need some assistance,” he said.
She curtsied to him and smiled, looking up from her lashes. She was a flirt as he knew she’d be. They all were.
“What’s your name?” he asked, trying to maintain the charm in his voice and not yet let her know what would really happen to her tonight.
“Molly, my lord.”
“Molly, would you be so kind as to show me where I can find the gardens?” he asked. “It is a perfect night to share the moonlight with such a pretty face.” She would always say yes. They always said yes. He was handsome enough, important enough, and he knew how to charm them when he had to.
Her smile brightened. “Yes, my lord, this way.” She led him back down the stairs, but instead of going through the ballroom and out the balcony doors as a guest might do, she led him through the darkened bits of the house, outside of where the partygoers indulged in dance and drink. A good girl wouldn’t have taken him through unlit halls and rooms. A decent girl would have brought him right back to the center of the party. But she wasn’t a good girl and she deserved this, deserved what he would do to her tonight.
They went through a small dining room and then into a parlor that had French doors that led out to the gardens in the back of the house.
“It is a lovely night,” she said.
“Indeed.” The moon was brighter than he would have liked. He would have to make certain they found a secluded area, one shrouded with shrubbery or a darkened side of the house, against the brick.
“The gardens are just out that way,” she said. She stopped walking and pointed.
He held his hand out to her. “Don’t you want to walk with me? I would appreciate the company.”
She chewed down on her lip and looked behind. “I don’t know if I can. Master Griffin doesn’t approve of the servants conversing with the guests.”
He flashed her another smile. “I won’t tell if you won’t.” He reached up and wrapped one of her curls around his finger. “If I ask nicely?”
One last look behind her, and then she slid her small hand into his and followed him down the steps.
Chapter Five
Mia couldn’t understand why the conversation with Alex had made her feel a semblance better. Perhaps it was merely knowing that he wasn’t going to sit aside and allow this crime to be swept under the proverbial rug. No, he fully intended to do something about it, investigate on his own and speak to the police to ensure the killer was caught.
And if that meant she had to relive the ordeal a few times while giving him the details, then so be it. She certainly hoped he would have gone to such lengths had she been killed that night, too.
Mia started at the sound of her cottage door opening. “Who’s there?” she asked.
“Mia, it is merely I,” Rachel said. “Is everything alright?” she asked as she closed the door behind her.
Mia relaxed and realized for the first time that her breathing was labored. She supposed it would take a while for her nerves to right themselves again. “Rachel, of course it is you. My apologies. I’m a bit jumpy this evening and you startled me.”
Rachel laughed. “I do suppose I’m getting in rather late in the evening. My apologies. Aunt Katherine’s rig lost a wheel halfway here and we had to hire a ride for the rest of the way into London.” Mia heard Rachel drop her bag, then sling her heavy cloak to drape over a kitchen chair, the weight of it shifting the wooden seat so that it scratched against the floor. “It was a lovely visit, Mia, I do wish you’d agree to accompany me one of these days.” Then her friend paused. “Are you ill?” Rachel asked as she rushed over and sat near her on the sofa.
Mia released a shaky laugh. “It would seem I’ve had a most eventful time in your short absence.” Mia swallowed several times to prevent herself from crying. Funny how she could share details with Lord Carrington and not become overly emotional, but having Rachel here the
She curtsied to him and smiled, looking up from her lashes. She was a flirt as he knew she’d be. They all were.
“What’s your name?” he asked, trying to maintain the charm in his voice and not yet let her know what would really happen to her tonight.
“Molly, my lord.”
“Molly, would you be so kind as to show me where I can find the gardens?” he asked. “It is a perfect night to share the moonlight with such a pretty face.” She would always say yes. They always said yes. He was handsome enough, important enough, and he knew how to charm them when he had to.
Her smile brightened. “Yes, my lord, this way.” She led him back down the stairs, but instead of going through the ballroom and out the balcony doors as a guest might do, she led him through the darkened bits of the house, outside of where the partygoers indulged in dance and drink. A good girl wouldn’t have taken him through unlit halls and rooms. A decent girl would have brought him right back to the center of the party. But she wasn’t a good girl and she deserved this, deserved what he would do to her tonight.
They went through a small dining room and then into a parlor that had French doors that led out to the gardens in the back of the house.
“It is a lovely night,” she said.
“Indeed.” The moon was brighter than he would have liked. He would have to make certain they found a secluded area, one shrouded with shrubbery or a darkened side of the house, against the brick.
“The gardens are just out that way,” she said. She stopped walking and pointed.
He held his hand out to her. “Don’t you want to walk with me? I would appreciate the company.”
She chewed down on her lip and looked behind. “I don’t know if I can. Master Griffin doesn’t approve of the servants conversing with the guests.”
He flashed her another smile. “I won’t tell if you won’t.” He reached up and wrapped one of her curls around his finger. “If I ask nicely?”
One last look behind her, and then she slid her small hand into his and followed him down the steps.
Chapter Five
Mia couldn’t understand why the conversation with Alex had made her feel a semblance better. Perhaps it was merely knowing that he wasn’t going to sit aside and allow this crime to be swept under the proverbial rug. No, he fully intended to do something about it, investigate on his own and speak to the police to ensure the killer was caught.
And if that meant she had to relive the ordeal a few times while giving him the details, then so be it. She certainly hoped he would have gone to such lengths had she been killed that night, too.
Mia started at the sound of her cottage door opening. “Who’s there?” she asked.
“Mia, it is merely I,” Rachel said. “Is everything alright?” she asked as she closed the door behind her.
Mia relaxed and realized for the first time that her breathing was labored. She supposed it would take a while for her nerves to right themselves again. “Rachel, of course it is you. My apologies. I’m a bit jumpy this evening and you startled me.”
Rachel laughed. “I do suppose I’m getting in rather late in the evening. My apologies. Aunt Katherine’s rig lost a wheel halfway here and we had to hire a ride for the rest of the way into London.” Mia heard Rachel drop her bag, then sling her heavy cloak to drape over a kitchen chair, the weight of it shifting the wooden seat so that it scratched against the floor. “It was a lovely visit, Mia, I do wish you’d agree to accompany me one of these days.” Then her friend paused. “Are you ill?” Rachel asked as she rushed over and sat near her on the sofa.
Mia released a shaky laugh. “It would seem I’ve had a most eventful time in your short absence.” Mia swallowed several times to prevent herself from crying. Funny how she could share details with Lord Carrington and not become overly emotional, but having Rachel here the
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