Death of a Duchess, Nellie Steele [non fiction books to read .txt] 📗

“And what did you tell him?” Robert inquired.

“The truth,” I replied. “Though after learning of my ability, he made a fast exit. I am not surprised, most who learn of it prefer to flee from me as quickly as possible.”

“So, you told him of your inquiry into Annie’s death?”

“Yes, we discussed the matter some. I had not yet spoken with him about it and wished to do so.”

“And did you inform him those original circumstances of our marriage no longer applied?”

“I did not.”

Robert waved his hand at me. “No matter. I shall inform him, lest he attempt to use it against us in the future. To challenge the marriage.”

“I understand and hope I have not caused any trouble by speaking with him. I determined telling the truth to be the best course of action.”

“Quite right, Lenora,” Robert assured me. “As always, your impulses prove correct.”

“I hope it may lead to a reconciliation between you. I realize the situation between you is tense, but I do abhor a feud within a family.”

“You are too admirable, Lenora. I am unworthy of your virtues.”

I shook my head at him. “I suppose I am sensitive to it, having lost my family and spent most of my life without it.”

Robert nodded, then moved on to the other subject at hand. “On to the other matter,” Robert said. “You said Annie awaited you at the end of the hallway and proceeded up the stairs before you?”

“Yes,” I said with a nod. “After my conversation with Edwin, I spotted her at the end of the hallway. She raced up the stairs ahead of me. When I reached the top of the stairs, I found the room in disarray.”

Robert shook his head. “Why?”

“I haven’t the slightest clue,” I admitted. “Perhaps our trip. Something similar happened following our last trip to Glasgow. Our absence may perturb her.”

Robert sighed. “I hope she has released whatever negative energy our absence caused from her system. I do not wish you to be troubled by it further.”

“As do I, though at least her anger seems restricted to creating minimal damage.” I glanced up the stairs. “I should finish cleaning the room before checking on Samuel. Ella is tending to him, but I do not wish to leave him too long.”

Robert grasped my hand, looping my arm through his. “The staff is more than capable of completing the task. Come, let us check on Samuel together. What did you tell the staff regarding the incident?”

“That a window blew open and a strong wind gust created the damage. Not a clever subterfuge, but it should do.”

We traversed the halls discussing arrangements for Samuel’s christening. I preceded Robert into my room through the open door. I halted one step into the room, causing Robert to bump into me. I swallowed hard, my eyes wide.

“What is it, Lenora?”

Ella read in a chair near Samuel’s bassinet. Hovering over him stood Annie. She stared into the crib, her hands white-knuckled and clutching the crib’s side. Samuel slept, oblivious to her presence.

“Annie,” I whispered, my focus never leaving her.

“What?!” Robert exclaimed. “Where?” Robert’s eyes shot around the room.

“At Samuel’s bassinet.”

The commotion drew Annie’s attention. Her head whipped toward us, her eyes glowing red. Robert shoved me behind him. “Annie!” he shouted. “Do not touch that child!”

Ella leapt from her seat, her book clattering to the floor. Her eyes were wide, and her hands shook as she stared at me. “What shall I do, Your Grace?” she questioned, her voice high in pitch, her fear obvious.

I stepped around Robert. “Do not agitate her,” I whispered. I raised my voice to a normal level, trying to steady it though it shook as I spoke. “Annie…” I took a step toward her.

“Lenora,” Robert whispered, grasping my arms. I shook him off gently, keeping my focus on Annie.

“Annie,” I repeated. “Something has disturbed you; I realize that. But it is not the child’s doing.”

Annie’s red eyes faded, returning to brown. She glanced down at Samuel again, then back to me. A tear rolled down her cheek.

I stopped walking. “What is it, Lenora? What is happening?” Robert whispered.

I continued speaking to Annie. “You do not wish to harm him, do you?”

Annie returned her gaze to Samuel. She released one of her white-knuckled hands from the bassinet. Her gray-blue hand, its nails blackened and curling, reached toward Samuel. I shot forward with my arm extended, ready to slap her hand away if she harmed the child.

“Annie!” Robert roared behind me. Annie disappeared, fading into thin air.

“Oh!” I exclaimed, scooping the child into my arms and squeezing him close to my chest. I shut my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. “She is gone,” I reported.

Robert heaved a sigh of relief. “Was she here to harm the child?” Ella screeched, her voice still shrill with alarm.

“No, I do not believe so,” I answered.

“You give her too much credit, Lenora,” Robert chided. “She destroyed your tower room and then we find her here looming over our child.” Robert sighed again. “Oh, Annie.” He lowered his head, shaking it. “I loved you in life but what you have become in death I cannot understand.”

Ella still shook from the experience. “It is all right, Sinclair,” I offered, grasping her hand in mine. “Calm yourself.”

“I apologize, Your Grace. I remain unaccustomed to these situations.”

“I understand. Sit down while you recover.” Ella collapsed into the chair, keeping hold of my hand.

“I do not like this, Lenora. I am not comfortable with the latest developments.”

“I shall remain guarded in my pursuit of any information. And I shall keep a close eye on Samuel, though I remain convinced she did not mean him any harm.”

Robert shook his head. “Perhaps you should take Samuel and stay elsewhere for a time.”

“That will only exacerbate the situation,” I argued.

“I do not wish to see any harm come to either of you. That is my only concern,” Robert countered.

“Perhaps His Grace is correct, Your Grace,” Ella offered, holding tight to