“I wish I had been there with you, Magnolia. To talk to you, to be there for you.”
Magnolia smiled. “You are a good friend. I told you not to come because I did not want to be the one to hinder you from living your own life.”
“Nonsense! That is when you truly need a friend. Someone who would not mind abandoning everything for you. You know I would do that without thinking twice.”
“I know you would, Caroline,” replied Magnolia, now holding her friend by the shoulders. “I honestly do know that. But that would be very selfish of me.”
“Stop saying that!” Caroline protested.
But Magnolia only pulled her closer and embraced her. “I am better now. I promise you.” She could feel Caroline relax before they pulled away.
“What are all these files for?” her friend asked, looking at the heavy paper folders on the table.
Magnolia swallowed. “Well, I have a feeling that my family’s deaths were not an accident. I believe they were killed on purpose.”
Caroline stared at her, letting go of her friend’s hands. “I am sorry. I do not quite follow?”
Magnolia sighed and continued. “I once overheard Father and James talking about a man that had been killing innocent people. They wanted to find some clues which would help them in catching him. It was right after that that the ‘accident’ occurred.”
“And you think there is a connection between those two things?”
“It’s either that or I’m going mad, and you and I both know that I am very sane. So, these files are what I must go through if I intend to catch whoever did this horrible thing to my family.”
“I don’t know what to say,” said Caroline, almost in a whisper. “You seem absolutely certain about this.”
“Yes, I am certain,” she replied. “But please – this must not in any way get to Aunt Dorothy’s hearing.”
“You haven’t told her?”
“Well, I did mention it once – but she thought I was going through shock and dismissed it. I plan not to say anything more to her. I will do this on my own.”
Caroline sighed. “I can see that your mind is already made up. And as someone who knows you very well, I know that persuading you to let this go will be fruitless. Therefore, as your friend, I shall support you in any way you require.”
Magnolia smiled with relief. “Thank you, Caroline. I knew you would understand,” she said, hugging her friend. “So, now it is for you to tell me: What did I miss in your life while I was gone?”
“Happier news, I am glad to say. My sister got married while you were gone, and I have a beautiful niece already.”
Magnolia gasped. “Oh, my goodness! That is great news! I’m so happy for you.”
“Yes, she moved to Spain with her husband last month, for he serves in the Spanish navy.”
“I do wish her all the best. Now, let us go downstairs and see if there is anything to eat in this place. You must be starved!”
Both women left the room together, each feeling happier for the other one’s company . . . at least, for a little while.
Chapter 2
Strickland Estate
Adam Avery, the Earl of Strickland
Adam Avery, the Earl of Strickland, walked into the dining room and was relieved to see his mother there eating her dinner.
“Finally! I have been looking for you everywhere,” he said, taking a seat across from her.
His mother gave him a quizzical glare. “I am not a child, son. Why would you be looking for me everywhere when you could have simply asked any of the servants?”
“Well, it matters not any longer, Mother, for I have found you,” he said with a smile.
“So you have. How was the meeting you attended?”
“It seems that some of our tenants have been complaining about a Mr. Rickland, who just rented one of our houses. He has been causing a lot of trouble in the community and everyone seems to be afraid of challenging him. So, I went to speak to him myself.”
His mother was surprised. “I knew we should never have accepted his offer,” said his mother. “With him deciding to pay such an amount of money, I knew he was up to something.”
Adam smiled. “You do not have to worry about anything, Mother. I went to speak with him, at which time I gave him an ultimatum to either behave or be thrown out of the house.”
“I see. What did he say to that?”
“He was actually surprised that the people complained about him.”
“Why would he be surprised? They are, as well, paying to stay there, so they should be as comfortable as he is with what they are paying for.”
“I told him that. He said nothing. I promised the rest of the tenants that he would behave or leave. For now, at least, they are no longer apprehensive.”
His mother smiled. “I am so proud of you, son. So diplomatic, like your father.”
“Also, I might need to pay Mrs. Lukewood a visit soon. She complained about the house, stating that a part of it is beginning to cave in; but I hired some men to work on it. Tomorrow I shall go and see the work they have done.”
“Good. Any other thing?”
“No,” Adam replied, leaning back in the chair as a servant came in with a cup of ale for him.
“My lord, I thought you might need this,” she said.
“Thank you, Leila. That was very thoughtful of you,” he replied, taking the ale from her.
“You can take the food away,” said his mother to Leila. “I have had enough.”
Leila curtsied and left with the plates.
