Cinders and Ashes (Cavendish Mysteries 2)

“When Ballantyne has been dealt with, what are your plans?”

Amelia paused and considered her response carefully. “I don’t know. When I first arrived, I was going to request a reference from Sir Hubert and take up a position of nanny or companion somewhere. Since his demise, I am not sure what I am going to do.”

“Would you like to stay here?” Eastleigh tried not to show how important her response was, but was on edge as he waited for her reply.

“I think it would be folly to do so as things stand,” Amelia replied carefully.

“Oh?”

Amelia thought of the raw honesty her father had shown her yesterday, and felt he deserved nothing less than the truth himself.

“I love Sebastian,” she began, choosing her words carefully.

“That’s good, isn’t it?”

“Not when he doesn’t love me back.” She sensed her father was about to interject, and hurried on. “He cares about me, but I think he feels beholden to me for saving his life. It isn’t love. In all of the time I have known him, he hasn’t declared any feelings for me whatsoever. You, of all people, should understand that I simply cannot remain here knowing he doesn’t hold me in the same regard.”

Eastleigh felt a pang of sympathy for the hurt in his daughter’s voice. “I think you should know, my dear, that Sebastian has asked me for your hand in marriage.”

Amelia gasped and stared at her father. “Did you give it?”

“I said that he had my full agreement, as long as you agreed and it was something you wanted to do.” Eastleigh leant forward in his chair, and placed his tea cup on the table between them. “He does hold you in high regard.”

“But it isn’t love, and I won’t - can’t - settle for anything less.” Amelia’s voice trembled with hurt that refused to be ignored.

“Neither should you. You need to understand something, my dear.” Eastleigh looked directly into her gaze, his eyes serious. “You are independently wealthy in your own right. When your mother passed, the money she had inherited herself, but not spent, was passed on to you. While we were married, I provided for her so she had cause to use very little of it.”

He named a sum of money that made Amelia gasp. “So you see, if you do choose not to marry Sebastian, then you can decide where you want to live. You are always welcome to reside at Eastleigh Hall, which will always be your home, but having had your independence now, I will fully understand if you choose to purchase your own home.”

Amelia blinked back tears, as she contemplated the last. “I am not sure I can go back to Eastleigh. It doesn’t hold good memories.”

“I can understand,” Eastleigh replied. “But you could at least return for a visit. You need to lay the old ghosts to rest, before you can settle into whatever future is in store for you.” He picked up his tea cup again, and sat back in his chair to study his daughter closely. “I do feel I should warn you, though, that Sebastian doesn’t strike me as a man who will give up very easily. I don’t think you will find it as easy to leave here as you think.”

Moments later the door opened, and Sebastian sauntered in. His hair was windswept, and his cheeks ruddy from the biting wind. Striding across the room in his riding clothes, he was the epitome of the country gentleman.

“Good afternoon, both,” Sebastian murmured, placing a gentle hand on Amelia’s shoulder briefly as he passed, before nodding to Eastleigh.

“Good morning. Did you resolve your problem at the farm?” Amelia gestured towards the tea, and poured when Sebastian nodded.

“Eventually, yes, but it took longer than I had anticipated,” Sebastian replied, as he took a sip of hot tea before his attention turned towards the window. “It seems I am back in good time as well. Unless I am much mistake, Edward and Peter have returned.”

Amelia shared a brief look with her father, as they rose to peer out of the window at the four riders accompanying the cart full of boxes down the main driveway.

Their conversation was put to one side for now, but it gave Amelia a lot to think about.

Later that night, Amelia sat beside Edward, Peter, Sebastian and her father, rifling through copious amounts of papers in search for anything that might be of interest to Ballantyne.

“I am sorry, everyone, but I cannot see straight. I have to go to bed.” Eastleigh put his stack of papers to one side regretfully, and pushed wearily to his feet with a yawn.

They had been searching through the papers practically since the moment they had arrived through the door. Everyone’s initial enthusiasm had been dampened by hour after hour of fruitless searching. As the evening had worn on, tiredness had begun to take hold of all of them.

“I think we had all better call it a night. It is getting late, and Dominic and Isobel will be back tomorrow with their news. We can search these in the morning.” Sebastian brushed dust off his hands as he stood.

Peter and Edward quickly followed Eastleigh, leaving Amelia alone with Sebastian.

“Well, I’ll say goodnight too,” Amelia yawned, pushing to her feet wearily.

“Wait.” Sebastian blew several candles out around the room, leaving the golden glow of the fire in the hearth the only light. “I need to ask you something.”