The Christmas Knot by Barbara Monajem Read Free Book Online Page A

scoff. We must save him , had said the voice she’d heard last night. She’d thought no more about it at the time, and if it was the ghost speaking (which Edwina refused to believe) surely she merely wanted to save her murdered lover, who was long past any help.
    After breakfast, the children took Edwina up to the schoolroom, where they spent the morning putting things in order and starting in on their lessons. Both children politely did their work, but John was by far the more earnest scholar—too much so, in Edwina’s opinion. After he’d finished showing her how proficient he was in Latin, he jumped up, ready to hurry off to the vicar. “We shall be able to spend twice the time on Greek, now that he needn’t help me with Latin.”
    “Surely there’s no rush,” Edwina said. “You’re far ahead of most students your age, in Latin at least.”
    “Oh, but there is a rush,” he said. “I don’t know how much time I may have.”
    “You have plenty of time,” she said. “A lifetime for learning.”
    “Not likely,” he said with an impatient shake of the head. Before she could ask what he meant, he dashed out the door.
    She let him go and turned to Lizzie, who after finishing her lessons was reading a novel. “What was that all about?”
    Lizzie hunched a shoulder and buried her nose in the book. “Nothing.”
    “It’s not nothing. Why shouldn’t he have plenty of time to learn? Is he ill?”
    Again, Lizzie shrugged. “He has a morbid nature, that’s all.”
    “That’s terrible in one so young. Perhaps he should talk to the vicar about it.”
    Lizzie raised her eyes at last, scowling. “No, the vicar will only make things worse. No one can help.”
    “Come now, Lizzie. There’s clearly a problem, and something must be done.”
    “Nothing will work except getting rid of the—” She stopped on a gasp.
    “Rid of what?”
    Tears welled up in the corners of Lizzie’s eyes. “John doesn’t want it discussed, and Papa says we should honor that.”
    “The ghost? We’ve all been discussing that.”
    Lizzie shook her head, stifling a sob as tears trickled down her cheeks. Edwina found a handkerchief in her reticule and handed it to the girl. “Don’t cry, Lizzie. I beg your pardon. I shouldn’t have asked you.”
    “Indeed you shouldn’t,” said a harsh voice behind her. “Mrs. White, I see I have no choice but to speak with you.” He paused. “Privately. Run along, Lizzie, and see if Mrs. Cropper needs your help.”
    “Papa, please don’t be vexed with Mrs. White,” Lizzie whispered, but when her father merely gave her a stern look, she hurried from the room.
    “She was doing her best to obey you,” Edwina said, indignant. “Don’t blame her for my curiosity.”
    “I shan’t,” he said, waiting while his daughter’s footsteps receded down the corridor. He shut the door and set his back to it. “I thought we might part ways before I was obliged to explain, but…”
    Explain what? Her heart sank. She wasn’t frightened like the night before; she had the fifty pounds, after all, which would keep her from starving for a good while. But she didn’t want to leave the Grange so soon. Not so close to Christmas, in a household with children she liked, children who needed her.
    Still, it was his house and his children, and she had no say in the matter. She steeled herself to be sent packing.
    His eyes were on the floor, as if he was trying to decide what to say. How difficult could it be?
    Mrs. White, I find that I no longer need your services.
    He raised his eyes, and his lips twisted a little as he spoke. “I had forgotten your stubborn nature.”
    Regretfully, she admitted, “Yes, it is one of my great failings as a governess. I simply cannot back down with parents who willfully spoil their children.” She put up a hand. “Not yours, Sir Richard. I was not trying to butter you up yesterday. What I said about John and Lizzie was…was heartfelt.” Why must her voice tremble and