Chapter 4

"Your Grace?"

"Yes, Thornbury?" Levi said, looking up from the book he was attempting to read in the armchair of his bedroom, set next to the bed instead of by the hearth. A fire was simmering across the room, covered by an extra grate overtop, necessary for warmth at this time of night in his first-floor bedroom.

"I hear we have a visitor."

The butler had such effusive cheer in his voice that Levi had to sigh.

"She is only here overnight, Thornbury, until she can be on her way in the morning. I encountered her while on my ride. She was in trouble with nowhere else to go."

"I see," Thornbury said, although clearly, he did not see at all, for he was practically beaming. "She appears to be a beautiful young woman."

"I hadn't noticed. Nor does it matter."

"Mrs. Porter has her settled in the pink bedroom."

Each bedroom of the house was accented in a different colour, although most had faded at this point with the light that shone in the long windows and the balconies along with lack of upkeep. This estate had not been frequently used until last year, and Levi didn't plan on having any visitors to keep it up for.

"Very good," Levi murmured, keeping his head down in his book before he realized that the butler's arrival, while irritating at first, might serve a purpose. "Thornbury, in the morning, can you and Mrs. Porter please see that the woman has a proper meal and then have one of the footmen escort her to Crawley."

"We are happy to do so," Thornbury said, but then paused, not leaving the room as Levi wished him to. Finally, Levi had no choice but to raise his head to look at him.

"Is there more?"

"It is only a suggestion, but knowing how you love to ride and that the woman appears to be comfortable with you, perhaps you might like to?—"

"No."

"My apologies, Your Grace, I was only?—"

"I said no, Thornbury. Are you the duke, or am I?"

"You are, Your Grace, of course."

"Goodnight, Thornbury."

"Goodnight, Your Grace."

Any regret Levi felt at how he had spoken to his butler fled as he considered the thought of the woman seeing him in the daylight. The less comfortable she felt here, the better. Then she would be on her way and never have any reason to see him again. If there had been any other option, she would not be here at all, but all he could do now was make sure she departed as quickly as she had arrived.

He placed his book down as he allowed his mind to wander over the events of the evening. He had no regret in shooting those men. He assumed the first was dead and the second would be in time unless he was seen to by a proficient physician, which was doubtful. They were not the first men he had killed, and they were certainly not innocent in their actions. Had he come upon them simply stealing goods he would have left them be, but he could never have ignored the woman with them to be debased.

The woman. She had provided him a good deal of information about her predicament, but she had never mentioned her name nor who she was. Likely from a family as noble as his own.

Not that it mattered.

Nothing did.

Not anymore.

As tired as she was,Siena hadn't been able to prevent herself from staring as the housekeeper led her to her bedchamber. She wasn't sure how she couldn't. This manor was unlike any she had ever seen before – and she had seen quite a few.

Paintings covered nearly every surface, of family members and landscapes and inanimate objects. If she had the opportunity, she would spend more time tomorrow enjoying them, for it was like being in a museum, albeit an empty one, devoid of any visitors.

"There does not appear to be much staff," she remarked to Mrs. Porter, who took small but quick footsteps.

"We have only the master to look after," she said, tucking a few grey curls back into their pins. "Most of us have been here for years and it was always just a few of us until he arrived. It has been nice to have someone to look after."

"The family didn't live here before?" Siena asked, interested in learning more as the housekeeper showed her into a bedroom. It had an air of disuse, but that was to be expected with no preparations.

"The maid will be here in a moment to ready the room for you," Mrs. Porter said with a smile, although she quite clearly had avoided Siena's question on purpose.

"I never realized there was such a large manor so close to London," Siena said. "I am surprised I have not heard of it."

The housekeeper began humming a tune as she pulled down the bedcovers.

"Have you any belongings with you?" she asked.

"Oh, yes, a few in my saddlebag. I completely forgot about them," Siena said.

"No matter. The footman has likely seen to it."

There was a knock at the door and the housekeeper bustled toward it, opening it to a maid who held a bundle in her arms.

"Here we are," she said, placing it on the bed and opening it up, finding a nightgown within. Her new belongings were as much of a surprise to Siena as to the housekeeper, for Eliza had packed it.

"Let us get you settled. Then in the morning, we will make sure you go to where you need to be. Everything is better in the light of day."

Siena nodded, wondering if she would see the master of the house again.

"Might I ask… whose estate is this?"

The housekeeper paused, turning to look at her with a serious expression on her face, which appeared to prefer jovial matters. "You do not know?"

"No. Your employer is not exactly… forthcoming."

"I shouldn't be the one to tell you, then."

The housekeeper placed Siena's clothing down on the bed, looking over her shoulder at the maid, who was lighting a fire, before returning to Siena and taking her hands in hers.

"If there is anything you must know about the master, it is that he is all bluster. Deep within, he has a kind heart, even if he doesn't realize it himself. He has had a rough go of it recently."

"I see," Siena said quietly, allowing the maid to help her undress. She wanted to ask more but sensed that it wouldn't get her anywhere.

"That is a beautiful gown," the housekeeper said in an apparent attempt to restore their good humor.

