“Everything is perfectly fine. Adam is your friend not mine,” Magnolia had blurted, before leaving the room.
She could understand why Adam would have kissed Trista. She was a very beautiful lady, no doubt about that. The surprise was that Trista had not been at the ball; and Magnolia dared to wonder whether whatever had happened between her and Adam had ended. She planned to ask Caroline the next time they met.
“Magnolia! Are you dressed already, darling?” came Aunt Dorothy’s voice from upstairs.
She snapped out of her reverie. “Just a moment,” she said, walking to her room. This time, she told herself, she would be ready for anything. It was not Adam’s birthday and besides, he did not matter to her anymore.
Though deep down inside, she knew that was a lie.
Chapter 12
Adam Avery, the Earl of Strickland
Adam was in his room, standing in front of the mirror. He was practicing what he would tell his mother that morning.
“Mother, I am afraid I could not get a decent lady from a respectable family. Therefore, the whole marriage plan will be on hold for now until you get better.”
He shook his head. No, that excuse would not due. He was not ready for marriage but still wished to please his mother. Perhaps once she got better, he would be able to go about finding a wife without rushing. He only hoped that she did recover soon.
Damnation! This was going to be more difficult than he had thought.
A knock sounded on the door, causing him to look up. “Yes?”
The door opened and Mr. Hartley walked in. He was a man in his mid-fifties and was a butler and cook.
“My lord, your breakfast awaits,” the man said, with a slight bow. “And a letter has come for you from the Richmond house.”
His face tightened. Had Magnolia written to him? Perhaps she wished to show her displeasure with the way he had gaped at her when he could have opened his mouth to speak instead.
Adam ignored the first statement but collected the letter from him. Out of curiosity, he broke the wax seal and unfolded it to see that the letter had been written by Lady Dorothy.
“I hope all is well, my lord?” Hartley asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“My dear Hartley,” Adam said excitedly, “I think the universe has just given me an opportunity to redeem myself!”
“I’m afraid, I don’t quite follow, my lord.”
“You see, Magnolia and her aunty are coming in the next – ” He checked the clock. “In the next minutes. It seems that Dorothy Richmond wants to see how mother is faring and is bringing Magnolia with her.”
Adam looked up. “My long coat, please, Hartley.”
The butler walked to the door and took the long coat, which he handed to his master, and then left the room.
Adam was excited. He was going to have another chance to speak with her. Things had just gotten better!
He tried to remember the last time she had been here. Of course! It had been two years ago during his birthday, if he was right.
Then he seemed to recall that what happened that day was a bit strange. He had just finished being with Trista in the room and had come outside to see James and his parents, but without any sign of Magnolia.
“Do me a favor and tell me what Magnolia’s got in that little box of hers when she presents it to you. She’s been holding on to it all day and would not let me see what’s inside,” James had told him.
However, Adam neither saw her nor received any gift from her. It was odd that he and James had to search for her before Mr. Hartley explained she was seen standing outside and must have gone back into the carriage.
When they finally found her, she wouldn’t speak to either of them. He got worried but James was angry. She wouldn’t even look at Adam and he had had to excuse himself to attend to more guests. If memory served him right, that was the last time he saw Magnolia before James died.
The lady is really strange, he thought. If he could manage to get his tongue functioning that morning, he could speak to her on so many things including about her brother’s death
* * *
Miss Magnolia Richmond
Magnolia took the coachman’s hand, waiting to help her and Aunt Dorothy out of the carriage. Once she got out, he helped her aunt out as well and then climbed back up to the driver’s box.
“I will be here to take you back,” the coachman said to them.
“Very good, Master Will,” Magnolia said, and the man nodded and drove away.
The house before them was the same as Magnolia remembered it. She had come here several times while growing up and it was one of the places she could never get tired of visiting.
The Avery mansion was still as grand as always. It was surrounded by a manicured lawn to give off an infant castle look. Its stones were pale grey and void of the moss that clung to the walls of other houses surrounding it.
There were two stone pillars supporting the porch. The ducal coronet was carved in the stone above. The entranceway was white marble with columns, and a great staircase led to the upper floors. An enormous arrangement of roses sent a delicious scent through the air.
“Are you going to stare at the house all day, or would you go inside?” her aunt asked, from behind her.
Magnolia and Aunt Dorothy walked to the large oak door of the house. Just as the older woman prepared to knock, the door was immediately opened and they were confronted by a tall, elderly man whose crooked thin lips broke into a weak smile on seeing them.
Magnolia recognized him instantly. “Mr. Hartley!”
