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Their father, Lord Baldwin Turner, an English Aristocrat who had served in His Majesty's court, was assigned to Scotland by the King a year ago.
Nora recalled being worried about relocating there. However, when they arrived in Brinsdale, she discovered that she had not needed to be concerned at all. Scotland was beautiful and her father had acquireda large mansion south of townsurrounded by trees that were home to beautiful birds.
Those same birds sang again as the sisters entered their bedroom,awaiting their father's call. It only took a few minutes for a loud knock to sound on the door.
“You may enter,” Nora called in a voice full of false bravery.
With a snide expression on his face, Henry opened the door but his confidence wavered as he looked between the two women. “Your father summons you.”
“Thank you, Henry. You may take your leave,” Amelia said with a jutted chin.
Nora was pleased by her sister's gesture. Amelia's anger, even toward Henry whom she couldn't stand either,was limited to a raised chin, and even that was rare. When heleft, Nora stood to leave, but Amelia turned to her with pleading eyes and grabbed her hands.
“Oh, please, let me go in your stead! Darling Nora, please! I will calm Father down. You will only anger him further.”
“And that will probably reveal our deceit,” Nora said with a grin.
“Oh, do be serious, Nora! Please, let me—”
“Amelia, I could never let you face Father’s wrath. You know I couldn’t, not even if you were to blame. I certainly will not since I am at fault.”
“But you so often take the fall for me...”
“You hardly get into trouble, dearest.”
“But—”
“Amelia,” Nora said softly but firmly, “No. I will go myself.”
With a brave face and a beating heart, Nora strode out of the room.
Lord Turner's study was located on the western wing's far edge. The girls had suspected that the office was strategically placed because their father preferred to be as far away from his daughters as possible. It had been the same in their home in England.
Nora despised it; she hated having to march across half the house, terrified of what her father would do. During the walk, she would frequently try to distract herself likeforcingherself to consider all the different ways she could braid Amelia's hair or picturing rocking a sleeping child, as she had often done when bringing food to some of the local women's babies.
The soothing thoughts never lasted long, and she was soon back to thinking about her father. She knocked twice on his office's large door, just as he had instructed.
“Nora.” His voice was deep and heavy with a cold undertone.
She took a deep breath before grasping the large brass handle and opening the door.
Lord Turner sat at the head of the room, behind his large desk. He was wearing reading glasses and ruminating over two large piles of documents on either side of his table.
Nora took her time walking to his table, counting each step until she was standing across from him.
“Father.”
There was no response. Nora sat at his table, silently watching him read. He finished workingon a document he had selected from the rightpile, and placed it on another to his left. He repeated that for quite some time.After what seemed like an eternity, he lifted his gaze to hers.
“When I speak to you, do you hear the words I say?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Do you understand them?”
“Yes, Father.”
“And yet, you never obey them. Why is that, Nora?”