“That reminds me,” said his mother. “I hope you know that Miss Magnolia Richmond has returned to Richmond Manor.”
Adam was surprised. “When…when did she get back?”
“Today, I heard. She is with Dorothy, poor girl.”
He sighed. “I have not written to her since the loss of her family.”
“Well, you have been mourning your friend and you have also been busy,” replied his mother. “I suppose it could be forgiven.”
“No, mother. That does not justify anything. I should have written to her and now I feel terrible.”
“If it makes you feel better,” continued his mother, “I will be going by the house tomorrow, possibly in the evening. You could come with me and make amends to her.”
Adam sighed. What exactly would he say when he saw her? That he had been too busy to write to her? Should he tell her that he had also been mourning, in his own way?
“Let me know when you decide,” his mother said before leaving the table.
Adam’s plan initially was to come back home from the tenant meeting and then get a good sleep before going over to see his friend. But now, things had changed, and he didn’t think he would be having that sleep anytime soon. All he could think of was the fact that he had failed to write to Magnolia.
Not that they had ever spent much time together. Whenever he and James had been together, she had always kept to herself and hardly spoke to Adam.
Other times, though, he had caught her staring at him, at which point she would look away sharply. He never truly knew the reason behind her strange attitude, for it had not mattered when James was alive, and Adam had never spoken to him about Magnolia.
He knew that James would have come up with something preposterous. However, now that James was dead, Adam found that he was at a loss as to what he should say to his sister, or even whether he should speak to her at all.
* * *
Later that night, before he went to bed, Adam’s thoughts kept returning to the times he had spent with James Richmond. Even though two years had now passed since James’ death, Adam found it difficult to adapt for he sorely missed his best friend.
Even worse, with all that James had discussed before he died Adam felt that one thing was certain: The “accident” was not accidental at all. Someone must have wanted very much to kill James Richmond.
James had been obsessed with digging in places where he should not have b
een digging. Over and over James had acted like a hero, trying to save innocent people from whomever might be threatening them . . . and that had caused him to have a number of enemies.
He had always said that someone would come for him eventually. And maybe they had.
Adam’s mind drifted to the last discussion he had had with James on his last mission. He had a feeling it a lot to do with his death and it seemed very likely that Magnolia could provide further insight.
Perhaps he should go and see her after all.
Chapter 3
Miss Magnolia Richmond
Upon opening her eyes, Magnolia was relieved to see that it was morning already. The other night was the longest night she had slept, finding it difficult to sleep as she kept tossing from one side of the bed to the other. She had also tried to wake up so many times but had gone back to bed, disappointedly.
“Morning, Miss Magnolia,” said a familiar voice in her room.
She turned and smiled when she saw Mrs. Clarke, their housekeeper. The woman must have known that Magnolia was back and decided to come in early that morning. Two years ago, Magnolia had told Aunt Dorothy to send the servants away and only Mrs. Clarke had chosen to remain.
“Mrs. Clarke,” Magnolia said softly, getting up and running to the older woman to hug her. “I have missed you terribly.”
“And so have I, miss,” the woman replied, patting Magnolia’s shoulder.
Mrs. Clarke was like family to her, apart from being a servant. She had been a confidante to Magnolia’s mother and had helped in raising both Magnolia and James. The poor woman had wept uncontrollably when the terrible accident had happened.
“I didn’t know you were still around,” said Magnolia. “I thought you must have decided to leave with the other servants.”
“Someone has to keep an eye on the property,” replied Mrs. Clarke. “Besides, I do not think your mother would be pleased with me knowing I abandoned her daughter.”
“I am so happy to see you!” Magnolia said once again.
“Now, I did not come alone,” said Mrs. Clarke. “Some of the other servants are here as well, including Martins.”
Magnolia was so touched that she hurried out of the room and down the stairs, where she saw another familiar form talking to Aunt Dorothy.
“Martins!” she cried, and the old man’s crooked lips turned into a smile.
“Miss Magnolia,” he said as she ran into his arms. “I am so happy to see you. “Of course, I had to come when I heard you had decided to come home. “
Magnolia pulled back and looked away, for her eyes were moist with tears.
“Now, what did we say about crying?” asked Aunt Dorothy.
Magnolia smiled. “I’m a wreck when it comes to being emotional,” she joked, wiping her face. “I am so just surprised! I feel like everything is coming back together, piece by piece.”
“Well, no need to get so emotional, young lady,” said Aunt Dorothy. “It is rather too early for that. You should go up and get ready for the day. We are having guests!”
She frowned. “Guests?”
