Read Miss Lacey's Love Letters for Free Online Page B

dangerous than you might imagine."
    "Well, I am glad you escaped with your life." Valeria flashed a smile in her aunt's direction, but Lydia's attention was fixed on the maid, who had returned with their main course: turkey and carrots.
    "Sometimes I wish I hadn't escaped with my life. There were a few times I hoped a tiger would eat me."
    "That's terrible!" Valeria squealed. "Surely you don't mean that?"
    "I had nothing to return to, Miss Woll. My life was full of emptiness." After sampling a bite of his turkey, he added. "It still is."
    "Life is what you make of it, Mr. Worthington. It is full of love and loss... for all of us." Valeria kept her eyes on her aunt as she spoke. She remembered too well how her uncle's death had affected Lydia. "All we can do is pick up the pieces and try to move on."
    "It sounds like you are speaking from experience," Noah observed. "Have you lost someone you love, Miss Woll?"
    "My parents died when I was very young. I barely remember them."
    "I'm sorry to hear that." His eyes fell on Lydia. "Your aunt raised you, then?"
    "No. Until seven years ago, I lived with my brother. A much older brother. He raised me, more or less. But Lydia and I have always been close."
    Despite her pain, Lydia's lips were pulled into a smile. "My favorite niece," she said.
    "My favorite aunt." Valeria abandoned her fork and laid a gloved hand against Lydia's wrist. "And Henry was my favorite uncle. His death was hard on me as well."
    "So, you are no stranger to loss," Noah observed.
    "Not at all."
    "But you have never lost someone you loved," he went on, "someone you were in love with?"
    "Seeing as I have never been in love... no," Valeria admitted. "I have not had that misfortune."
    "I am sure your aunt understands how I feel. I would wish that pain on no one. But... enough of that." He skewered a cooked carrot, shoved it into his mouth, chewed aggressively, and swallowed. "About my travels in Africa... I once had a white-eyelid mangabey as a companion."
    Valeria nearly dropped her fork. "A... a what?!"
    "A type of monkey," he explained. "He would sit on my shoulder and steal my food. A cheeky chap, he was. I called him Pilfer."
    "Even though you were sad, you must have enjoyed your travels?"
    "I did. There were times I might have tricked myself into believing I was happy." Noah stroked his chin, raking a hand across the light beard that covered it. "When I returned... oh, you should have seen the beard I had! I looked like Zeus. Or Confucius, only not as wise."
    "I envy your travels, Mr. Worthington," Valeria said. "I've always wished I could travel."
    "Really? And where would you like to visit?"
    "I always wanted to visit France, seeing as it is so close. But it seems we're always at odds with the French."
"Boney's dead, and the Battle of Waterloo is long since over. It should be safer now."
    "Perhaps," she agreed. "Or... I've always wanted to visit the Americas. It sounds so wild there."
    "I can't imagine anything wilder than Africa."
    "Nor I," Valeria agreed.
    A short time later, everyone finished their food. Lydia declined dessert on account of a sour stomach, which was really the least of her worries. The pinching pain in her lower back was almost too much to bear.
    And when she rose from her chair, she fainted.

Chapter Six

    With the help of Argus, Noah was able to carry Lydia to one of the guest rooms. It took her a few minutes to come around.
    "Where--?" Lydia looked around the room, at the unfamiliar surroundings, with panic in her eyes. When her gaze landed on Noah's face, she realized where she was. "Oh dear. Did I swoon?"
    "I'm afraid so."
    "Lydia!" As soon as she saw her aunt return to consciousness, Valeria ran to her bedside and stole a hug. "I was so worried!"
    "Oh, you needn't worry. I'm sure I am quite alright."
    "Are you sure, Mrs. Langley?" There was a crease between Noah's eyes: a deep worry line. "I should send for a doctor."
    "No! No doctors!" Lydia sat up in bed, gently brushing her niece