Lady Adalyn (The Saga Of Wolfbridge Manor Book 1), Sahara Kelly [the best e book reader .TXT] 📗

But there had been no bees in the house and it was February. In addition, surely Sir Amery would have dined on similar foods before. Surely he would have been stricken then?

The chatter grew.

“Dead as a doornail…”

“Just dropped, he did.”

“Never imagined, as I live and breathe.”

The servants were hurrying to their assigned chores and she saw one bring down a large sheet, presumably to cover the mortal remains of Sir Amery.

Adalyn sighed. He wasn’t the nicest of men, but neither did he deserve such a death.

“Mr. Wandsworth reckons it could've been poison,” hissed one maid to another.

“Poison?”

“Aye. Yer never knows…”

Shocked to her core, Adalyn jumped when Trick reappeared. “The gig, my Lady. We can leave now.”

She nodded. “Oh please, yes. I need to get out of here.”

Once again he swept her up and they were outside in the cold night air. Adalyn sucked in a large breath, feeling it cleanse her lungs.

“They’re talking about poison, Trick.”

He stilled. “What?”

“I heard one of the maids say that.”

“Dear God.” He shook his head. “Dear God.”

“Let’s go home, please…” She lifted her hand to his cheek. “Take me home?”

He squeezed her, holding her close to him as he lifted her into the gig. “With all the pleasure in the world, my Lady. Let us indeed go home.”

Chapter Twelve

Trick drove them back to Wolfbridge in what felt like record time to Adalyn, and she couldn’t have been happier. By the time they’d reached the steps, she’d started to shake.

“Adalyn?” Trick looked at her face, which she guessed was probably pale, since the shock of the evening’s events were beginning to take their toll.

“I c-c-can’t…” she stuttered, reaching out for him as he came to her side of the gig.

“It’s all right, sweetheart,” he soothed. “We’ll be inside soon…”

Thankfully Giles was at the door, and after taking one look at her face, he turned and bellowed down the hallway. “Evan, Daniel…to me.”

Jeremy was already running toward him. “What is it? Is Adalyn all right?”

“I don’t know.”

Giles stepped outside and Trick passed Adalyn over into his waiting arms. “Trick, take care of the gig. Has she been injured?”

“No,” answered Trick. “It was Fairhurst. He’s dead.”

“Dear God,” muttered Giles. “Let’s settle you down, my Lady…”

“I can walk,” she choked out. “Oh Giles. It was awful.” Suffering from the impact of seeing Sir Amery breathe his last on the carpet in front of her, Adalyn gave in to tears, burying her face in Giles’s shoulders.

The other two men arrived post haste, rushing to Giles and circling him like a squad of three bodyguards.

“Something happened to Sir Amery,” said Giles briefly. “He’s dead.”

“Jesus,” breathed Evan.

“I can’t believe it,” mumbled Daniel, eyes wide.

“Let’s settle Adalyn first,” said Jeremy. “She’s in shock.”

“You’re right,” Giles nodded. “I’ll take her to her room and in fifteen minutes I want you all there. We’ll have a conference, but somewhere where Adalyn can feel safe and comfortable.” He glanced at Evan. “Maybe tea with a spot of brandy?”

Evan nodded and hurried off.

“Trick is dealing with the gig, so please tell him when he comes in?”

Giles walked up the stairway as Adalyn finally caught her breath. She’d heard the conversation, but it took some time to get past the fog she felt in her brain. “I’m sorry, Giles,” she whispered. “I’m being silly.”

“Don’t be absurd, my Lady. You have had a severe shock.”

“It just…it brought back memories of...Wilkerson. Since I’ve been here, I could lay them aside. But now…they’re all back again.” She couldn’t help the shiver that wracked her.

Giles held her tightly. “We’re going to get you comfortable, my Lady. Safe and sound in your chambers. Then you can tell us what happened. All of us.”

“You’ll all stay with me for a little?”

“Of course,” he soothed.

She was quiet for a moment as he carried her down the hallway to her rooms. “You called me Adalyn, Giles.”

“I did?”

“Yes, you did,” she murmured. “I hope you will do so again. I feel more like myself when everyone uses my name, not my title. I was never meant to be a Lady anything.”

He set her down at the end of her bed. “You’re quite wrong. You are a natural-born Lady. But it is our pledge to make you happy. If my calling you Adalyn will further that goal, then so be it.”

She nodded.

“Now then. Turn around, and I shall attempt to loosen your laces sufficiently for you to disrobe.”

“Thank you,” she shot him a weak smile. “You will look the other way.”

Mildly affronted, Giles snorted. “I shall be outside the door, my…um…Adalyn.”

“Of course.”

“I asked the others to join us?”

She nodded as the tapes fell free and she clutched the front, untying the ribbon at her throat. “I heard. It’s a good idea. I think it should best be told once to everyone.”

“My thoughts exactly. So please let me know when you are ready for company.”

He bowed and left her to undress, which she did expeditiously, tying her thick robe around her nightgown and sighing with pleasure as she warmed her toes by the fire. “I’m ready,” she called.

Immediately the door opened, admitting all her gentlemen at once.

Evan was carrying a tray, and he set it down on the bedside table. “I skipped tea and went straight for the brandy,” he glanced at her. “Best thing for shock.” He passed her a glass with a healthy amount of deep amber liquid.

“Good idea,” said Daniel. “Is there enough for all of us?”

So glasses were filled, and everyone settled. Adalyn stayed by the fire, Giles sat opposite, and Evan, Daniel and Trick sprawled on the bed. Jeremy sat on the floor next to her.

She glanced around, aware that this many men in the bedroom of an unmarried woman, widow or not, would be considered outrageous.

But somehow, she found it quite the reverse. It was natural, comforting, as if her family had gathered near her for protection and warmth.

“Tell us, Adalyn,” began Giles. “In your own words. Trick can fill in what he saw