“Miss Richmond,” the man said, with a bow. “It is so good to see you again after such a long time.”
Magnolia smiled. She remembered how as a child she would get lost in the mansion, but Hartley always found her.
He bowed to her aunt before taking their coats and muffs from them and ushering them into the parlor, where Adam waited for them.
He stood up as they walked in.
“Miss Richmond,” he said, walking to Aunt Dorothy and kissing her on the cheeks.
“Adam, darling! How are you?” Aunt Dorothy asked, as they drew back. “I am so sorry to hear about your mother’s health. How is she?”
“She is getting better every day,” he replied with a smile, before turning to his other guest. “Miss Richmond,” he said, with a nod and a slight smile.
“Lord Strickland,” she responded, with a slight curtsey.
“Well, may I see her?” demanded Aunt Dorothy.
“Of course. Please, come with me.”
“Please extend my best regards to her,” Magnolia said, as both Adam and her aunt walked to the staircase, talking as they went.
Finally, she sighed and was about to sit down when Mr. Hartley came out of the left room by the corner, which Magnolia knew was the kitchen.
“Miss Richmond. Instead of staying here alone, would you care to come into the kitchen? I made a pie and I would love to get your opinion. I used my grandmother’s recipe.”
Magnolia chuckled. This was one thing she loved about Mr. Hartley; he always made her try out whatever he was cooking. Afterwards, she knew, Lady Strickland would ask him to pack some for Magnolia and Aunt Dorothy to take home.
She followed him to the kitchen where he served her the pie. “It’s delicious,” she said, on the first bite. “Did you add strawberry?”
“You do have a good sense of taste, madam,” said Mr. Hartley, clearly impressed. “Yes, I added some strawberry flavoring and a little bit of ginger.”
“Hmm….” she said, licking her lips. “This is the best pie I’ve tasted in a long while.”
Mr. Hartley laughed. “You’re most welcome. So, let me ask: How have you been?”
“I’ve been well, Mr. Hartley. Thank you for asking.”
“It’s been a long time since you came here.”
“It has. I remember how James and I used to come in here to taste your food. Those were very good times.”
Mr. Hartley smiled, very gently. “I miss him, too.”
* * *
Adam Avery, the Earl of Strickland
Adam descended the stairs after leaving Miss Richmond in his mother’s room. He was thinking of the best way to start a conversation with Magnolia but was surprised when he got to the parlor and couldn’t find her.
He waited for a short while, wondering where she could have gone. Then he heard her voice and that of Hartley and knew where they would be.
As he drew closer to the kitchen, her laughter became louder and he felt a pang of jealousy. She must have laughed that way with Richard. Adam couldn’t remember the last time he himself had made her laugh like that.
When he entered the kitchen, the conversation stopped. “Hartley, I see you have made another one of your infamous pies. Would you mind if I have a taste?”
“Of course not, my lord,” the man replied and served him. Magnolia was quiet, which concerned him.
“Hmm. Quite tasty,” Adam said. “Would you agree, Miss Richmond?”
The question must have taken her by surprise, for she stared at him for a while before nodding. “Yes, my lord. Mr. Hartley is as good as he has always been.”
He hated the formality between them. Why can she not just call me Adam as always?
“You flatter me, Miss Richmond,” said the older man. “But thank you. I suppose you haven’t forgotten the time I made that terrible pie…”
Both Adam and Magnolia burst into laughter at the memory. The pie was burned but they all ate it anyway, even though the taste was terrible. Adam’s mother had asked that the pie be discarded but James thought it wasn’t that bad, so the three ate the pie – at least, enough to make Hartley happy.
“It was indeed a terrible pie,” continued Magnolia, while walking from the kitchen back to the parlor. Seeing this as a perfect opportunity to speak with her, Adam followed her.
Magnolia sat on one of the lounging chairs in the room and he did the same. She was still busy eating her pie and all her concentration was towards it.
He thought of the best way to begin without making things difficult. “I hope you had a great time at the ball?” he blurted.
She looked at him, frowning, and then nodded. “Yes, my lord.”
He suddenly felt like a seven-year-old boy who didn’t know the right thing to say or do. If she kept giving him answers this short, he might run out of ideas.
The silence extended until he decided to take charge of the conversation.
“Miss Magnolia. I know things have been very awkward between us, but there is something important I need to ask you.”
She looked at him, curious.
“Have you ever thought about whether someone actually murdered James and your parents? And that the so-called accident was not an accident at all?”
* * *
Miss Magnolia Richmond
Magnolia couldn’t believe her ears when she heard this. She had been feeling awkward earlier with the way Adam kept trying to talk to her.
