Prologue
Soundlessly Laura crept through the dark hall. Having
rehearsed—and used—the route before, she knew every
carpet, chair and cupboard in the passageway, each twist
of the twenty-nine steps down the servants' stair to the
back door. Even were their old butler Hobbins and his
wife not snoring in their room just off the corridor, the
winter storm howling through the chimneys and rattling
the shutters would cover the slight rustle of her movements.
Just once she halted in her stealthy passage, outside
the silent nursery. Leaning toward the door, she could
almost catch a whiff of baby skin, feel the softness of
flannel bunting, see the bright eyes and small waving
hands. A bitter bleakness pierced her heart, beside whose
Chill the icy needles being hurled against the windows
were mild as summer rain, and her step staggered.
She bent over, gripping for support the handle of the
room where a baby's gurgle no longer sounded. Nor ever
would again—not flesh of her flesh.
I promise you that, Jennie, she vowed. Making good
on that vow could not ease the burden of guilt she carried,
but it was the last thing she would do in this house. The
... read full excerpt from: My Lady's Trust ebook
