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“I know,” Matthew chuckled. She was a dear woman, and she had been Kendall’s housekeeper since he was four years old.
“Then you will not go in?” she asked with her brows raised. She wanted a verbal confirmation that he would leave Diana to sleep.
Sighing, he said, “No, I will not.” He raised his hands in surrender and walked backward. “Inform me the instant she wakes up, please.”
Mrs. Ross nodded and he turned and went back downstairs, deciding to read some correspondence and reply in his study while he waited, knowing quite well that Diana might not wake up soon because of the draught Morgan had given her for the pain in her foot.
After what felt like hours, he heard a knock and looked up to see Emma. He had left his study door open. “I came as soon as I received your message,” she said. “How is she?”
“Asleep,” Matthew replied, leaning back in his chair as she entered the room and sat in front of his desk.
“What happened?”
“She fell and was trapped in the rain. Thankfully I was out riding, and I found her.”
“We are fortunate then. I will be happy to stay with her for as long as I am needed.”
“Thank you, Emma.” He wearily squeezed the bridge of his nose. “I have apprised her aunt of the situation. I expect she will come to the castle tonight to see her.”
Emma frowned. “I doubt she would.”
Matthew sat up. “Why do you say that?”
“It might not be my place to tell you this but I made an observation, and it has been disturbing me for some time now. Diana is my dear friend, and you seem to have an interest in her. I want us to help her if we can.”
He moved to the edge of his seat. “What is it, Emma?”
“I have noticed some friction between Diana and her aunt. Her cousin, too. I think she is unhappy in that house. She would not tell me anything, sadly.”
Some of the things that Matthew had observed began to make sense, especially how quiet and reserved she was in her aunt’s presence. “We can help her but we have to know exactly what is happening.”
Emma nodded. “Perhaps she will tell you if you ask her.”
He laughed ruefully. “Diana might be more likely to tell you than me.”
Emma smiled. “She is quite the puzzle, is she not?”
“Oh, she is.”
She stood. “I will see her now.”
“Mrs. Ross is guarding her door,” he called after her.
Emma giggled. “I am sure she is not guarding her from me.”
He was glad he had called Emma to stay with her after hearing her troubling suspicions. Nothing was as it seemed where Diana was concerned, but he had already promised to solve the mystery.
Very early the following morning, before Matthew had the chance to see Diana, Lady Dervin and Florence visited. He was eating breakfast in the morning room with Emma when they burst into the room. Matthew stood, while Emma regarded them warily.
“Oh, Your Grace, what misfortune befell my dear Diana?” Lady Dervin cried.
Florence placed a hand on her mother’s shoulder. “Be calm, Mother. I am sure it is not as bad as we think.” She turned to Matthew. “May we see my dear cousin so Mama will be calm, Your Grace?”
“Of course,” Matthew said. “Please follow me.”
“My poor dear. I wonder if she slept at all with a broken leg,” Lady Dervin said.
“She sprained her left ankle,” Matthew corrected her.
