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Authors: Renee Bernard
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I think I should have.
As the door closed behind Kitty, Raven took her seat at her desk and forced her mind to turn to the scavenger hunt. Joy had drained from the day but her obligations remained. She’d promised them all a grand puzzle and there was no reneging now. She lifted her pen and began to write out the list of items for the players to seek along with the clues and assignments that she would hide throughout the house and gardens in the grey of pre-dawn. She made sure that each player’s list included a few unique items to keep it exciting.
Even so, her mind wandered. The thrill of a house party and the romance of a London social season had lost most of its glitter after one look at Lady Morley. Trent implied that Raven’s judgment would be more sound when it came to choosing a husband, but something in her rebelled at the notion that Lady Morley had willingly partnered with a monster.
More likely Lord Morley was as sweet as sugared pears when they met…
Raven wasn’t sure marriage was quite the “prize” she’d been led to believe but as for considering herself as some predator—it felt ridiculous.
Sir Warrick has no resemblance at all to a creature that one would “take down”—but he stirs something in me that wonders what the chase would really be like if a man like that were at my heels.
Or if I were in pursuit of him if that’s truly how it works.
She glanced out the window at the oaks and recalled the look in Phillip Warrick’s eyes; and then boldly added a final item to the list with his name on it.
Lady Morley may not be the only one in need of an ally, or of comfort.
Chapter Five
The day of the scavenger hunt dawned as Raven knew it must. She’d been working on the lists, in between her subtle efforts to see to Lady Morley’s state and make a bright show of cheer at dinner to hide her concerns. Kitty had engineered what she could below stairs and before bed, a brief note from Lady Morley to Raven had expressed gratitude along with another plea for her discretion.
A sleepless night had yielded to morning and Raven prayed that subtlety was a skill that one could acquire by hoping for it. “Good morning, all!” she greeted the room breezily. Her forced smile gave way to genuine surprise as she spotted Lady Morley sitting next to her husband at the table.
“Ah! Here is my ward!” Geoffrey said. “Raven, this is Lady Morley who we missed at dinner.”
Raven curtsied and took her seat. “A pleasure to meet you at last, your ladyship.”
“A delight,” the woman returned softly. “I was just telling the earl how we’ve looked forward to this holiday.”
Raven did her very best not to stare at the faint shadow of a bruise on the woman’s face camouflaged by powders. Kitty’s ointments had done wonders for the injury to her lip. Thank God. “Oakwell Manor is known as quite the haven from the city.”
“Yes, well…my silly luck to catch a cold just after we’d arrived!” she exclaimed. “My poor husband has been left to fend for himself but I will do my best to make up for any lost time.”
Lord Morley smiled. “Millicent is far better at social nonsense than I.”
“God, what woman isn’t!” Trent said with a laugh. “Well, I am glad to see you recovered, dear lady. What a bear he’s been without you!”
Raven kept her eyes on her plate. If she didn’t know better, she’d have believed every word and seen no sign of trouble.
Mrs. Carlton poured herself another cup of tea. “Will you be joining us in the game, Lady Morley?”
“Game?” Millicent asked, openly confused.
“There’s to be a ridiculous scavenger hunt after breakfast,” Sheffield grumbled. “It was Miss Well’s doing.”
Raven blushed. “I do not have a list for you, Lady Morley, but if you wish to partner with someone?”
“Oh, please feel free to take my place!” Lady Baybrook said. “My knees already ache
As the door closed behind Kitty, Raven took her seat at her desk and forced her mind to turn to the scavenger hunt. Joy had drained from the day but her obligations remained. She’d promised them all a grand puzzle and there was no reneging now. She lifted her pen and began to write out the list of items for the players to seek along with the clues and assignments that she would hide throughout the house and gardens in the grey of pre-dawn. She made sure that each player’s list included a few unique items to keep it exciting.
Even so, her mind wandered. The thrill of a house party and the romance of a London social season had lost most of its glitter after one look at Lady Morley. Trent implied that Raven’s judgment would be more sound when it came to choosing a husband, but something in her rebelled at the notion that Lady Morley had willingly partnered with a monster.
More likely Lord Morley was as sweet as sugared pears when they met…
Raven wasn’t sure marriage was quite the “prize” she’d been led to believe but as for considering herself as some predator—it felt ridiculous.
Sir Warrick has no resemblance at all to a creature that one would “take down”—but he stirs something in me that wonders what the chase would really be like if a man like that were at my heels.
Or if I were in pursuit of him if that’s truly how it works.
She glanced out the window at the oaks and recalled the look in Phillip Warrick’s eyes; and then boldly added a final item to the list with his name on it.
Lady Morley may not be the only one in need of an ally, or of comfort.
Chapter Five
The day of the scavenger hunt dawned as Raven knew it must. She’d been working on the lists, in between her subtle efforts to see to Lady Morley’s state and make a bright show of cheer at dinner to hide her concerns. Kitty had engineered what she could below stairs and before bed, a brief note from Lady Morley to Raven had expressed gratitude along with another plea for her discretion.
A sleepless night had yielded to morning and Raven prayed that subtlety was a skill that one could acquire by hoping for it. “Good morning, all!” she greeted the room breezily. Her forced smile gave way to genuine surprise as she spotted Lady Morley sitting next to her husband at the table.
“Ah! Here is my ward!” Geoffrey said. “Raven, this is Lady Morley who we missed at dinner.”
Raven curtsied and took her seat. “A pleasure to meet you at last, your ladyship.”
“A delight,” the woman returned softly. “I was just telling the earl how we’ve looked forward to this holiday.”
Raven did her very best not to stare at the faint shadow of a bruise on the woman’s face camouflaged by powders. Kitty’s ointments had done wonders for the injury to her lip. Thank God. “Oakwell Manor is known as quite the haven from the city.”
“Yes, well…my silly luck to catch a cold just after we’d arrived!” she exclaimed. “My poor husband has been left to fend for himself but I will do my best to make up for any lost time.”
Lord Morley smiled. “Millicent is far better at social nonsense than I.”
“God, what woman isn’t!” Trent said with a laugh. “Well, I am glad to see you recovered, dear lady. What a bear he’s been without you!”
Raven kept her eyes on her plate. If she didn’t know better, she’d have believed every word and seen no sign of trouble.
Mrs. Carlton poured herself another cup of tea. “Will you be joining us in the game, Lady Morley?”
“Game?” Millicent asked, openly confused.
“There’s to be a ridiculous scavenger hunt after breakfast,” Sheffield grumbled. “It was Miss Well’s doing.”
Raven blushed. “I do not have a list for you, Lady Morley, but if you wish to partner with someone?”
“Oh, please feel free to take my place!” Lady Baybrook said. “My knees already ache
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