Thrown Out on Christmas Eve, She Took Shelter in an Empty House — Unaware the Duke Was Coming Home
Chapter 11
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"Your Grace," said Mr. Pike, "there is a simple explanation for all of this, and I will be glad to give it to you in private, with my books in front of us." He glanced at Hannah. "I would only say, Your Grace, with the greatest respect, that you have spent two nights alone in this house with a young woman of no family and no fortune. People will talk. I would not want Your Grace to be deceived by—""Be very careful," said Edmund, "how you finish that sentence."Mr. Pike closed his mouth."Miss Lowe is my guest," said Edmund. "Anyone who says otherwise will answer to me. Tom, go home and have your Christmas dinner a day late, with my apologies. Pike, you will bring me every account book you hold for this estate here by noon tomorrow."The crowd broke up slowly, murmuring. Mr. Pike mounted his cob and rode away down the drive without looking back.And Hannah turned and walked into the kitchen, and began to pack her father's trunk.Edmund followed her in. He shut the door."Hannah—""Miss Lowe," said Hannah without turning around. "I think, Your Grace, it ought to be Miss Lowe.""Please. Let me explain.""There's nothing to explain." She folded the dust sheets she had borrowed very neatly and laid them on the table. "You let me believe you were a servant. For two days, you let me believe it. You let me say things about the Duke, and about this house, and about my father, and you listened and you said nothing. I suppose it was very amusing.""It wasn't amusing. It was the first time in nine years that anyone has spoken to me as if I were a man and not a title.""And whose fault is that?" Hannah turned around at last. Her eyes were very bright, but her voice was steady. "You shut your house and went away and let Mr. Pike do as he pleased with everyone in this valley. My father died owing rent to your agent while your agent was charging you for candles my father never made. You might have come home at any time. You might have looked. You didn't. And then when you did come, you lied to me. In your own house, while I made candles at your table, you lied."Edmund said nothing. There was nothing he could say that was not an excuse, and he knew it."Thank you for not sending for the constable," said Hannah. "Thank you for letting Sam stay by the fire. I mean that. I'll send the money for the window when I have it." She turned to her brother. "Sam, get your boots.""Where will you go?""I don't know yet.""She'll come to me," said a voice from the door.Mrs. Tibbs stood in the doorway with snow up to her knees and her bonnet crooked, breathing hard from the walk back up the drive.