“Yes. Lady Strickland and her son will be here any minute. They already sent a letter.”
Magnolia swallowed upon hearing that Adam and his mother would be coming to visit them. It had been two years since she had last seen him and now, he would be coming. She would have preferred that he did not come at all.
“What is that face?” asked Aunt Dorothy.
“Nothing,” she replied. “I shall go and dress up.”
She turned quickly and hurried up the stairs, but when she got to her room Mrs. Clarke was no longer there. It seemed she had already finished with her morning tasks.
The only thing now on Magnolia’s mind was how she would react when Adam arrived. One thing was certain: She was angry with him for ignoring all the feelings she’d had for him all this while, but especially for not trying to reach her after her family died.
Adam had been a close friend to James . . . hadn’t he? What could keep him away when that friend was lost?
Magnolia had spent some time thinking about it all. She’d hoped he would at least write to her, but she had been so foolish to think he actually cared about her. The only ones he had ever cared about were himself and her unfortunate brother, who was now dead.
She removed her clothes and angrily got into the tub, where warm water was already waiting for her. While she bathed, her mind drifted to those times she had spent in the company of both Adam and James.
While her friend crushed on James, she had her eyes on Adam.
Ever since she was sixteen years old, Magnolia had nurtured the feelings she had for her brother’s handsome friend, Adam Avery. Those feelings were partly why she had ignored him most times and hid anytime he came looking for James.
She sighed, sinking down into the heated, sweet-scented water. What was there not to love about Adam Avery? He had everything: good looks, beautiful hair, and a beautiful smile.
Of course, every girl would have fallen for that, but for Magnolia it was more. Adam had an animal magnetism that drew her in with his smoky gaze and relaxed movements. She had once heard a lady describe him as “sin personified” at a dance.
And it was true. Even the most righteous lady would be tempted to stray to hell for one glance, for one lingering seductive look. He rarely smiled, except when he was with James and in their home.
Most times when Adam was around, Magnolia tried to avoid talking to him. The truth was that she was afraid of saying the wrong thing and embarrassing herself . . . and having him laugh at her.
He never seemed to notice her at social engagements. She would stand close to the wall, quiet and lost in dreams, while watching him through her heavy thick lashes.
She knew it was foolish to look at him from a distance and feel such hunger for the things his demeanor promised.
“What are you thinking?” James had once asked her, while she stood gazing at his friend.
She was so startled she almost jumped out of her skin. “What?”
“You have been staring at my friend for quite some time now,” said James with a mischievous grin.
“I do not know what you are talking about, James,” she insisted before walking away from him.
That night, Magnolia had prayed in her mind that James would never bring the topic up again, and surprisingly, he never did. She had no idea what her reply would be if he had asked why she was standing at a corner of the ballroom gazing at his friend.
Since then, she has been very conscious of how she behaved around Adam whenever he came to their home. She was careful not to raise any suspicion that would give James something to ridicule her with.
So many times, Magnolia’s eyes had met Adam’s eyes, either from across the room or in the open field. She had no idea if he knew how she felt around him; as far as she was concerned, he had never really cared or maybe he just never noticed. How could a man be so blind as to not notice when a girl likes him, she wondered.
“Madam, breakfast is ready,” called a servant’s voice as Magnolia stepped out of the tub.
“I shall be there soon,” she replied.
Several minutes later, Mrs. Clarke was back in the room to help her dress up. “Are you feeling well today?” asked Mrs. Clarke, as she brushed out Magnolia’s hair in front of the mirror.
“Yes, Mrs. Clarke,” she lied.
“You know you can always talk to me,” said the older woman.
“Oh, I am just angry,” Magnolia confessed. “After all these years with not a single word – and now he is coming to our house?”
“Could this be about Lord Strickland?”
“Yes, Mrs. Clarke. He did not so much as write a letter to me. He just forgot that his friend had a sister, and now he is coming here. I wish he would not even come at all.”
The woman chuckled. “Well, you must not expect too much from people, lest they disappoint you. I am certain that he must have had an awful lot on his hands.”
“That should not be an excuse. He cared about James. He could have shown concern for me as well. To not come to visit just because I happened to be in a different town is unforgivable.”
“You can tell him about your displeasure anytime he is here,” suggested Mrs. Clarke.
“No,” Magnolia replied. “I would rather not. I prefer to just give him a cold shoulder and pretend everything is all right.”
* * *
Adam Avery, the Earl of Strickland
A Mysterious Quest of a Seductive Lady: A Regency Historical Romance Novel Page 2