32. Chapter 32

Chapter 32

E velyn descended the stairs the next morning, her stomach a tangle of nerves. The weight of her letter to Amelia weighed far more than it logically should as she dropped it into the leather pouch for letters, a constant reminder of the precarious nature of her situation. As she entered the breakfast room, however, her worries momentarily faded at the sight of the Baron.

He looked up from his newspaper, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Good morning, Miss Bane," he said, his voice rich with affection. "I trust you slept well?"

"Good morning, my lord," Evelyn replied, her cheeks warming at the memory of the previous night. "I slept... adequately, thank you."

The Baron's brow furrowed slightly at her hesitation, but he said nothing as she took her seat. A comfortable silence settled over them as they began their meal, broken only by the clink of cutlery and the rustle of the Baron's newspaper.

Evelyn found her gaze drawn to him repeatedly, admiring the way the morning sunlight caught in his dark hair. She longed to reach out and smooth away the slight furrow between his brows as he read, but she kept her hands firmly in her lap. As if feeling her eyes on him, the Baron looked up and met Evelyn's gaze, which made her smile automatically.

The Baron's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled back at her. "I must say, Miss Bane, you handled yourself admirably last night. The tenants were quite taken with you."

Evelyn felt a flush of pleasure at his praise, even as guilt gnawed at her insides. "Thank you, my lord. I found them to be delightful company."

The Baron leaned forward slightly, his grey eyes intense. "You've brought a great deal of life back to this house, Miss Bane. I... I cannot express how grateful I am for that."

Evelyn's heart fluttered at his words, even as her conscience screamed at her to confess everything. She opened her mouth, not quite sure what she was going to say, when the door to the dining room opened.

Evelyn's words died on her lips as Julia and Augusta straggled into the dining room, looking as if they'd been dragged through a hedge backwards. Their hair was mussed, and Augusta sported a smudge of dirt on her cheek. Evelyn bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling at their bedraggled appearance.

The Baron, to his credit, maintained his composure admirably. He folded his newspaper and set it aside, giving no indication that he'd noticed anything amiss with his daughters' states.

"Good morning, girls," he said, his voice betraying only the slightest hint of amusement. "I trust you slept well?"

Julia mumbled something unintelligible as she slumped into her chair, while Augusta managed a slightly more coherent, "Morning, Papa."

Evelyn caught the Baron's eye, and for a moment, they shared a look of fond exasperation. She quickly averted her gaze, focusing on buttering a piece of toast to hide the warmth spreading across her cheeks.

The Baron cleared his throat. "Now that we're all here, I have an announcement to make."

Evelyn's heart skipped a beat. She glanced up, her eyes widening as she met the Baron's steady gaze. What could he possibly have to announce? Her mind raced with possibilities, each more unlikely than the last.

Evelyn's heart raced as she awaited the Baron's announcement. She watched his face intently, searching for any clue as to what he might say.

"I will be travelling for the next couple of days," the Baron said, his voice steady. "I need to visit some neighbouring estates to discuss shipping crops to bigger cities."

Julia and Augusta's heads snapped up, their eyes widening in alarm. Evelyn felt a pang of sympathy for the girls, understanding their fear of being left alone.

The Baron held up a hand to forestall any protests. "Everything will be fine," he assured them, his gaze shifting to Evelyn. "I trust Miss Bane to watch over you both."

Evelyn struggled to find her breath. The Baron's words, so simple and yet so profound, filled her with a warmth she hadn't expected. To be trusted so completely, especially by a man as guarded as the Baron, was no small thing.

And yet, even as pride and gratitude swelled within her, guilt twisted in her stomach like a knife. She wasn't being fully honest with him. The weight of her secrets pressed down on her, threatening to crush her beneath their burden.

"Thank you, my lord," Evelyn managed to say, her voice sounding strained to her own ears. "I will do my utmost to ensure the girls are well cared for in your absence."

The Baron nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I have no doubt of that, Miss Bane."

Evelyn lowered her gaze to her plate, unable to meet his eyes. She desperately wanted to be worthy of the trust he'd placed in her. But how could she be, when she was hiding so much?

