“Oh dear,” Peggy murmured, her voice tinged with genuine concern. She had known Mrs. Pattons was a difficult woman, but this revelation painted a far more insidious picture.
Lady Aleshire gave a firm nod, her tone growing lighter now that the matter had been aired. “Had you let her get any closer, Your Grace, she would have carried tales about you and the Duke far and wide. It is most fortunate that things turned out the way they did.”
Peggy leaned back slightly in her chair, her thoughts racing at the idea. While she had hoped to resolve the unpleasantness with Mrs. Pattons, she hadn’t anticipated such a decisive conclusion—or that it would be met with such enthusiasm. “It seems,” she said with a faint smile, “that I have stumbled into the good graces of fate.”
“Indeed, you have,” Lady Aleshire said warmly. “And you have your own keen mind to thank for this newfound respite. Truly, your handling of the matter was most admirable.”
Peggy waved off the compliment with a graceful gesture. “Oh, I merely did what I thought was necessary. It was no great feat, I assure you.”
“Nonsense,” Lady Aleshire replied with a pleased laugh. “The ladies have you to thank, and we are most grateful.”
The conversation continued pleasantly for a time, but before taking her leave, Lady Aleshire paused, her expression taking on a businesslike tone. “We do have an upcoming inspection of the new ward being constructed at the children’s hospital,” she said. “I shall send word when the date is confirmed. I trust you will attend?”
Peggy inclined her head with a smile. “Of course, I will.”
“It will also be an opportunity for you to officially meet the children as the new Duchess,” Lady Aleshire added, her voice warm with encouragement.
Peggy’s face brightened, her smile softening into something genuine and eager. “I look forward to it,” she replied earnestly. The prospect filled her with a curious blend of anticipation and purpose.
After seeing the Baronet’s wife to the door and bidding her farewell, Peggy turned back into the house, her mind still brimming with thoughts of the hospital and the upcoming inspection. She was halfway down the hallway when a strange sound caught her attention.
It was faint but distinct—a scraping noise, low and uneven, as though something heavy was being dragged or pushed against the wall. Peggy paused, tilting her head as she tried to determine its source. It came from the opposite hallway, the one where the renovations had yet to begin.
Curiosity stirred within her, and she adjusted her pace, her slippers soundless against the polished floors as she followed the noise. The hallway was dimmer than the rest of the house, the sunlight filtering through narrow windows, casting long shadows on the walls. Rounding the corner, she stopped abruptly at the sight before her.
There, by the giant oak shelf that loomed against the hallway wall—the very same shelf where she had found Morgan before that fateful night—stood the butler. His back was to her, both hands pressed firmly against the side of the shelf as though he were about to push it.
Peggy’s brow furrowed, her steps slowing as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing. The butler stiffened suddenly, his head turning sharply at the sound of her approach.
“Your Grace,” he said, quickly straightening, his hands falling to his sides in a movement that seemed almost too practiced. His expression betrayed nothing, save for the faintest flicker of surprise that he quickly masked.
Peggy’s gaze shifted between him and the shelf, her curiosity deepening.
“Is everything quite alright? I thought I heard sounds,” Margaret asked, her voice steady but tinged with curiosity as she took a step closer.
“Sounds?” the butler repeated, his tone carefully measured, though the faintest flicker of surprise crossed his face before he quickly masked it.
“Yes,” she continued, tilting her head slightly, her gaze unwavering. “Scraping sounds, to be precise. And they seemed to be coming from this area.”
The butler straightened further, clasping his hands neatly in front of him. “All is quite well here, Your Grace. No sounds at all,” he replied smoothly, his tone calm but a shade too quick. “I didn’t hear anything myself.”
Peggy’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. His demeanor was composed, but there was something about the way his gaze flickered—just briefly—toward the shelf behind him that made her pause. It was the smallest of gestures, yet it betrayed a hint of unease.
“Very well,” she said at last, though her tone carried a note of doubt. She lingered for a moment longer, her gaze flitting to the shelf. It loomed large and imposing, as though it had always belonged in its place. Yet the memory of Morgan standing near it that night returned to her unbidden, casting a shadow over her thoughts.
The butler dipped into a bow, his expression impassive once more. “If there is nothing else, Your Grace,” he said, his voice as polished as ever.
Peggy nodded faintly, turning to leave, though her steps were slower than usual. Something about the encounter unsettled her, though she could not quite say why. The scraping sounds had been real—she was certain of it—and yet the butler’s denial, paired with his nervous glances at the shelf, left her with more questions than answers.
As she made her way back down the hallway, she cast one last glance over her shoulder. The butler had already disappeared, leaving the area silent once more. Peggy pressed her lips together, the faintest crease forming between her brows.
What on earth could he have been doing by that shelf?
CHAPTER 27
The faint murmur of voices caught Morgan’s attention as he walked toward his study. He slowed his steps, turning toward the sound. It was coming from the ballroom. Curiosity, or perhaps something more instinctual, made him pause at the open doorway.
Inside, the room was alive with activity. Several footmen and maids bustled about, their arms laden with fabric swatches and polished fixtures. In the center of it all stood Peggy, her shawl tossed over one arm, her hands gesturing animatedly as she spoke to the foreman. She radiated energy, her voice confident and bright as she issued instructions.
