Free No Other Love by Isabel Morin

strange that all this mapping and planning and focus had been on their part of the world, and they had known so little about it.
    Someone was coming down the hall. With her heart in her throat Rose replaced the files and slipped into the next room. She had just taken her seat when Mr. Fletcher entered.
    “Good afternoon, Rose. I hear you have a message for me. What has Mrs. Fletcher to say?”
    Rose stood and silently offered up the note, her eyes on the floor. Her thoughts were spinning so out of control, she was afraid something of her confusion would show on her face.
    Mr. Fletcher read the note with a smile.
    “Please assure Mrs. Fletcher that I shall return home by four o'clock.”
    Her task completed, she should have taken her leave. Instead she stood there, unable to move. She wanted to cry, wanted to demand he tell her what had happened to her father.
    “Is that all, Rose?”
    Schooling her expression, Rose forced herself to meet his gaze. “Yes, sir, that's all. I'll relate your message.”
    Dropping a curtsy, she left the room. The clerk jumped to his feet at the sight of her, but Rose merely walked passed him, her head down, a terrible weight in her chest. What was she to make of all this? Was Mr. Byrne the one responsible? And if so, would anyone care? The Lenox sheriff had already dismissed her once. Would the Boston police be any better?
    Outside, the bright sun momentarily blinded her. She stood on the top step until her eyes adjusted, and when they did, she grew even more confused. Gone were Charlie and the cart.
    “What the devil am I to do now?” she stormed aloud, not expecting a reply.
    “Don’t blame Charlie. He was merely following orders. I told him to go.”
    Rose’s breath caught at the sound of Luke Fletcher’s voice, and she turned to see him coming through the doorway behind her, her marketing basket in his hand. His hair had grown longer since she’d last seen him and now curled over the collar of his shirt. He hadn’t shaved in several days and his hat and shoes were dusty. He must ridden straight to the offices without even stopping at Cider Hill.
    Heat flooded her at the memory of their last encounter, and she grew too flustered to say anything. And yet she felt caught in that heated look, trapped by her warring emotions. Suspicion of his family and mistrust of his motives vied with an attraction she couldn’t control. She could feel his nearness, the warmth emanating from him carrying with it the memory of that shattering kiss.
    But she would not be made a fool of.
    “Why did you tell him to go? How am I to get back to the house?” Rose demanded, the quiver in her voice betraying her reaction to him.
    “When my father and I returned from Town Hall he was here, complaining that he'd been waiting for ages. So I told him I would take you back.”
    “How could you?” Rose exclaimed. “Already everyone suspects the two of us.” She flushed at the realization that this assumption was no longer entirely inaccurate.
    Luke ran a hand through his thick hair as if in frustration.
    “I hadn’t considered that, but no doubt you’re correct.” He gave her a piercing look. “Are any of the men in the house giving you trouble?”
    “You and your stepbrother are the only ones who’ve made advances,” she replied, hoping he saw the absurdity of his righteousness.
    But he was not amused. Rather his expression turned thunderous. He approached her, stopping only when he was a foot away.
    “What has Nathan done?” he ground out. “I’ll kill him if he’s laid a hand on you.”
    Rose stared at him, shocked at his unexpected ferocity.
    “It was nothing you need worry about. Please promise me you won’t say anything. It will only make things worse for me if you say something on my behalf.”
    Luke looked aggrieved that he couldn’t defend her honor, but finally nodded in agreement. He continued to look troubled, however, and there was something pained in his expression. “I didn’t