“Of course you don’t. It is only to be expected.” He inclined his head. “Did anyone speak to you about any inheritance from your late husband’s estate?”
She shook her head. “A lawyer, Mr. Gisborne, came to see me a couple of days ago. All he told me was that I had to leave Wilkerson House since it was now the property of my late husband’s nephew.”
“And I doubt you’ve ever heard of Wolfbridge Manor?”
At a loss, Adalyn simply widened her eyes.
“Well, my Lady, that estate is now your home.”
She caught her breath. “I can live there?”
“Indeed you can.”
“I don’t understand,” she repeated, her body warming beneath the fur. “If it was left to me, how is it that I was not told?”
Giles smiled and leaned forward, patting her hand. “I shall explain it all to you, my Lady. But for now, why not close your eyes and rest for a while? I’ll wager you’ve had little sleep over the last few days.”
She nodded, her eyelids growing heavy. Her mind whirled behind them, wondering at herself for getting into a strange carriage with a man she’d never met. It was too late to be afraid or sensible—she’d obeyed some instinct instead of thinking clearly. And where was he taking her?
She was so tired. Tired of worrying, of facing a blank wall where her future should have been. Perhaps she had just grasped at the first straw to blow her way. But in her own defence, it had been a kindly one…
The final thing she saw before she succumbed to the inevitable nap was a handsome face watching her from eyes of the warmest brown…
That same face was near as she woke to the feel of a hand shaking her shoulder. “My Lady, wake up. ’Tis time for us to halt our journey.”
Fuzzy and not quite awake, Adalyn tried to hide a yawn. “Mr. Giles. Where are we?”
He helped her straighten on her seat as the carriage slowed. “We’re going to change to our own horses for the last leg, and this is as good a place as any to fortify ourselves.”
Nodding, she glanced from the window. The rain had ceased, but the clouds were still heavy and threatening. They were turning into a busy yard, in front of an inn which boasted of being “The Queen’s Maid”. Other carriages were lined up to one side and there was an air of hustle and bustle over the entire area.
Adalyn’s stomach chose that moment to growl. She blushed. “I do apologise, sir.”
His smile flashed once more, and she was struck with how comforting and warm it was. “My Lady, I am your butler. You must address me simply as Giles.” He briefly laid an affectionate hand over hers. “It is not only correct, but it would give me great pleasure to hear you call me that.”
She couldn’t help but smile back, and missed the warmth of his touch as he withdrew his palm. “Very well Giles.”
“Better,” he approved. “Did you eat breakfast today?”
She had to think about that. “Um…no. No, there wasn’t anyone left at Wilkerson House who could prepare it. The staff had left and the new owners weren’t arriving until tomorrow.”
His face firmed into disapproval. “You mean they left you alone in that mansion with nobody to assist you?”
She shrugged. “At least a carriage was sent to take me to the funeral. I am not very important, Giles. With Sir Ridley Wilkerson’s passing, I became a mere cypher to be hurried out of the house.”
He swallowed, reached for her hands again, and this time took them in a firm clasp. “Not true, Lady Adalyn. Not true at all. But we have arrived…” He nodded and released her as a stable lad opened the door of the carriage for them. “Let us refresh ourselves and continue to our destination. We have much to discuss.”
Unwilling to argue the point since she’d realised that she was, in fact, ravenous, Adalyn allowed him to assist her down to the courtyard. Within moments he whisked her to a private snug, where a warm fire blazed and a maid relieved her of her outer garments. The girl also showed her where she could make herself more comfortable.
After a brief trip to the privy, she returned to discover another servant bringing in an assortment of foods on a tray, overseen by the acute gaze of Giles, who grinned at her when she stepped back into the snug.
“I find myself sharp set, my Lady. I trust you will be able to assuage your own hunger pangs with this repast?”
“Giles,” she whispered, her eyes widening at the golden brown pastry of what looked like a meat pie, the scent of warm bread, the oxtail soup and other delicacies guaranteed to fill the bellies of the travelling public.
“Come. Let me serve you.” He seated her and proceeded to load a plate with a little of everything.
“I cannot possibly manage all this,” she said, shaking her head as the amount of food grew larger.
“Just try, my Lady. You need sustenance.”
“Very well,” she agreed. “Oh, tea…”
He slid a cup to the side of her plate and she greedily sipped, relishing the strong restorative brew.
Sighing with delight, she turned to him. “Giles. Please sit and eat with me? I am not used to having a butler, so for now…would you just be my friend?”
He hesitated and Adalyn prayed she hadn’t offended him.
Finally, as if completing an argument with himself, he drew out the opposite chair and sat. “Very well. This is completely inappropriate, but given the circumstances, I shall beg you to overlook it.”
“Done,” she said, purring over a forkful of meat pie.
They both ate, Adalyn with glee, wishing she had room for lots of everything. But the pie, the fresh bread and the tea did the job for her, filling her belly most satisfactorily.
Giles did justice to the simple but tasty meal, and Adalyn took a few moments to observe him, her thoughts for the first time looking forward, not backward.
He was very
