22. Chapter 22

Chapter 22

E velyn's footsteps echoed through the empty corridor as she hurried away from the Baron's study, her heart still pounding in her chest. Relief washed over her like a cool breeze, but it was tinged with the acrid taste of guilt. She had narrowly avoided disaster, but at what cost?

As she rounded the corner towards her chamber, Evelyn's mind whirled with the implications of her deception. She had always prided herself on her honesty, yet here she was, weaving half-truths and omissions like a skilled seamstress. The weight of her lies pressed down upon her shoulders, threatening to crush her beneath their burden.

Reaching her door, for the second time in as many days, Evelyn let out a startled yelp as she realised someone was within her room. Nell, clearly taken by surprise as well, let out her own small shriek of alarm as Evelyn burst through the door.

Evelyn's hand flew to her chest, her heart racing from the sudden fright. "Nell! Goodness, you scared me half to death!"

Nell clutched Evelyn's dress to her bosom, her eyes wide. "Me? You're the one who came bursting in like the hounds of hell were after you!"

Evelyn leant against the doorframe, catching her breath. Her brow furrowed as she took in the scene before her. Her trunk lay open on the floor, its contents partially strewn about. Nell stood in the middle of the chaos, one of Evelyn's favourite day dresses held aloft by the shoulders. "What on earth are you doing in here?"

Nell's surprise melted into a knowing smile. "Why, unpacking your trunk, of course. I knew you'd be staying."

"But... how could you possibly know that?" Evelyn asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Nell's smile widened, showing more of her teeth. "Oh, Miss Bane, I never believed for a moment that the Baron would dismiss you. Not after everything that's happened--Himself is clearly fond of you."

Evelyn stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. She sank onto the edge of her bed, her legs suddenly weak. "I'm glad you at least had faith--I was certain he'd send me packing."

Nell carefully laid the dress across the back of a chair and moved to sit beside Evelyn. "The Baron may be a stubborn old goat at times, but he's not a fool. He knows a good thing when he sees it...even if it takes him some time to recognise it."

Evelyn felt a blush creep up her neck. "I wouldn't go that far."

Nell shrugged, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I've known the Baron longer than you have, Miss Bane. You'll just have to take my word for it."

Evelyn conceded the point with a nod. "I suppose you're right. Still, I can't help but feel I'm on shaky ground here."

As she spoke, Evelyn's gaze drifted downward, and she froze. There, stark against the polished wooden floorboards, were a series of sooty footprints. Her brow furrowed as she traced their path from the hearth to where Nell now sat.

"Nell," Evelyn began, her voice low and hesitant, "what's happened here?"

The maid followed Evelyn's gaze, her eyes widening as she took in the mess. "Oh, blimey," she muttered, jumping to her feet. "I'm ever so sorry, Miss Bane. I was in such a hurry to make sure that you'd be all unpacked--I wanted to surprise you."

Evelyn stood, moving closer to inspect the damage. The footprints were small, clearly belonging to Nell, but they were numerous. It seemed the maid had been pacing back and forth across the room, leaving a crisscrossing pattern of black smudges in her wake.

"Well, you certainly managed that," Evelyn said with a wry smile.

Nell looked over at Evelyn, her round cheeks lifting in another smile. "Perhaps next time I can repay the fright you gave me," she said, her tone mischievous.

Evelyn sighed and flopped backward. "I sincerely hope not."

Nell only laughed in response.

***

E velyn felt as though she were walking through a dream. The world around her seemed slightly out of focus, colours muted and sounds distant. She blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the strange sensation that had clung to her since her narrow escape in the Baron's study.

As she attempted to guide the girls through their French lesson, Evelyn was stumbling over words she normally spoke with ease. A look of confusion crossed Augusta's face, while Julia's eyes sparkled with barely concealed amusement.

"Miss Bane, are you quite all right?" Augusta asked, her tone more curious than concerned.

Evelyn forced a smile. "Of course, dear. Now, where were we?"

She turned back to the blackboard, chalk poised to write, but her mind went blank. The French verb conjugations she had planned to review seemed to have vanished from her memory, replaced by a swirling fog of anxiety and guilt.

Julia giggled softly. "I think we were about to conjugate 'être', Miss Bane."

"Ah, yes. Thank you, Julia," Evelyn murmured, though she made no move to write.

The chalk trembled in her hand. Evelyn stared at it, watching as a fine white powder dusted her fingertips. She felt a sudden, irrational urge to wipe it on her dress, to rid herself of its clinging presence.

With a start, she realised both girls were watching her intently. Evelyn cleared her throat. "Perhaps we should end our lessons early today. I'm feeling a bit... under the weather."

Augusta's eyes narrowed. "But it's not even lunchtime yet."

"I know, but..." Evelyn trailed off, unable to formulate a reasonable excuse. "Well, consider it a reward for your hard work this week. Why don't you go enjoy the sunshine?"

Julia needed no further encouragement. She leapt from her chair with a whoop of delight, grabbing her sister's hand. "Come on, Gus! Let's go see if we can find any new frog spawn in the pond!"

"You know I hate it when you call me Gus!" Augusta groused as the pair of them disappeared out the door.

As the girls raced from the schoolroom, Evelyn sank into her chair, her head in her hands. She felt utterly drained, as though she had run for miles rather than simply taught a short lesson.

Evelyn sank onto the settee, her fingers tracing the intricate floral pattern of the upholstery. She closed her eyes, willing her racing thoughts to slow. The room felt stifling, despite the open windows that allowed a gentle breeze to rustle the curtains.

