All alone in the world!”
“I am not alone,” Milo corrected her, his face still squashed into her shoulder. “I have my grandfather.”
“Well, of course you do!” said Isabella, releasing her cousin. She stood back, beaming at him madly. “You are a short little thing, aren’t you? Well, never mind that, none of us is perfect.”
Adele gave Milo a reassuring smile.
“I’m Adele,” she said softly. “Nice to meet you, Milo.”
“Nice to meet you,” said Milo, shaking her hand.
“The three of us are going to have such fun, Milo,” continued Isabella. “Just you wait—this will be the most wonderful adventure we ever had!”
“I’m sure it will,” agreed Milo. But he didn’t believe it for a second.
***
Dr. Capon fastened the latch on his medical bag and sat down next to his patient.
“The news is not good,” he said gently. “The illness is progressing faster than I anticipated. Your heart is very weak.”
Silas opened his eyes slowly and offered the doctor a thin smile. “Indeed,” he said faintly. “How long do I have?”
“That’s hard to say,” said the doctor stiffly. “If you get plenty of rest and take care not to excite yourself…well, who knows?”
“The truth , Doctor.”
“A month. Less, perhaps.”
“I see.”
“You must not give up, Silas; people in your
Similar Books