As the Baron continued to discuss the details of his trip, Evelyn's mind whirled. She knew she should tell him the truth about her past, about who she really was. But the thought of losing everything she'd gained here - the girls, the cottage, the Baron's trust - terrified her.

Evelyn watched as the Baron finished his breakfast, her thoughts still tumultuous. The rest of the meal passed in relative silence, with only the occasional clink of cutlery or murmured request to pass the marmalade breaking the quiet.

As they rose from the table, Evelyn's heart quickened. She knew the moment of the Baron's departure was drawing near, and a strange mixture of anticipation and dread filled her. She ushered Julia and Augusta upstairs to make themselves presentable, then returned to the entrance hall to await their return.

The girls descended the stairs, looking far more put-together than they had at breakfast. Evelyn gave them an approving nod before leading them outside to where the carriage stood waiting. The Baron emerged from the house, his travelling coat buttoned up against the morning chill.

He approached his daughters first, kneeling down to their level. "Now, you two be good for Miss Bane while I'm away," he said, his voice gruff but affectionate. "I'll be back before you know it."

Julia threw her arms around her father's neck, while Augusta hung back, her face a mask of carefully controlled emotion. The Baron embraced them both, pressing a kiss to each of their foreheads before rising to his feet.

As he turned to Evelyn, a sudden breathlessness overtook her. How she longed to bid him farewell as a wife might - to throw her arms around him, to feel the solid warmth of his embrace, to press her lips to his in a tender kiss. But such thoughts were impossible, foolish even.

Instead, she stepped forward, her hands outstretched. "Safe travels, my lord," she said softly, her voice steady despite the tumult of emotions within her.

The Baron took her hands in his, his grip firm and warm. "Thank you, Miss Bane," he replied, his grey eyes searching hers. "I trust all will be well in my absence."

Evelyn nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat. She gave his hands a gentle squeeze, allowing herself this small moment of connection before reluctantly letting go.

As the Baron's carriage rolled away, kicking up dust in its wake, Evelyn felt a peculiar sensation settle in her chest. It wasn't merely the ache of missing him, though that was certainly present. No, this was something deeper, more unsettling. A creeping unease that wound its way through her veins, leaving her feeling oddly chilled despite the warmth of the morning sun.

She shook her head, trying to dispel the feeling. It was ridiculous, surely. The Baron would return in a few days, just as he'd promised. There was no reason for this strange foreboding.

Turning to the girls, Evelyn forced a bright smile onto her face. "Well then, shall we head back inside? I believe we were meant to start on geography this morning."

Julia groaned dramatically, while Augusta merely nodded, her eyes still fixed on the spot where her father's carriage had disappeared from view.

"Come along now," Evelyn said, gently herding them towards the house. "I've some fascinating maps to show you of the Americas. Did you know there are mountains there taller than any in England?"

As they walked, Evelyn couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was amiss. She glanced back over her shoulder, half-expecting to see the Baron's carriage returning. But the road remained empty, stretching off into the distance.

Inside, Evelyn busied herself with setting up the lesson, spreading maps across the table and arranging globes for the girls to examine. Yet even as she spoke of far-off lands and wondrous sights, her mind kept drifting back to the Baron.

What if something happened on his journey? What if he didn't return? The thought sent a spike of fear through her heart. She'd grown far too accustomed to his presence, to the warmth of his rare smiles and the steadiness of his gaze.

Evelyn couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. As she guided the girls through their geography lesson, her gaze kept darting to the windows, half-expecting to see a face peering in at her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and she found herself constantly glancing over her shoulder.

She tried to dismiss these feelings as mere paranoia. After all, she was alone in charge of the house for the first time since arriving. It was natural to feel a bit unsettled, wasn't it?

"Miss Bane?" Julia's voice cut through her thoughts. "Are you alright?"

Evelyn blinked, realising she'd been staring blankly at the map for several moments. "Yes, of course," she said, forcing a smile. "I was just... lost in thought about the vastness of the Americas."

Augusta raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing her, but said nothing.