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“But I ain’t Catholic,” the girl wailed. “I don’t want to go to the devil ‘cause of Catholics!”

“The Sisters are very gentle ladies,” Murchadh soothed. “They will care for you and your baby. While you wait for it, you can decide whether you want to keep it or give it up. I promise they will not cause you to go to the devil.”

“But how will I live? His Grace is turning me off, I can tell.”

“Not quite that,” Ahmlad tucked his coat around the shivering girl. “His Grace is very good about finding answers for these things. Who knows? You might be wed before the summer is out. Can you tell us the father’s name?”

“Oh, no, Sir, Your Grace. He said he’d kill me if I told. He already done beat me for not bein’ careful. How’s a girl supposed to be careful?”

“Don’t you worry about that now.” Mr. McAhmladhson put an arm around the girl’s shoulders. “Let us get you to Martha. She will help you clean up and she will get your things. We’ll come up with a suitable story about where you have gone. Do you have family who should be notified?”

“No, sir,” the girl sniffled. “I’m an orphan. He said he liked that. Miss Sedgewick’s gonna have my skin for this.”

“Miss Sedgewick is more likely to flay the dastard who did this,” Jonathan ground out between his teeth. “Ahmlad, find out who is responsible, and I want him turned off immediately.”

“Of course, Your Grace,” Ahmlad affirmed. “I’ll see what I can find out first thing in the morning. We hired several new men for the stables, as footmen, and for the guard to be sure we had plenty of help for the trade fair. Like as not, we got a bad apple in that barrel of new staff.”

“Likely you are right,” Jonathan replied. “The trouble did seem to start shortly before our guests started arriving. I would hate to think that it was one of our staff who have been with us for several years.”

How can this have happened? We are just a little village, a very quiet place.Aloud he said, “This has gone on long enough. We’ve had one death and nearly had another. Ahmlad, I don’t want to put the full burden of this on you. Send two of our senior footmen down to Edinburgh to have someone sent up. It’s three days down, and three days back, but that can’t be helped.

“Meantime, carry out investigations as best you can. Constable McHenry from the village might be able to assist you, but he is by no means up to this. See what you can learn about the newly hired staff, and set the guard to watch two by two.”

“Aye, Your Grace,” Mr. McAhmladhson confirmed, relief audible in his voice. “I’ll see to it right away.”

“I’ll take the dogs out and about,” Mr. McOwen said. “Mayhap I can learn a little something, as well.”

Sally Ann gave a little hiccupping sob. “Best we should get this young woman in out of the cold,” Jonathan said. “It will do her no good to catch something, especially after being dunked in bog water.”

Mr. McAhmladhson took off his greatcoat and wrapped it around the girl. “It will be all right,” he comforted her. “Somehow, we will make this all right.”

But Sally Ann was fairly sure that nothing would ever be right again. Her world had come to an end, and she could see no help for it.

Chapter 21

Duchess seemed agitated the next morning when Celeste brought in her breakfast tray. “I hear there was a commotion below stairs last night,” the Duchess said, her eyes nearly glowing with excitement. “Can you tell me about it?”

“One of the kitchen maids went for a walk and nearly drowned in the Lolly Mire. Mr. McAhmladhson, Mr. McOwen, and the Duke tracked her with Gertrude and were able to pull the young woman out of the bog before she was quite drowned. I hear she has the lung sickness from it and will be staying with the Gentle Sisters for a while.”

“Lung sickness.” Margery’s sharp voice dripped sarcasm. “Mind you don’t catch this lung sickness. I’d turn you off without hesitation.”

“Of course not, Your Grace,” Celeste said, trying to hide her trembling. “Will you take cream or sugar with your tea this morning?”

“Two sugars, sweet whipped cream, just as it was yesterday and the day before, goose cap. Make sure that cream is sweet. The last was beginning to turn.”

“Certainly, Your Grace.” Celeste carefully prepared the cup of tea. She then split and buttered a scone. “Will you take marmalade or berry jam with your scone, Your Grace?”

“Marmalade. The tiny seeds in the berry jam stick in my teeth. I cannot look less than my best today.”

Celeste did not ask what was different about today. “I will prepare a glass of mint for you, Your Grace, to clear your palate after breakfast.”

“You do that,” the Duchess sniped. “Make it strong with no sugar.”

“Of course, Your Grace. Will you wear a morning gown or a walking gown when you arise?”

“I think I will remain abed for a time. You need not lay anything out. I will ring for you when I require you.”

Celeste closed the chamber door behind her with a huge sense of relief. Her Grace was always difficult in the morning, but today she had seemed more truculent than usual. Mr. Hammonds looked at her with sympathy as she passed the butlery, but didn’t say anything. He was busy dressing down one of the footmen, a lanky redhaired boy whose crinkly hair would never lie down properly.