She inhaled deeply, trying to centre herself. The faint scent of lavender from the garden mingled with the musty odour of old books that permeated the music room-turned-schoolroom. It was a comforting smell, one that usually brought her peace. Today, however, it did little to calm her frayed nerves.

The creak of the door startled her from her reverie. Evelyn's eyes flew open, and she leapt to her feet as though scalded. The Baron stood in the doorway, his imposing figure filling the frame.

"Miss Bane," he said, his voice gruff. "I was looking for the girls. Have you seen them?"

Evelyn's heart hammered in her chest. She smoothed her skirts, acutely aware of how dishevelled she must appear. "They're out of doors, my lord. I... I dismissed them early today."

The Baron's eyebrows rose, his scarred face twisting into an expression Evelyn couldn't quite decipher. Was it surprise? Disapproval? She found herself unable to meet his gaze, her eyes instead fixing on a point just over his shoulder.

"I see," he said after a moment. "And may I ask why?"

Evelyn swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. "I... I wasn't feeling quite myself, my lord. I thought it best to end the lesson before I made any... errors in their education."

Evelyn's heart continued to race as she watched the Baron's expression soften. He turned towards the window, his gaze sweeping over the sun-dappled grounds.

"It is a very fine day," he mused, almost to himself. "Far too fine for the girls to be cooped up inside all day."

Evelyn released a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding. Perhaps he wasn't cross with her after all. She watched as he shifted his weight, clearly about to take his leave. But then he paused, his hand resting on the doorframe.

The Baron turned back to face her, his grey eyes meeting hers with an intensity that made her breath catch. "Miss Bane," he began, his voice low and surprisingly gentle. "Sometimes when I have a hard time thinking, a good walk will help to clear my head."

Evelyn blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected suggestion. Was he offering her advice? Or perhaps... an invitation? She found herself unable to look away from his steady gaze, searching for some hint of his true meaning.

"I... that's very kind of you to suggest, my lord," she managed to stammer out, her fingers twisting nervously in her skirts.

The Baron nodded, a ghost of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "The path along the eastern field is particularly pleasant this time of year. The wildflowers are in bloom." He paused for a moment, then said, "There are a number of beehives out there that I should like to inspect, too."

There was another silence. Evelyn tilted her head, not sure she understood what was happening. The Baron continued to stare at her expectantly, drumming his fingers a little on the doorframe.

Evelyn's heart skipped a beat as realisation dawned. The Baron wasn't merely offering advice—he was inviting her to join him. She blinked, momentarily stunned by the unexpected turn of events.

"Oh," she breathed, a faint blush colouring her cheeks. "You mean... together?"

The Baron cleared his throat, his fingers still drumming an uneven rhythm on the doorframe. "If you're amenable, of course. I wouldn't want to impose."

Evelyn hesitated, her mind racing. They'd hardly spent any time alone, just the two of them. The prospect was both thrilling and terrifying. She glanced up at him, intending to politely decline, but the words died on her lips.

The Baron's usually stern countenance had softened, his grey eyes holding a hint of vulnerability she'd never seen before. There was something almost boyish in his hopeful expression, which made Evelyn feel utterly charmed.

"I... I would be delighted, my lord," she heard herself say, surprising even herself with the warmth in her voice.

The Baron's face lit up, a genuine smile transforming his features. "Excellent," he said, gesturing forward with one arm. "Shall we?"

Evelyn took a deep breath. "I'll fetch my bonnet," she said. As she brushed past him, she caught the faint scent of leather and bare earth—a scent she was beginning to associate with him. She quickly nipped up to her room, putting a simple straw bonnet on her head and tying the light green ribbon loosely beneath her chin.

They made their way out of the house in companionable silence, the warm spring air enveloping them as they stepped onto the gravel path. Evelyn found herself sneaking glances at the Baron, marvelling at how different he seemed outside the confines of the house. He seemed to stand a little taller, his face was a little lighter. Evelyn realized with a start that he probably moved through the house constantly on edge. He was likely afraid of hitting a doorway with his broad shoulders or striking his head on one of the ancient beams that held up the ceiling.

Evelyn's mind whirled as they walked along the path, her thoughts a jumble of anxiety and curiosity. The Baron strode beside her, his long legs easily matching her shorter steps. She glanced up at him, noting the way the sunlight caught the silver threads in his dark hair.

"It's a lovely day, isn't it?" she ventured, wincing inwardly at the banality of her words. The Baron merely nodded, his eyes fixed on the path ahead.

Evelyn bit her lip, searching for something more substantial to say. "I've noticed the wildflowers blooming. They're quite beautiful. Do you know their names?"

The Baron grunted noncommittally, gesturing vaguely towards a patch of yellow blooms. Evelyn's shoulders slumped slightly. She'd hoped this walk might provide an opportunity to clear the air between them, but his reticence was proving a formidable obstacle.

"I suppose the bees must be quite busy with all these flowers," she tried again, her voice betraying a hint of the strain she felt. "Do you tend to the hives yourself, or—"

The Baron stopped abruptly, turning to face her. Evelyn nearly stumbled in her haste to halt beside him, her words trailing off as she met his gaze.

"Miss Bane," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "You needn't feel obligated to fill every moment with conversation. Sometimes, silence can be... companionable."

Evelyn blinked, taken aback by his perceptiveness. "I... I'm sorry, my lord. I thought perhaps you expected..."

He shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I invited you on this walk to clear your head, not to tax it further. Please, feel free to simply... be." The Baron looked about for a moment. "Just...take a moment to enjoy where you are. Look. Listen."

Evelyn took a deep breath, letting the Baron's words sink in. She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the warmth of the sun on her face and the gentle breeze rustling her skirts. When she opened them again, it was as if she were seeing the world anew.