AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 1
Autumn 1741
Lady Lavinia wasn’t one to give in to panic easily. In fact, in the friendship between her and her oldest friend Annalise, Lavinia was the levelheaded one.
When they were children, she was the one who caught frogs and chased away the bees without being frightened. Once they grew up and Annalise married, Lavinia was the one to constantly wipe away her friend’s tears and give her advice.
And when Annalise needed it most, Lavinia was willing to give up the man she loved for her best friend.
Losing things and thanking the lord that she hadn’t lost more, handling difficult matters without breaking to pieces, were things that defined Lavinia. She was rational and was always willing to make sacrifices. The panic had never caught her off guard.
Until now.
I know what you did.
Lavinia stared at the note she received a few moments ago with glassy eyes. Those five words made her heart race and her vision blur to the point she thought she was going to swoon.
Lavinia knew there was only one thing this note could have alluded to, and if she was right, she was in deep, deep trouble.
She placed her hand to her heart as it beat wildly, her eyes roaming about the room, unable to find a place to settle her gaze.
She was in Annalise’s drawing room, the room she’d been in countless times, yet it felt foreign at the moment. Her friends sat in a circle not far from her, but she felt completely alone.
Somebody knew.
And that somebody had followed her to Annalise’s home.
“Lavinia?” Annalise stepped closer, startling Lavinia out of her skin. “You seem unwell. Are you feeling faint?”
Yes, yes, I am! I am in a blasted panic!Lavinia’s hands shook, but the only thing she could say was, “I am well, thank you.”
Annalise peered into her face, unconvinced. “I shall bring you a glass of wine.”
Lavinia nodded and stood there, reading and rereading the words on the paper as if expecting them to change. She turned the note and twisted it, hoping the paper itself would give her some clue, any clue, but her attempts were in vain. Other than the words and indecipherable signature under them, there was nothing to indicate where it came from and who’d written it.
Annalise returned a few moments later with a glass of wine. “Here, drink.”
Lavinia took a sip and let the drink calm her as it traveled through her mouth and down her throat. Only it didn’t help.
She bunched the note in her hand and discreetly put it in her pocket. Her breaths accelerated, and her eyes watered. Lavinia blinked the tears away.
“Annalise,” she whispered, without looking at her friend. “I am in big trouble.”
There was a slight pause as Annalise searched Lavinia’s features for a clue as to what had happened, and when she didn’t find her answers there, she asked, “What do you need?”
Lavinia was ready to cry. How easily her friend offered her help without even knowing what the issue was. If Annalise knew the issue, her reaction would not be much different, Lavinia was certain.
“I want to tell you everything but”—Lavinia looked at the two women quietly conversing in the sitting area—“it will not be a short conversation. And I don’t want to keep your guests waiting.”
Annalise followed Lavinia’s gaze. “Dear, you know Olivia would be happy to help. Perhaps you should—”
Lavinia shook her head, cutting Annalise off. “I know Olivia would be happy to help. But she is not alone. And her poor cousin lost a husband recently. She doesn’t need someone else’s problems thrust onto her.”
Annalise nodded. “Then, if you wish, I can just tell everyone that you are not feeling well.”
Lavinia needed a moment to think it over.
She didn’t want to go home yet. She wasn’t ready. She’d rather stay among friends and speak to Annalise after. “Thank you, but I’m… I think I’d rather stay here awhile. Just… please, let’s pretend that nothing is amiss.”
