“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 anyway 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 a 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 and was relieved seeing 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 would complain 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 water 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 water 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’s 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 been 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.
This book will be Live soon!
Get Lucinda’s Free Book
Building a relationship with my readers is the very best thing about writing.
Join my newsletter for information on new books and deals plus my first published novel A Duke Most Desirable for Free.
You can get your books for free by signing up here.
A Short Note About Starfall Publication
Starfall Publications has helped me, like so many other successful Romance writers to extend my writing to you.
Quality is the company’s main focus and I’m honored to be able to publish my books under their name.
With that said, I would like to thank Starfall Publications for giving me the opportunity to work with them, making it possible for me to make my dream come true.
About Lucinda Nelson
Lucinda Nelson has grown up and now lives in Concord, New Hampshire.
She has studied and worked as a librarian and her meticulous research in History inspired an everlasting love for Historical Romance.
She discovered Bronte Sisters at her early teens and she has been
fond of heroines like Jane Eyre, ever since.
She finally got the guts to participate on a writing contest on 2017. From right then she decided that plotting romances with rakish men and smart, feisty women, was an excitement she couldn’t stay away from. Except the times she is chasing down her two young boys.
Other than writing, Lucinda delights in watching theatrical plays, reading mystery novels and her latest discovery is cake decoration, something that she owes to her sons and her weakness for sweets.
Also By Lucinda Nelson
Book 1: The Roguish Ways of a Hopeless Duke
Book 2: An Earl for the Broken- Hearted Duchess
Book 3: A Marquess’ Forbidden Desire
Book 4: A Wicked Scandal for the Bluestocking
Book 5: Seducing the Vengeful Marquess
Book 6 : His Devilish Grace
Book 7 : The Sinful Secret of a Broken Earl
Book 8: An Untamed Lady for the Rakish Earl
Book 9: An Unforgettable Night With the Duke
Book 10: A Lady to Redeem a Rakish Lord
Regency Diaries of Seduction Collection: A Regency Historical Romance Box Set Page 89