Read Online Whispers at Midnight by Andrea Parnell - Free Book Online Page B

things? Perhaps she was far more tired than she had
realized. She sighed gently.
    “So Groom has stayed. Are there still
horses?” she asked softly.
    “A few,” Gardner responded. “And a
respectable carriage.” Noting her surprise, he added, “Groom wanted
to stay. I don’t think even Cecil knows he’s still here. You won’t
mind, will you?”
    Amanda exhaled her breath slowly. Had she
known about Groom, she could have saved the money she’d spent
hiring a carriage and driver.
    “No. Of course not,” she answered, wondering
how she would manage to keep two servants.
    “Mother provided for them both,” he said, as
if reading her thoughts. “They could leave if they wished. It is
their choice to stay at Wicklow. You’ll not need to worry about
wages.” Cecil must have told him of her circumstances.
    “Does Groom have a key to the house?”
    “No. In fact, he doesn’t. His domain is the
stable and he prefers it that way. I expect what you saw was just
the sun hitting the glass and making a shadow.” Gardner smiled and
dropped his arm from her shoulder. “There was no one about when we
came.”
    “You’re probably right,” Amanda said,
chasing those puzzling thoughts from her mind. Her expression had
grown still. She glanced at Gussie, then whispered to Gardner, “I
don’t think Gussie approves of my having the house.”
    “Gussie?” Gardner chuckled. “Don’t take her
too seriously. I don’t believe she has any idea what she’s saying
half the time. Anyway, once she gets used to you, she’ll be
devoted.”
    But will I get used to her? Amanda thought,
tightening her lips fractionally. Perhaps Groom would be happier
about the new mistress of Wicklow. If not, she would feel like a
thorn among the flowers in her own house.
    “Well, you found her, did you?” Gussie
chortled from her spot at the parlor door. “An ill-mannered young
woman, Mr. Gardner,” she said, shaking her head. “Just send her
right on her way. We don’t—”
    “Gussie,” Gardner shouted. “This is Miss
Fairfax.”
    Gussie’s chin raised quickly. “Is it, now?”
She really had very observant eyes and Amanda wondered if she
hadn’t known all along. The woman made a clucking sound. There was
a slight softening of the hardness in her eyes. “Well, you might
have said so and not just come rushing in that way.”
    Gardner grinned and tapped Gussie’s arm to
get her attention. “Bring us some tea in here, Gussie.”
    Unceremoniously she dropped Gardner’s hat
and cane on a table in the hall and waddled away.
    “I suppose I’ll have to learn to shout
louder,” Amanda said, smiling. Old Gussie was far more harmless
than she led one to believe. Amanda turned her eyes from Gardner
for a moment; they had grown warm and watery. “Poor Gussie,” she
added. “It must be rather awful for her, never hearing but part of
what’s said to her.”
    “She manages.” Gardner sat beside Amanda on
the green velvet settee. “You’ll find Gussie a good cook but not
much help at anything else. She’s gotten too old and slow for heavy
work.”
    “It won’t matter. Once the house is in good
order, I believe I can manage well enough on my own.” She was about
to tell him of the two women Cecil Baldwin had mentioned but
suddenly his face clouded and he spoke up.
    “Then you do plan to stay, not just get the
house ready to sell?”
    “Yes,” Amanda said. “I plan to live at
Wicklow. Forever.”
    Gardner looked away for a moment, his face
serious, his eyes distant. But when he turned back, his lips bore a
smile.
    “I think it’s splendid,” he said warmly,
taking Amanda’s hand. “No one could add more grace to Wicklow than
you.”
    “Then you really don’t mind that Aunt Elise
left the house to me rather than to you and Ryne?”
    “I don’t mind, not now. Oh. I admit I was
disturbed to begin with. But since then I’ve thought about it and
it seems right you should have it.” He took her hand and laced his
fingers