Finding Him

22l Secrets

Lady Evelyn resorted to shunning Hadassah after the invitation to her engagement was disregarded. She made sure to avoid eye contact with Hadassah during service the following sunday and even turned away when Hadassah tried to say hello after the service was over.

Hadassah felt sorry, not for the fact that Lady Evelyn's engagement evening had turned out to be the best night of Hadassah's life leading to many more wonderful nights after, but she was sorry for the fact that her absence brought about anger to the heart of the young lady.

Remorse taking over the most part of her heart, she spent an entire morning baking cookies with Leah and placed them in a basket. Covering the basket with a soft napkin, she hired a carriage to transport her to the Parkinson's manor.

She sat in the carriage alone, enjoying the warm afternoon breeze as it caressed her face while feasting her eyes on the lovely town. Daniel had been content to stay at home, having remained trapped in the manor since his accident. She knew she would have to get him outside the gates of the manor soon enough, but she worried he was still traumatized from being run over by a horse.

The carriage pulled to a halt before a modern, well structured two storey building that did nothing to hide the wealth of the Parkinsons.

Hadassah waited until the footman pulled open the door before taking his hand and climbing down.

She was met at the foot of the front stairs by a bulky housekeeper who reminded her of Connie. Perhaps it was the frown on this housekeeper's face that held the resemblance.

"How may I help you?" The woman's hands were clasped before her.

"I'm here to visit with Lady Evelyn." Hadassah tightened her hold on the basket.

"She is not expecting you." The woman's frown deepened.

"I thought to surprise her." Hadassah lied. Unlike many wealthy people, Hadassah didn't have servants to go before her, announcing her presence to every household she planned to visit. While she could have sent Leah ahead, the Parkinson's manor was a little bit far from the Talbot manor and Leah would have needed to use a carriage to transport herself back and forth. Between Hadassah and Daniel, they didn't have the money.

"And who might you be?"

"Ha..." Hadassah shook her head, remembering her title and her new name. "Lady Talbot."

After staring at her skeptically, the housekeeper finally offered a nod. "Wait, I will announce you."

Hadassah blushed slightly, noticing the woman's utter disregard and disrespect. Perhaps she didn't have a lot of money and was hardly dressed the part, yet, she was an heiress. Having a maid look down on her was a difficult thing to deal with.

She waited a few minutes under the hot afternoon sun, sweat causing her wool dress to cling to her body.

"You may enter," Hadassah's head snapped up to find the housekeeper on the front porch. "The Lady will see you now."

Sighing in relief, she hurried up the stairs in a bid to escape the cruelty of the sun.

The housekeeper led her to what looked like a private parlor and motioned for her to take a seat on a brown settee.

Nodding, she placed herself on the settee and placed the basket of cookies on the coffee table before her. After a short while, Lady Evelyn appeared at the door, looking modest and perhaps even worn. Her hair wasn't pulled into a fancy hairdo or tucked in a hat, it instead hung loose around her shoulders. She was dressed in a pretty pink day dress and her blue eyes was devoid of the usual enthusiasm it held.