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Gabriel reached for Quinn's hand. "Would you like me to continue?"
Quinn handed him the book. "Please."
She settled closer to Gabriel's warmth as his deep voice continued the tale.
February 14, 1699
Doctor Elliot Jenkins came to see me today. He brought his daughter, Lilith Jenkins, a nurse who he recommended I should employ once my child is born. I didn't like Miss Jenkins and the thought of her around my child had my skin crawling. There was cruelty in her eyes and her manners were that of someone who believed she should be elevated to the gentry. That life was somehow cheating her. My child, I'm sure she thinks, would represent all those who have kept her in the position that she thinks is beneath her. Never. I will never allow that woman around my child.
March 2, 1699
I am rather round now. Archer laughs, loves that he can barely wrap his arms around me. He spends every night talking to our child, telling stories or singing. He is going to be a wonderful father. I hope that this is only the first in a long line of children.
That woman came again today. She was stunning in her silver gown against the pale blonde of her hair but her nearly colorless eyes were frightening, especially when she looked at my now rounded stomach. I saw hate there. She hates me and she hates my child. She asked me questions about Archer, about what we liked to do together, where our favorite places are. I feel as if she was interrogating me. I am going to have to tell Archer that I am no longer going to receive calls from her. The Earl isn't going to like that because he is the one sending her to me but I don't care. The welfare of my child is more important.
March 15, 1699
I had the most horrible experience earlier today. I was in the gardens tending the beds, when an Adder snake slithered from my gardening bag. It coiled in preparation to attack and as I sat there in terrified fear, I could only think of Archer, of him losing me and our child. It was divine intervention that the gardener happened upon me just then and moved with astounding speed to kill the snake before it uncoiled and sprang at me. How it got into my bag when my bag hangs from a shelf in the shed, I know not. When I told Archer, he held me for hours, his body shaking from his fear and fury. I believe he suspects his father but he won't say anything to me. He wants me protected from all of that.
April 4, 1699
I have felt the baby move before but now his kicks are getting so very strong. I know I am having a boy, I have seen it. Nickie. That is what I call him when I am alone. I love him so much already and I have yet to meet him. Will he look like his father? I do so hope that he does -- a miniature version of Archer -- with that black hair and those wondrous green eyes.
Archer is no longer receiving calls from his father. I haven't told him about the woman since she hasn't been to see me recently. I wonder if he truly believes his father is behind the snake incident. Does he really think the man would hurt me? I want to believe that isn't so but I have seen the hatred in his eyes and fear that he is capable of anything.
May 18, 1699
I fear that I am being followed. Even though I no longer leave the grounds I have the sense that someone is watching me. There isn't anyone at Whispering Winds that I don't know and trust but there is definitely something dark lurking here and it scares me especially since it is so close to Nickie's birth. Archer is away on business in London but he will be home tomorrow. When he is home, I feel safe.
June 6, 1699
Nicholas Archer Scarcliff is perfect. He looks so much like his father, even for an infant. Those green eyes are already so clear and bright. When Archer held his child for the first time, it brought tears to my eyes. I love them both so much and I fear for them because I have felt it, death is hanging over us. I hope it is just the aftermath of the delivery but in my heart I fear something truly bad is coming.
June 12, 1699
Archer is near death. I don't understand since he was fine, healthy and strong, just yesterday and today he can't even keep his head up. I sit with him day and night and watch as his life drains from his body. He burns with fever and his beautiful eyes are so dull, as if the light of his life is fading. I want to know what is wrong with him but Doctor Jenkins shares nothing with me. I really don't like that man and plan to send a note to London, to one of Archer's University friends, and ask him to come. I will not lose Archer.
Gabriel looked up from the book, "That's the last entry."
Nick was up and pacing. "She was suspicious of Archer's illness and if someone was making him ill, another doctor would most likely uncover that." Nick stopped pacing and turned to the others.
"The doctor was making Archer sick at the request of his father. But why?"
"My guess: they made him sick because they knew how confused he would be when he came out of it, depended on that confusion to pull off their nefarious plan: to rid Archer of an unacceptable wife," Charles theorized.
"You were around for part of this right, Constance?" Cole asked.
Constance looked decidedly paler when she answered in a soft voice, "Yes."
"Anything you can add?"
"The woman, right before Morgan died, was making arrangements to move into Whispering Winds to tend to Archer. I overheard one conversation between her, the Earl and the doctor but it was the woman who was telling the doctor what to expect and how Archer would be when he finally came out of it. Apparently, they were keeping him sick by feeding him something in his water. Every time Morgan gave him water, she was making him sicker and she had no idea. It was the woman who was behind the whole thing."
"Why didn't you tell us this before?" Nick demanded.
Constance hung her head. "I felt guilty that I didn't do more. Maybe if I had stepped up, Morgan would have lived."
Quinn walked over and sat next to Constance before reaching for her hand. "I doubt you would have been able to stop it and probably would have come to an untimely end yourself. It was another reason why you agreed to the Earl's plan, wasn't it? You wanted to make sure Archer wasn't still being given the poison?"