For some reason, she did not want to talk to him – perhaps due to the memory of the last time she had come here, and why she had sworn never to talk to him again.
But now, all the anger and the disappointments she had piled against him seemed to evaporate with what he had just said.
“How?” was all she could ask. She was overwhelmed.
“I know this might sound insane,” Adam went on, “but for some time, I have been thinking that they were actually murdered.”
Magnolia wanted to scream So do I! But she decided to relax, at least enough to understand what he was driving at and what his reasons were for saying that.
“Before he died,” Adam said, “James and I both attended Lady Jacqueline’s ball. There, he told me of a certain man who he discovered had been killing innocent slaves and how he was close to apprehending him. I tried to warn him to be careful, but you know how James could be. He saw himself as a martyr. He believed he was doing the right thing and was ready to go through anything to achieve his aim.”
Magnolia blinked back the few tears that were about to drop. She realized now that she had been angry with the only person who understood her, and had been carrying this burden alone when she had someone she could have shared it with.
“I am so sorry if I brought back painful memories. But I have a feeling that someone murdered them in order to silence them.”
“You may be right,” Magnolia said. She could see the surprised look on his face at her words. “I have been thinking about this same thing since I got back.”
“You have?” he gasped.
“Yes. That very day when they left for the ball, I could not attend because I had fever. A night before, I overheard them saying something about a psychopath killing slaves…”
“Hold on…you overhead ‘them?’”
She nodded.
“Who was James speaking with?”
“My father.”
“Your father and James were both involved in this?”
“Yes. They were. Whoever killed them knew what they were doing.”
Adam stood up and began to pace. “I am finding it difficult to believe what I just heard. There is a great chance that the psychopath caused the accident. He must have known that they were both involved and now that you are involved – do you not think you are in danger too?”
Magnolia was about to respond, but then they heard footsteps descending the stairs.
A moment later, Aunt Dorothy entered the parlor. “I think we should be on our way, dear,” she said to her niece.
Magnolia stood up, disappointed that the discussion had been cut short. “All right, Aunt Dorothy.”
“Thank you so much for coming, Miss Richmond,” Adam said, rising up to kiss Aunt Dorothy on both cheeks.
“You are welcome, dear.”
Magnolia quickly turned to Adam. “My lord, please call on us tomorrow. I have something to show you.”
Adam nodded, and then Magnolia followed her aunt out of the house.
Chapter 13
Adam Avery, the Earl of Strickland
After Magnolia Richmond left that evening, Adam was both relieved and increasingly disturbed. He was relieved because he was able to finally share his suspicions which had been driving him nearly insane for all these years; but now he was disturbed knowing that Magnolia could as well be in danger.
“So, what are you going to do?” Richard asked. He had come to the house shortly after Magnolia and her aunt left.
“I have no idea, Richard. But she said she had something to show me and I certainly wonder what it is.”
Richard clasped and unclasped his hands. “Are you quite certain that the whole accident was covered up?”
He threw his friend a look. “Yes, Richard. From everything she told me and from what James said. Besides, my gut tells me she is no longer safe – and that terrifies me. I will be damned if anything happens to her!”
Richard sighed as he stood up. “You must be very careful, both of you. You never know who a killer is. For him to have orchestrated an accident that killed all three, I daresay he is a dangerous man.”
Adam nodded. His friend was right. He would have to be very careful and, at the same time, protect Magnolia.
Later that night, before he slept, he felt happy knowing that at least one good thing had come out of everything that had happened that day: Magnolia was able to open up to him, and he did the same to her.
He couldn’t remember the last time they had spoken like that. It was as if nothing had changed. Later, he thought, he would ask her what had caused the strange attitude that she had been giving him - but that would have to wait for now.
* * *
Miss Magnolia Richmond
Magnolia did not go to her father’s study that night. Instead, she stayed in her room where she thought of all the things she had discussed with Adam that day.
She could never have imagined that he would be the one to share her burden with her. De
spite how angry she had been, it was surprising how things had turned out.
“What are you going to do now?” Caroline asked. She was in the room with Magnolia that night and had just heard the whole story.
“What else? I have to wait for him to come tomorrow and we can solve this mystery together,” she replied.
“But, are you not a bit afraid?”
“Afraid? I am not afraid, Caroline. I am angry! He killed my entire family. What kind of a person does that, if not a madman? He cannot get away with this. He cannot!”
A Mysterious Quest of a Seductive Lady: A Regency Historical Romance Novel Page 9