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“Stephen, do you have any chopping for me?” Chopping the vegetables had become a favourite pastime.
“No, but what you can do is stir the soup.”
Laura did so, for minutes, going on hours. Once supper service commenced, Laura decided to stay in the kitchen to avoid the rather difficult image of Anna and Edward dining alone, particularly after having that fantasy in the atrium where she was allowed to dine with him.
Once supper was finished, Laura asked Diana, “Did they enjoy it?”
Diana looked at her friend like she knew the discomfort she must be feeling and snickered. “I’ve never seen Edward so glum in all my life.”
“You’re merely telling me that.”
“I speak in earnest.”
Although Laura missed being a part of supper service, she was glad that she spared herself from seeing Anna Rutley for one moment longer. She ate her own supper, tidied up the kitchen, and was about to retire to her room when Harrison approached. “Laura?”
“Yes?”
“His Lordship is in his study. He’s requesting brandy.”
Laura tilted her head. He usually requested tea at that hour, but rarely brandy. She had to wonder if it was necessary to endure Anna’s company. “I can fetch it.”
“Yes, please do so.” Harrison wiped sweat from his brow. What was he so upset about? It was rare to see Harrison lose his cool temperament.
Laura’s heart pounded mercilessly in her chest. She had resigned herself to not seeing Edward for the rest of the evening. Laura imagined him and Anna sitting in the parlour and chatting for the rest of the night. Obviously, that had not been the case. Laura also found it strange that the master was the sort of man that kept the brandy in the kitchen and not in his own private study. This pointed to the fact that perhaps it was a habit that he wished to temper.
Carrying the tray to Edward’s study, Laura saw the light from the fireplace beaming through a crack in the door. She pushed it open, discovering Edward on the other side, alone.
