The Vanishing at Loxby Manor, Abigail Wilson [best value ebook reader .TXT] 📗

rejected me, which only added to my shame. It probably sounds strange for me to say so, but I’m glad she has found happiness with Lord Kendal.”

My chest tightened. “But what about you?”

He forced something just short of a smile. “I strive each day to take care of my father as well as his responsibilities, keepAvery on the right path, and provide for Seline. Trust me, I’m a busy man.”

I searched his eyes. But not a happy one.

Baker walked into the room then with an arm full of supplies.

Piers rose and accepted the bandages. “Thank you.” He set them on the sofa at my side and knelt casually before me, almostas if we’d not had such an intimate conversation. “You’ll only need to wear this for a short time, but I’m afraid you’ll feelthe effects in your shoulder for a while.”

He draped the fabric under my bent arm and around my back, then tied the ends on top of the opposite shoulder. “Now how doesthat feel?” He rested his hand on my good arm.

And for some odd reason I fought back a surge of tears. My arm felt better, really. So what was driving my rampant emotions?I watched as Piers folded the extra bandages and slid them back into the medical box, his fingers always so precise.

And then it hit me.

Piers had always been the one person in East Whitloe I could count on, the one person who understood me. For years I’d grieved the loss of our relationship, but had I ever really considered the loss of our friendship? I simply missed him.

And here we were sharing in the same comfort and affection we had so many times before, but with one terribly painful caveat—therewould never be anything more between us. His shame was a public one; mine private. We were standing on two very differentmountain peaks yet staring at the valley below with no possible way to meet in the middle. Piers Cavanagh was a gentleman.Avery would carry on the family name and his children would eventually inherit Loxby Manor. And I knew in my heart that marriagewas not the right choice for me, not after all I’d been through.

I needed to start looking for a governess position and sooner than I’d originally thought.

Chapter 17

The invitation for Lord Kendal’s ball finally came the following week. It had been long in its arrival, and I was beginningto wonder if we were to be invited at all. Piers caught my eye across the drawing room as he folded the letter closed.

“It seems we’ve been invited.”

Mrs. Cavanagh sat up at once. “Well, I should say so.” Then she slumped back down. “Of course, how could we possibly travelto Whitecaster Hall with Seline still unaccounted for?”

Avery was quick to pipe up. “I’d be happy to grace the ballroom as the representative for our family, to give the happy coupleour good wishes of course.”

Piers shot me a look, then steadied his gaze on Avery. “Though I do thank you for such a generous offer, I daresay it prudentfor us all to attend.”

Avery gave him just what Piers was watching for—a rather sharp glare followed all too quickly by a pout. “You do realize thatHonora will be there.”

Mrs. Cavanagh’s growl echoed her son’s. “Yes, Piers, I do not think—”

“I daresay it’s past time I was able to speak with Honora Gervey.”

Mrs. Cavanagh flicked open her fan and quivered it before her face. “’Pon my word, you don’t mean to make a scene, do you? Because I absolutely refuse to—”

“No, Mother.” Piers picked at a piece of lint on his breeches. “I merely mean to wish her good fortune in her marriage.”

“Well,” she huffed. “If that is the case . . .”

Avery, however, grumbled on, “What about Kendal?”

“I suppose I shall endeavor to avoid him.”

Avery’s eyes narrowed. “As I imagined. But if I may, why the sudden interest, brother?”

Piers crossed one boot over his opposing knee, an air of distraction about him, but I knew better. He cleared his throat.“Kendal was the last person to speak with Seline before she left. Aren’t you the least bit curious what was said?”

Avery shifted in his seat. “I guess so.”

Piers lifted his eyebrows. “You guess so?”

“Oh, all right. It makes perfect sense to question the gentleman. I just wished I’d thought of the idea first.”

Mrs. Cavanagh seemed to brighten. “We should all go. After all, it would be remarkable for me not to do so, considering Inever miss a social occasion. It would certainly be remarked otherwise, and we mean to maintain Seline’s innocence as longas possible.”

My lips parted. “But what about her supposed illness?”

“I’ve never hovered over a single one of my children. It would be odd for me to start doing so now. We shall simply remarkin passing that I employed a very fine nurse, for you must accompany me as well, Charity dear. I could not bear the ordealwithout a companion by my side.” She had a suppliant expression, well-practiced, which she employed to full affect. I foundmyself equally agreeing in my heart all the while shrugging off a chill.

Why the sudden invitation? Would something be required of me at the ball?

My going was settled before I’d had a chance to answer. Avery declared it a remarkable idea, and with Piers agreeing so readily,I daresay it was what he’d wanted from the start. In fact, with such enthusiasm, I began to warm to the idea. After all, itwould give us a chance to snoop around Whitecaster Hall.

It wasn’t until later that evening that I had the chance to speak with Piers alone about the idea. He timed his move perfectly.As I finished the last few notes of a song on the pianoforte, he feigned interest in the darkness beyond the bow window—theperfect spot for a tête-à-tête.

His finger caught my arm as I brushed past him on my way to the sofa. The room’s well-placed pillar provided the intimacyhe sought. “Can you understand me here?”

I nodded, a wave of nostalgia washing over me. Piers had always managed to