Jocelyn had been Allison’s friend since boarding school. They’d debuted at the same time, but Jocelyn had married a wealthy old earl when she was eighteen. The man had died a year ago, leaving her dear friend a young widow and mother to the man’s two-year-old heir.
Heather smiled and went over to Allison’s writing desk, returning with a pen and paper. “If you’ll write her a note, I’ll have Joseph deliver it.”
Allison quickly dashed off a plea to her old friend, then sealed it and handed it off to Heather, who immediately went to find Joseph.
However, the moment Allison was alone, all the events of the day came crashing down upon her. A shiver of fear went through her as she thought of poor Polly, sliced up as though she wasn’t even human. As long as she lived, Allison didn’t think she’d ever get the image of that girl out of her head. She hadn’t known people were even capable of such savagery. What if that monster returned to Mercy House and hurt another one of her girls?
What if he comes after me?
She shook the thought away. Though what had happened to Polly had been horrible beyond all description, it had obviously been a very personal attack. Allison was certain that she was as safe at Mercy House as she’d ever been.
Besides, it seemed as though perhaps she owed those girls an apology for her strict rules and highhanded behavior. But if she was ever going to make things better, she needed to get back there and speak to them, find out what it was they really needed, and then try to help them find it.