Caught in a Cornish Scandal by Eleanor Webster (top novels of all time .txt) 📗

Besides, I love Cornwall and Mr Edmunds is safe and reliable.’

‘You sound as though you are talking about an old horse,’ Lil grumbled.

‘Horse or man, safe and reliable is a good thing. Mr Edmunds will not engage in some crazy escapade. He will die at an old age in a respectable manner in the comforts of his own home.’

‘What heady goals you have for him. So why have you looked so sad since your return?’ Lil asked.

‘Blisters on my feet. They have a deleterious effect on the spirit.’

Lillie giggled. ‘Millie, you can joke about it, but you must dream of more than Mr Edmunds?’

It was Millie’s turn to laugh although she noted a bitter note. ‘In the last few years, I have had too many nightmares so I have rather given up on dreams.’

‘Do not,’ Lil whispered. ‘You have to have dreams. Besides, what of Mr Garrett?’

‘Mr Garrett? What has he to do with anything? We hardly know him. We are merely providing accommodation for his sister, as good neighbours should. I doubt very much that he cares for our domestic arrangements.’

‘Well, you’re twitchy as a cat every time I say his name. Moreover, this sudden acquaintance with Mrs Ludlow is questionable. I am quite certain that I have seen her at church only once. So how does she suddenly know you so well that she brings over her brother and invites herself to stay?’

‘I do not know. We already agreed that she was odd.’

‘I think that you and Mr Garrett met when you had your “fishing trip”, which was not a fishing trip,’ Lil said. ‘And when he realised that his sister had some sort of hysterical condition he sought your help because you have developed a close bond.’

‘You should write all this stuff and sell it,’ Millie muttered.

‘But I would much prefer for you to live it.’

‘Lil, I love you. And I love what you are trying to say. But even if your far-fetched story is correct, Mr Garrett has no interest in me. Moreover, he has more important issues on his plate, given that he recently confessed to causing his brother-in-law bodily harm.’

‘He what?’ Lil jerked upright again, twisting around and sending a blast of cold air under the blankets. ‘When?’

‘Yesterday evening. You were asleep. Jason Ludlow is still missing. His mother thinks Frances is involved so Sam—Mr Garrett—decided to say they’d had a fight and that Jason had fallen in the ocean.’

‘And did he?’

‘Mr Garrett doesn’t know. He doesn’t remember. He was drunk or injured or both on the night Jason Ludlow disappeared.’

Lil bounced on the bed with a creak of the springs. ‘I knew you knew more about Sam Garrett than you let on! And are you saying that Sir Anthony and Mrs Ludlow came in the middle of the night and I slept through it?’

‘It was in the evening. Late in the evening.’

‘Of course I sleep through the only exciting thing that has happened around here for ages.’ Lil’s look of consternation would have been comical in other circumstances. ‘Anyway, I am quite certain Mr Garrett had nothing to do with Jason’s disappearance.’

‘Based on your five-minute acquaintance?’

‘Based on the fact that my sister would not fall in love with an individual of bad character.’

‘Good Lord,’ Millie said, also sitting up. ‘I am definitely not in love with anyone and certainly not Sam Garrett. Besides, marriage to Mr Edmunds is a good option.’

‘Marriage to Mr Edmunds would be boring as mud. You cannot just give up.’

‘I have not “given up”. You do not know...’ The image of the smuggler’s ship, broken, on fire and sinking into the sea flickered before her mind’s eye. ‘I am ensuring we have a decent life. You, me and Mother.’

She had risked everything and lost. She had gambled like her father and played with danger like her brother.

And had lost.

‘I know, you think your “fishing trip” was a mistake. But maybe you should think less about the mistake and more about your indomitable will, which helped you to survive.’

Millie glanced at her sister, her heart full. ‘You helped me survive. Thinking of you helped me to survive.’

‘Then make good use of your second chance.’

As soon as it was a decent hour, Millie went to see Frances. She knocked softly, but, even so, Frances jumped at her entrance, fear and worry evident in her face.

‘I have brought you some tea,’ Millie said, stepping carefully around Noah’s bassinet, which had been placed to the left of the bed.

Frances was sitting upright, propped by pillows. She smiled tentatively as Millie passed her the cup. ‘Thank you.’

‘May I sit with you a minute while Noah is sleeping?’ Millie asked.

Frances nodded. ‘You are kind. You must think me very weak.’

‘I think nothing of the sort,’ Millie said firmly. ‘You obviously care for your child and are determined to keep him safe.’

‘Yes.’ Frances glanced towards the bassinet. ‘Yes, he is everything to me.’

‘I can tell that...’ Millie paused, as she sat beside the bed, smoothing her gown as she tried to find the right words.

Frances glanced towards her, anxiety evident in her eyes, which appeared oddly magnified in contrast to her thin face. ‘You are worried. Do you want me to go? Does Sir Anthony have more enquiries? My mother-in-law—has she come for Noah?’ The questions were rattled off in quick, nervous succession, the cup rattling so much that Millie worried it would spill.

‘No.’ Millie reached for the saucer, taking it from the woman’s trembling hand and placing it on the night table. ‘No. Do not worry. No one is coming. You are quite safe.’

Millie waited, watching carefully as the other woman took in this information, gradually allowing herself to relax. ‘I need you to be calm so that we can talk things through. I think that is the best thing we can do to figure things out. Can you do that?’

Frances nodded, the movement slight and her expression still one of apprehension.

‘Thank you,’ Millie said. ‘First, you need to know that your brother is