"Thank you," she replied softly. "I was supposed to be married in it."

"Were you now?" That captured Mrs. Porter's attention.

"I have a favour to ask," Siena said in a rush. "It seems to me that this is a house of some secrecy, judging by your master's inability to provide me with his name. Can I ask you to also keep a secret for me – the very fact that I am here? There are… circumstances that I have no wish to return to."

"Of course," Mrs. Porter said with that cheerful smile again. "We can keep a secret, can we not, Mary?"

"We most certainly can," Mary said, standing when all seemed to be well.

"Good night, dear," Mrs. Porter said as the two of them began backing out of the room. "We shall see you in the morning."

And with that, she shut the door on Siena, along with any of her questions.

They would have to wait until later. For her exhaustion gave her no other option but to fall asleep.

Siena wokethe next morning with a strange feeling that something was amiss, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Then she opened her eyes to the faded soft pink canopy floating around her head, and it all came rushing back. The wedding. Her escape. The highwaymen. Her rescue.

Now here she was, in a strange manor so close to London and yet so far at the same time.

Yet, somehow, despite the cold draftiness of her surroundings, she was comfortable here. Perhaps it was the knowledge that nothing was expected of her, that no one cared who she was or what she was to do with her life.

Perhaps it was the way the lord of the manor had saved her without expectation of anything in return and how the servants had welcomed her.

Whatever it was, she felt a good deal better about her decision now than she had when she had been lost in the woods, prepared to freeze to death.

A large crack rent the air, startling Siena, and after recovering from how high she jumped, she pulled the covers up to her chin in pretense of some kind of protection. It was then that she noticed the incessant splattering upon the window, and she slid her legs out of bed, pulling her wrapper tightly around herself as she walked toward the balcony, peeking out of the casement doors to see that a thunderstorm had gathered through the night. The darkclouds loomed ominously, casting a gloomy pall over the formerly serene countryside. Rain cascaded from the heavens, pounding against the windowpane with a rhythmic intensity that made Siena"s heart quicken.

Mesmerized by the raw power of nature, she turned the latch of the casement doors and stepped outside, her bare feet slippery on the stone of the balcony. The overhang above her prevented her from becoming soaked, although the wind still pushed droplets of rain against her skin and whipped her hair backwards. The air was thick with the scent of wet earth and the distant rumble of thunder rolled through her ears, sending shivers down her spine.

In the midst of the storm, flashes of lightning illuminated the sky and the rolling hills beyond the manor grounds. The lush green meadows and vibrant wildflowers seemed to dance under the duet of light and sound.

Siena"s eyes traced the path of a lone droplet as it meandered down her windowpane, its journey mirroring her own. No longer was it carefully controlled, held in balance, but instead was making its own path in whatever way it wished to turn.

Her thoughts turned back to her predicament. She glanced over at the wardrobe to find her fine lilac gown hanging in front of it. It appeared to have been washed and pressed already, although she had no idea how anyone would have had time to do so unless they hadn"t slept.

As she opened the wardrobe to find what else awaited her, a knock sounded on the door and Mary, the maid who had attended to her last night, awaited.

"Oh, my lady, the balcony!" she said, rushing across the room to close the doors.

"That would be my fault, Mary," she said regretfully, noting the water that had splashed across the floor. "I couldn't help myself from wanting to experience some of the storm."

"It is a powerful one, ‘tis," Mary said, turning and joining Siena at the wardrobe to help her dress for the day. "I suppose you will not be leaving this morning, then."

"No, I do not suppose I will be," Siena murmured as she lifted her arms for Mary to help her don her chemise and then lace her stays. "Is there breakfast prepared?"

"There is. The cook is happy to have another mouth to feed, my lady."

"Wonderful. Thank you, Mary."

Siena was filled with optimism as Mary led her to the breakfast room, hopeful to have the chance to properly thank her host. After sleeping well, she was feeling much better and ready to face the day and whatever came with it. A day without expectations, actually, which suited her quite well.

Only, her host never showed his face at breakfast.

"How are we this morning?" the housekeeper said, entering the room with a smile.

"Quite well, thank you," Siena said. "I am not sure if I properly introduced myself, but I am Lady Siena."

"It is wonderful to have you with us, Lady Siena," Mrs. Porter said, turning to leave, but Siena called out to stop her.

"Will the lord of the manor be joining me this morning?"

"Likely not, my lady," Mrs. Porter said with a not-unkind smile. "He does not enjoy visitors."

"I see," Siena said quietly, even though she didn't understand whatsoever, for he was the one who had brought her to his estate. "Hopefully I will have the chance to see him later today. He did me a great service and now has allowed me to stay in his home. I hope I am not too much of an inconvenience, for I doubt I will be able to leave today as planned."

"No, the roads will be impassable for a few days, I am afraid," Mrs. Porter said. "But we will do whatever is necessary to keep you comfortable here."

"Thank you, Mrs. Porter."

Siena took a small sip of her tea, her mind already working on a plan to show her gratitude towards this mysterious man.

She was undoubtedly curious about him, but more importantly, she owed him her life. Before she left his company, she would find a way to repay him for his kindness.

It was the least she could do.