Carl opened the door. “Someone to see you, Miss Perkins.”
“Thank you, Carl. Who is it?”
“A Mrs. Trilby, miss.”
Mari’s body went numb. “Please tell her I’ll be down in a moment,” she said, her voice coming from somewhere far away.
“Yes, miss.”
Mari gathered the prayer book and P.L. Rabbit and placed them in her cloth bag. Whatever happened, she had to keep her appointment with Mr. Shadwell.
She donned her coat and bonnet and descended the stairs to meet her doom.
Chapter 30
When Edgar arrived home that afternoon, his house was in a state of chaos but he supposed that was to be expected. Mari and the children were home now. The house wouldn’t echo with silence when he walked through the halls.
It would echo with laughter.
He couldn’t wait to find Mari and tell her the fantastic news. Finally,finallythe engine was lightweight enough. The new boiler design they had forged was working perfectly, the ribbing giving it the strength and resiliency it needed to withstand the high steam pressure.
And then there was the other matter.
The matter of the engagement band burning a hole in the pocket of his waistcoat.
An ostentatious band of diamonds that the jeweler had assured him was fit for a duchess... but probably not fit for Mari. She was simply too unique. Too utterly herself to follow the dictates of fashion.
He’d have another ring commissioned later—a simple setting would be best. Perhaps a twist of gold with one ruby to match her hair.
He’d been searching for this meaning, this feeling, throwing himself into his work, groping blindly, and then Mari had happened.
Their night at the seashore hadn’t been a mindless coupling.
It had been strong, true, honest... and it had changed him.
He’d opened his heart to her, told her his sordid history and she’d accepted him for the flawed, bitter man he was. And her acceptance... her love... was everything he’d ever wanted.
He’d never be able to put those walls back up.
His heart twisted. But what if she didn’t love him? Or, worse, what if she only thought she loved him, but it was a mere infatuation and would fade quickly?
She might wake up one day and find herself married to stubborn old him, with two half-grown children, and feel trapped.
These were the thoughts chasing each other around his head like a hound chasing its tail as he entered the house, only to find everything in an uproar.
“What’s happening, Robertson?” he asked.
“I’ll let Mrs. Fairfield tell you, Your Grace. I don’t understand it at all.”
“Your Grace,” Mrs. Fairfield wailed, appearing in the doorway. “They’ve taken her.”
Michel and Adele came running down the stairs. “Bring her back, Father!” cried Adele.
“They can’t just take our governess,” said Michel, his face stormy and fists by his side.
“Slow down, please,” said Edgar. “You’re not making sense, any of you. Taken her where? Someone please tell me what has happened.”
Mrs. Fairfield stared at him, splotches of color on her cheeks. “That horrible Mrs. Trilby from the governess agency came to the house today with a constable. The same one who brought the children home that day. They escorted Miss Perkins away. She went willingly. I’ve no idea why.”