Free The Visitor by Lori Wick

only her husband’s concerned face that kept her quiet.
    She would work the rest of the day to be thankful that at least Marianne was going to come.

     
    Thornton Hall
    Jennings heard the cry the moment it sounded. He knew his wife, Marianne, as well as the nanny, were in with their youngest, so he didn’t rush, but by the time he arrived in the nursery, Catherine was at full volume.
    “She bumped her head,” Marianne explained when the door opened.
    Jennings had to hide a smile. Their daughter’s round, pink face was buried in her mother’s shoulder, as she felt most sorry for herself. Catherine’s head came up. Her tears began to abate, and her lids began to droop.
    Her thumb found its way into her now-quiet mouth, and within a minute she had fallen asleep in her mother’s arms.
    With Catherine tucked into the cradle and the nanny nearby, the couple made their way from the room, only to find James just coming down the hall, clearly intending to rescue.
    “Was Catherine crying?”
    “She was, James, but she’s sleeping now.”
    “What happened?”
    Marianne explained the way she’d been crawling and had charged directly into the leg of a table.
    “It wasn’t a hard bump,” Marianne assured him. “But she’s tired from church this morning.”
    “Maybe I should at least peek in on her.”
    “Sophie is with her.”
    James’ shoulders relaxed. Sophie was a lovely young woman from the village. She adored babies, and the Jennings family felt she was a godsend.
    “I believe it might be time for lunch, James,” Jennings now suggested, seeing that might do the trick. About the only thing that could distract James from his baby sister was his stomach.
    Jennings and Marianne exchanged a smile when James lit up like a candle and volunteered to check.

     
    Cassandra had spoken with James Walker on Sunday just before leaving church with her siblings. He had shown not the slightest bit of surprise that she asked for some of his time, and to her great relief, she learned that he was free the next morning.
    The coach pulled up in front of Blackburn Manor, one of the most beautiful homes in the area, but its spectacular architecture was lost on the woman who had come to call.
    Mrs Walker was on hand to greet her, but Mr Walker was nearby, his expression calm and inviting. The two of them went into one of the small parlors where refreshments were waiting, but Cassandra couldn’t eat a thing.
    James Walker looked at the young woman who could have been his daughter and felt his heart wring with compassion. He didn’t know what she needed, but he knew that if it was in his power to help, he would do just that.
    “Thank you for your time, Mr Walker,” she began as soon as she’d taken a seat. “It’s most generous of you.”
    “Not at all, Cassandra. It’s a pleasure to have you. Are you sure you wouldn’t like some tea?”
    “I’m sure. I won’t beat about the bush, Mr Walker. I’ve come about my brother.”
    “Henry or Edward?”
    “Henry. He seems to enjoy you so, and I was most curious as to whether or not the two of you have ever ventured into discussions of a spiritual nature. Lizzy and I can’t seem to read Henry or get very close to him, and so I thought I would ask you if you have any sense of what Henry believes.”
    Walker had not been expecting this, but neither was he surprised. Henry Steele had often been on his mind, and he’d asked himself some of the same questions.
    “May I ask you some questions, Cassandra?”
    “Of course.”
    “Did something happen that caused you to suddenly think about this, or have you wondered for a long time?”
    “It has been a long time, but just recently it’s become so clear to me that Henry desires things over people. Would a man who considers himself to be a follower of God’s Son really be so self-centered and involved in his own interests?”
    Walker nodded thoughtfully.
    “Have you or Lizzy ever asked him about this?”
    “No. We wish to be