Free Blessed Beginnings (Hunter's Ridge Book 4) by Maggie Ryan Page B

that no one had seen them. Their prayers went unanswered as a figure stepped through the gate, Sadie running circles around the man.
    "Uh oh," Ettie said, stepping back inside the room. "Is that—"
    "Uncle Stefan," Lucy provided, butterflies now fluttering as well as skin crawling. "And he doesn't look happy." All three backed away from the door and then screeched when Sadie bounded into the room, stopped dead in her tracks and began heaving. By the time Stefan entered and stood, shaking his head, there was a large, very unpleasant pool of regurgitated candies on the Persian rug at his feet.
    * * * * *
    "I have never in my life been so embarrassed," Molly said as the carriage pulled up to the house and Joseph once more helped them down. When she saw Lucy's mouth open, she shook her finger in her direction. "Not a word! Not a single word out of any of you three. I can't even begin to tell you how angry I am. March yourselves inside right now!" Molly followed the twins up the stairs and then turned to see that Ettie hadn't moved and a strange carriage was driving up.
    "Oh, hello, Dr. Fielding, did you come to see me?" Ettie asked, as the man walked towards her.
    "I'd hoped to be able to visit, Lady Ettie," he said with a grin as he held up his black bag. "However, I've actually come to check on your sister."
    "Is Bea ill?" Franny asked.
    "No, not at all," Lawrence assured them. "Expectant mothers require several check-ups during their pregnancy."
    Molly spoke from the doorway. "Henrietta Huntington, get inside the house this instant!"
    Lawrence looked from the group at the top of the stairs to Ettie. "Ah, from your nanny's tone, I'm guessing that you did something naughty?"
    "She's not my nanny," Ettie said, tossing her hair as she began to walk up the stairs. "Molly, I was just being polite in greeting Dr. Fielding." Any question that the nanny was going to put up with foolishness was dispelled as she practically yanked the young girl through the doorway.
    Once inside, the group began removing their outerwear and handing cloaks and muffs to Philip.
    "You're back," Lucas said, as he and Edward walked towards them. "How was your outing?" When silence greeted him, his eyebrow rose in a way that had Lucy's tummy tingling.
    Molly shook her head, not yet answering her employer but directing her attention to three of the girls. "Upstairs, noses in the corner, right now."
    "Yes, ma'am," Lucy said, she and Louisa hurrying towards the stairs.
    "Where do you think you are going, Henrietta?" Molly said, her hands on her hips as the young girl moved down the hall.
    "Um, to my room," Ettie offered.
    "No, young lady, I said, to go to the nursery."
    "But why?"
    "Henrietta, I am doing my very best to control myself. After your atrocious behavior, you are lucky I haven't already turned you across my knees!"
    "What? You can't!"
    "I assure you that she can," Lucas interrupted. "You heard Nanny Molly, and from what I've seen so far, I suggest you don't argue."
    "She's not my nanny!" Ettie repeated, her eyes darting between the two, and her face flushing when she saw that Dr. Fielding was standing quietly to one side, obviously hearing every word spoken.
    "Now!" Molly said, pointing to the stairs. Ettie turned and ran towards the stairs after the twins.
    Once the three had disappeared, Molly turned to Lucas. "I apologize, Lord Huntington, but-but I'm just so furious!" Seeing Franny, who hadn't moved, she sighed. "I'm so sorry, Franny."
    "No, I'm sorry, Miss Molly."
    Molly looked at her and shook her head. "You, my dear, have nothing to be sorry about."
    "But if we hadn't gone, then Ettie wouldn't have—"
    "Wouldn't have what? Could someone please tell us what happened?" Lucas said.
    Molly felt herself shaking. She had no doubt that she'd failed in her duties. No matter how Ettie had begged her to simply keep the incident between them, she knew she'd be signing her own dismissal papers if she attempted to do so. "I fear there was an incident during