They didn’t seem to need him to entertain
them, so he leaned against an old apple tree, a silent observer. Jeremy looked about him and reached up to brush an apple hanging above his head. He wasn’t hungry, and so he left it there to finish growing. But before Lady Rivers and her money had come into his life, he wouldn’t have hesitated to take what he needed to survive.
He was well versed in criminal activities, though Lady Rivers had no idea of his past. And she never would if he had his way. To her, his life began and ended at the theater. He would lose her patronage if she learned his first profession had been thief…and that he’d been rather too good at it.
He looked about again, taking in his surroundings. What a world to grow up in. No filth, abundant food just waiting to be picked and eaten from any tree or vine. This family was luckier than any he’d ever known. They would have every opportunity in life.
He became aware that the whispers continued, and glances in his direction grew in number, then the children were all up on their feet again. They tore through the garden, running away from him, gathering up flowers, a little from each plant, and once they had enough, they ran off together again.
Jeremy was forced to give chase, and he was glad their haste seemed to be a return to the Hawthorne house only.
He caught up to them just as they started up the stairs.
But then they began to creep, tiptoeing through the doorway into the dim inner hall. Jeremy followed in a similar fashion, as silent as he’d been when stealing his way into a stranger’s home, because he sensed a change in the air inside the house. Years of watching others and listening to his instincts told him all was not well.
Down the hall, servants had gathered together, faces lowered. Fingers covering their lips.
And in the room they stood outside of, a woman suddenly began to wail, desperately sad.
Heartbroken.
Jeremy froze as the horrible sound of loss faded away, only to start up again.
If he was not mistaken, the gentleman of the house had just passed away.
Jeremy lowered his head and sent up a brief prayer for the man’s soul. But two of the boys ushered the others down the hall, headed toward that far room.
Jeremy hesitated to follow but decided he should, in case he was asked to take them away again.
He reached the doorway and spotted the Hawthornes hugging each other beside a large bed.
Lady Rivers was nearby, her back pressed to the wall, silent tears streaming down her cheeks in grief.
He went to her side, and when he whispered her given name, she turned into his shoulder immediately and began to sob her heart out. Surprised by her grief, he gently put his arm around her, and held her close.
While he held her, he looked about the room, a man’s bedchamber, where a still form lie, eyes closed.
Unmoving.
This was not the first corpse Jeremy had looked upon in his short life. He’d seen bodies in terrible condition in London’s filthy streets and homes, pulled from the alley behind the theater, too. Vagrants and victims of murder or neglect.
Mr. Hawthorne must have only died moments ago, but it was clear to see he was terribly missed already by the family.
Family. Jeremy had little experience with that. He had the theater but that simply wasn’t the same.
Finally, Lady Rivers remembered herself and drew back and gave Jeremy a tremulous smile. She patted her cheeks, wiping away tears. “I have known him all my life.”
Jeremy nodded. “He was a lucky man then.”
Her answering smile wobbled. “My father must be informed. I need to find a servant to break the news to him gently. They were great friends, but he’d wanted his illness kept a secret.”
What servants he could see were all weeping in the hall, and Jeremy felt they shouldn’t be asked to abandon their mistress at such a time. Jeremy didn’t want to leave Lady Rivers, but he also didn’t need to stay. “I can do that for you. I can tell him.”
Lady Rivers took hold of his hand and squeezed. She looked at him with such gratitude, he felt ten feet tall suddenly. “That would be very much appreciated, Mr. Dawes. Let him know he passed quietly, without any pain.”
“I will,” he promised.
She turned away, facing the elder Miss Hawthorne. “Boys, you two should return to your father.”