Free Beloved Monster by Karyn Gerrard Page A

everything she said, but a nagging doubt picked at her. Could they be at risk? Luke, most of all?
     

Chapter 8
     
    Discovery and censure were immediate threats and Glenna tossed and turned all night with horrible nightmares of the villagers pulling her, Reed, and Luke from the house and executing them on the spot. A bit extreme, but her imagination would not stay silent or calm. However, the servants had been back for two days, and luckily Glenna and Reed managed to keep Luke’s presence secret. How long they could manage it was another question.
    Mrs. Grampton stood at the counter and rolled out dough for a pie crust. Glancing up, she gave Glenna a brief but brittle smile. Not the warmest of women, but she was efficient and a good cook and housekeeper. Glenna returned the smile with an overly false, bright one, as she often did when she was hiding something. “I trust you had a good visit with your sister. What is the talk in the village?” Glenna perched on the nearby stool and reached for an oatmeal biscuit.
    The cook gave a slight shrug and continued with her chore, sprinkling water and flour on the crust. “The late viscount continues to be the main topic. I ’eard ’er ladyship ’as taken to ’er room and won’t come downstairs, not even for meals. The earl stays to ’is study. ’e ordered Ravenswood’s belongings be removed right away if you can imagine.” Mrs. Grampton lifted the crust and laid it at the bottom of the pie plate. “The vicar ’as been tasked with sellin’ the clothes and such and can keep the money for the parish. I’ll be sayin’ this. The earl is generous, even in ’is grief. If the man even feels grief a’tall.”
    Clothes. The viscount’s clothes. The wheel in Glenna’s mind spun at a rapid and plotting speed. She had a fair bit of money laid aside. Pin money Reed had given her the last couple of years. No reason she should not drop by the vicarage and purchase some of the garments for Luke. The story she could use is that the purchases were for Reed. Popping the last of the biscuit in her mouth, she rose to her feet. “I will be going out for a while. The professor is downstairs and does not wish to be disturbed. I will return in plenty of time for tea.”
    “Aye, Miss Glenna.”
    Glenna scurried off to find her cloak. Will the clothing jog Luke’s memory? She was becoming surer of the fact he should be told about his former life. How cruel to leave him in the dark with no knowledge of his past. While agreeing with Reed he should remember on his own, anything Glenna could do to assist Luke in his recollection, she would do. And procuring part of his former wardrobe may be the catalyst needed.
    * * * *
    With close to thirty pounds tucked away in her reticule, Glenna hitched the horse to the small wagon and made her way to the vicarage. Reed hired a young boy from the village to chop firewood, keep the coal scuttles filled, tend the yard, and also tend to Faraday. The gentle gelding of advancing years was named after a physicist that discovered electro-magnetic induction. Leave it to Reed to come up with such a name. Glenna became quite adept of hitching the horse, and it came in handy today as the lad was not about.
    The horse ambled at a slow gait, and for his age, Faraday held his head high. He was more than able to pull her and the wagon. When they returned from her errand, she would make sure he had a special treat and rub down.
    The vicarage and chapel came into her line of vision. They were small and non-descript; the village did not need one larger. Both were built of stone and in good repair. Smoke curled up from the chimney, indicating the vicar must be home. Glenna did not know the man well as she and Reed only attended services at Easter and Christmas.
    What she did know was that Mr. Dornan was Irish and had lived in the area for close to twenty-five years. As she pulled on the reins to halt Faraday the vicar stepped outside, his hands clasped behind his back.