“Mrs. Hughes sent her off to be a scullery maid without consulting me,” Georgie explained. “Lord Grenton should return shortly with her.”
Pulling out a chair, Alice sat down and asked, “What did you reveal to Lord Grenton?”
“Only that I fled to escape an unwanted marriage and my brother’s heavy hand,” Georgie said. “I did stop short of telling him my real name.”
“Does he know that you are an heiress?” Alice asked.
“No, and I have no intention of telling him.”
Alice didn’t look convinced, but she thankfully didn’t argue with her. “I must say that I missed a lot when I visited with my mother this morning.”
Mrs. Peters placed a cup of tea in front of each of them and asked, “How is your mother’s health?”
Alice sobered as she reached for the cup. “Not well.”
“Is the medicine not helping?” Georgie asked.
“Nothing seems to help,” Alice replied as she brought the cup up to her lips. “I worry that she will grow tired of fighting her sickness.”
“You must not give up hope,” Georgie encouraged.
Alice lowered the cup to the table. “That is easier said than done,” she muttered.
Someone cleared their throat from the doorway, and Georgie turned her head to see Sarah, looking terribly disheveled, and Lord Grenton standing there.
“Sarah!” Georgie shouted as she jumped up from her seat. “You’ve returned.” She hurried over to the girl and embraced her.
Sarah returned her embrace before stepping back. “Thank you for sending Lord Grenton to retrieve me.”
“You are welcome,” Georgie said. “We couldn’t have you leave us before you learned how to read, now, could we?”
A smile came to Sarah’s lips. “I would like that very much.”
“Were Mr. and Mrs. Willis kind to you while you were in their care?” Georgie asked.
Sarah’s smile slipped. “I didn’t meet them until they called for me, but the other servants weren’t nice,” she revealed. “They yelled at me.”
With compassion in her voice, Georgie said, “You are back where you belong now, and you won’t ever have to go back there again.”
Sarah looked relieved by her words. “May I go see Rebecca now?” she asked.
“You may,” Georgie said.
In a swift motion, Sarah turned around and threw her arms around Lord Grenton’s waist. “Thank you,” she murmured before she dropped her arms and hurried down the hall.
Lord Grenton looked stunned, but his eyes softened as he watched Sarah’s retreating figure.
Georgie spoke up. “I do believe Sarah was most grateful for your help, my lord.”
“It would appear so,” Lord Grenton said, bringing his gaze to meet hers. “A word, Miss Lloyd?”
Georgie gestured towards the back door. “We can speak freely in the courtyard.”
“Very good.”
No one in the room spoke as they exited the kitchen. Georgie walked towards the middle of the small courtyard and turned around.
Lord Grenton came to a stop, a short distance away from her. His eyes were guarded, and she realized that didn’t bode well for her.
