Arabella lowered her feet to the floor, found her slippers, and made her way across the room to the door. She slowly and carefully opened the door, or else it would creak, and slipped outside. Candles flickered in the hall; though it was dim, she wasn’t quite sure where she was even going.
She walked down the hall that led to Harry’s chambers, pausing briefly as she wondered if he was in his room or not. Should she talk to him? Should she confront him? She wasn’t certain.
Sighing deeply, she walked down the staircase toward the drawing room. She found the fire in the fireplace had already been extinguished, a sign that Harry had gone to bed.
By now, she was familiar with the rhythm of the household—whenever Harry went to bed, that was when all the lights in the house were extinguished.
As Arabella turned down the hallway, voices drifted to her ears, and she paused, her curiosity piqued. The voices were coming from Harry’s study. He was awake and conversing with someone. But with whom could he be speaking at such a late hour?
She stopped at the door and leaned forward, her breath catching in her throat when she recognized Brandon’s voice.
“It is a good place, Your Grace. I believe she would find contentment there,” Brandon was saying.
“But it is so far away,” Harry replied, his tone betraying his dismay at whatever they were discussing.
“Indeed, but all the other places we have discussed are just as distant. This one is willing to take her in. I have it on good authority that they can be trusted to keep quiet about their charges.”
“Charges? What in the world are they talking about?” Arabella leaned closer, placing one hand on the fine Chinese wallpaper to steady herself. She listened intently, her heart racing.
“I know it,” Harry sighed, sounding weary. “I did not wish for it to be like this. I wish I could be open and honest with the world about her, but I cannot. It is better for everyone’s safety that she is sent away. And this place is capable of managing girls like her.”
“Yes, Your Grace. This home is particularly renowned for looking after unwanted and difficult children.”
Arabella felt her heart sink into her stomach. Unwanted and difficult children? What sort of secrets was her husband keeping from her?
Could it be that he had a child? Was he not seeing a woman during his absences, but rather visiting a child born out of wedlock? And now he was seeking to dispose of the child? It couldn’t be true, could it?
Arabella had always known that Harry was secretive, but she had assumed his reticence was related to business matters, not this. His love life, too, had been shrouded in mystery. What was he hiding?
She leaned forward, pressing her ear against the door, willing herself to push it open and confront him. However, another part of her hesitated. What if she had misunderstood? She did not want to accuse him of something and worsen their already strained relationship.
Should she go upstairs and consult her sisters? No, their advice had already been conflicting, and she was uncertain what she should do without their influence.
She would wait until the next day, when Harry was away on one of his errands. Mrs. Blomquist was due to be out, as she was going to the market because one of the maids was unwell. The only person Arabella would need to worry about was the butler, Mr. Baxter, though she could always send Mabel on an errand to be sure.
She decided she would wait until Mr. Baxter was occupied with breakfast, and then she would sneak into Harry’s chamber and search for evidence. Evidence of what, she wasn’t entirely sure yet. Perhaps she would come across a letter that would explaineverything. Or perhaps he was simply trying to help a friend who had gotten into an unfortunate situation—or perhaps even one of the maids?
“Your Grace, trust me, this place will be good for her. She will be safe there. You can visit, and no one will ever know. It is close enough to Sheffield that you can be there within a few hours’ ride.”
Harry sighed deeply. “I had hoped for a more familial setting—a couple who were unable to have children but wished to care for one, not so young as to want a babe. I wanted her to be close enough to a town where she might experience life and not be shut away.”
“Your Grace, you cannot have everything you wish for, nor can she. She is fortunate to have you looking after her in this way. Many others would have washed their hands of her. And if your uncle ever found out what you are planning to do…”
“I know it. My uncle would rather I wash my hands of her entirely, but I cannot. I am responsible for her condition. It is my fault.”
“I do not understand, Your Grace. How can it…” Brandon trailed off, and Arabella assumed that Harry had silenced him.
“I thank you, Brandon,” Harry said curtly.
Arabella realized that the conversation was over. Swiftly, she turned and hurried down the hall, hiding herself in the music room to avoid being caught. She heard the valet’s footsteps retreat down the hall, then fade as he made his way toward the servants’ staircase.
She remained in the dark for a few more minutes until she heard Harry rise and likewise walk away. She heard the study door click shut, but there was no jingle of a key.
Good. She would be able to do what she had set out to do and perhaps finally uncover the truth.
CHAPTER 21
“Come see us on Sunday, we shall go to church together,” Hanna called as she made her way into the carriage.
