Free Come Midnight by Veronica Sattler

forgiveness," Jepson stammered. "I ought to have been aware Miss Murch had returned. Your lordship, I take full responsibil—"
    "Never mind! I've just turned her off—without a character."
    The butler nodded, schooling his features to show neither approval nor the relief he felt at his own reprieve. But what of the poor child? He ventured a query. "How is Lord Andrew faring, your lordship? Does he require someone to—"
    "He already has her."
    "Your lordship?"
    With mixed feelings, Adam thought about the first serious conversation he'd ever had with his son. He liked children, always had, and he loved his son. Yet he'd been away for a deal of the time the boy was growing past his infancy. How did one talk to a six-year-old? he'd wondered.
    Somehow, he'd managed to dry Andrew's tears and get through the deuced difficult business of explaining the nature of death. He'd tried to be gentle, but because of his simmering wrath, he still wasn't sure he'd succeeded. He only knew he'd been grateful for getting through the entire business without once referring to heaven. Fortunately, Andrew hadn't asked if that was where his mother was. He certainly hadn't volunteered it!
    The boy had seemed satisfied with what he'd told him, and Adam had been vastly relieved. Relieved, and then astonished. His tears forgotten, Andrew had promptly asked for that little Irish baggage to keep him company!
    Glancing up, Adam saw the butler patiently waiting for a response. "Lord Andrew has requested that the new Irish maid attend him," he informed him.
    Jepson's features rarely showed emotion, but Adam thought he detected an interested gleam in the old retainer's eyes.
    "She's with him now," he added, then frowned. He didn't want to think about the warm smile Andrew had for the chit when she'd arrived. And that he himself had been unable to coax even the smallest one out of his son.
    "She's to have an appropriate rise in wages," he told the butler crisply. Grabbing his hat and gloves, he strode toward the door.
    Jepson looked completely at sea. "Er... appropriate, your lordship?"
    Adam glanced at him before heading for the drive where his curricle waited. "Appropriate," he repeated. "I've just elevated her to governess."
    ***
    "Caitlin, is Mama in heaven now?" Andrew looked at his new governess with worried eyes. He knew about heaven. The vicar at Ravenskeep's village church was to be his tutor one day, and he'd spoken of it And about the Bad Place. Andrew had wanted to ask his father the question he now put to Caitlin, but he hadn't. Something in Papa's eyes had told him not to.
    Caitlin gave him that smile that made him feel all warm and safe inside. Andrew felt himself relax a little. Caitlin was even easier to talk to than his best friend, Jeremy.
    Though she smiled, Caitlin considered carefully how she should answer him. Privately, she had her doubts about heaven for a woman who'd had no time for her son. Yet she'd cut out her tongue before voicing them to the child. Andrew needed comforting, and, by all the saints, that's what he'd have! Still, she wouldn't lie outright to the lad ....
    "And where else would she be?" she replied, careful to maintain her smile.
    Andrew bit his lip, pondering for a moment, then met her eyes. "Jeremy Wells said a lot of people go to the Bad Place when they die."
    "Did he, now?"
    Andrew nodded solemnly, looking ill at ease.
    "And who is Jeremy Wells, if I might be askin'?"
    "He's the vicar's son, and he's eight."
    Caitlin nodded thoughtfully. "Well, now, bein' a vicar's son is nothin' t' sneeze at, o' course. And as for his bein' eight"—she gave Andrew a look that said she was properly impressed—"I suppose we must regard what Jeremy says very carefully."
    Another solemn nod.
    "And what else does Master Jeremy say ... about the bad place, I mean?"
    "He says it's where the wicked go—straightaway!"
    "Ach!" Caitlin exclaimed, pretending not to see the worried look on the boy's face. "There we have it, then!''
    "We