She needed to return it to him. But a small, selfish part of her wanted to keep it. To have something of his, a tangible reminder of the time they had shared. She cared for Niles far more than she was willing to admit, even to herself. But Charles was right about one thing: Niles would leave. He would return to his world, and she couldn’t allow herself to pine after him.
Resolving herself, she decided she would return the pocket watch tomorrow.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts, and her brow furrowed. Had Charles come back to argue further? Before she could answer, the door opened, and Clara slipped inside.
“I’m sorry, my lady,” her lady’s maid began, her words tumbling out in a rush. “Lord Bedford was insistent that I tell him where you’d gone.”
Elsbeth placed the pocket watch back in the drawer and gave Clara a reassuring look. “It wasn’t your fault.”
Clara winced, wringing her hands. “I may have been eavesdropping outside your door. I’ve never seen Lord Bedford so furious.”
“He wants me to leave with him for his estate after my mother’s soiree.”
“That is a good thing, isn’t it?” Clara asked, stepping closer. “You’ll be leaving this place, going back to your home.”
Elsbeth shook her head, a tinge of sadness in her voice. “It’s not my home anymore, Clara. Not really.”
Clara’s brows knitted together in concern. “What do you want to do?”
Sinking into the chair at her dressing table, Elsbeth replied, “I want to uncover my stepfather’s secrets, but I fear I’ve run out of time.”
“Maybe that’s for the best,” Clara suggested cautiously as she picked up a hairbrush, moving to stand by her.
Elsbeth’s shoulders slumped. “My poor mother. She’ll continue to be deceived by a man she claims to love.”
Clara carefully removed the pins from Elsbeth’s chignon and began brushing her hair with gentle strokes. “By all accounts, your mother seems happy with him. Perhaps there’s no deception at all.”
“Appearances can be deceiving,” Elsbeth countered.
A comfortable silence stretched between them until Clara broke it hesitantly. “Do you not want to leave because of Lord Westcott?”
“Lord Westcott has nothing to do with this,” Elsbeth lied, but the faint warmth that spread across her cheeks betrayed her.
Clara set the brush down and reached for a delicate lace cap. “You have been spending a lot of time with him lately.”
“We are merely friends.”
“Pardon me for saying so, but you two appear much closer than just friends.”
Elsbeth remained silent as Clara carefully placed the cap on her head, adjusting it to sit just right. “Niles is helping me uncover my stepfather’s secrets. That is all.”
Clara tilted her head slightly, her expression thoughtful. “But why did he agree to help you in the first place?” she asked. “This was never his fight, yet he’s been by your side since he arrived.”
The question hung in the air like a challenge, and for a moment, Elsbeth found herself unable to respond. Why had Niles agreed to help her? He had no obligation, no reason to involve himself in her troubles. And yet, he had.
Her mind flitted to the moments they had shared. The teasing banter. The genuine concern in his eyes. The quiet support he offered when she felt like the world was against her. A flicker of doubt surfaced. Could his motives be more than just a sense of duty? Or worse, was she allowing herself to see more than what was truly there?
Clara interrupted her thoughts. “Forgive me, my lady. I didn’t mean to overstep.”
Elsbeth forced a small smile, her heart a confusing tangle of emotions. “You didn’t overstep,” she assured her. “I suppose I haven’t given it much thought.”
Clara’s eyes filled with a quiet understanding. “Perhaps it’s worth thinking about, my lady.”
Yes.
It was most definitely worth thinking about.
With golden streams of the morningsunlight flooding the manor, Niles descended the stairs. He barely reached the entry hall when a sharp knock echoed through the manor. The butler moved to answer, revealing Elsbeth on the threshold.
