Bury the Ex, Wed the Heir novel · Chapter 8 of 24

Chapter 8: Mrs. Ravenscroft

Philippa had brought a lemon cake in a box tied with ribbon.

She cut it herself on the drawing room table while Madam Ravenscroft watched from her chair with her rosary in her lap.

"It's my mother's recipe," Philippa said. "I wanted you to have something from home."

"That's kind," Linnet said, and she did not take a bite.

She watched Philippa's hands, which were small and neat and never still.

In her first life those hands had brought her soup every day for a month.

She had eaten every spoonful.

"I also wanted to ask a favor," Philippa said. "You don't have to say yes."

"Ask."

"The poor heir's study. I heard it's in the east wing." Philippa pressed a hand to her chest. "I never got to say goodbye to Silvan properly. Could I sit in his room for ten minutes, just to pray?"

Madam's rosary stopped clicking.

Linnet kept her voice gentle.

"I'm sorry, Philippa," she said. "The east wing is closed to everyone but family."

"I'm family, almost. Anselm and I are engaged."

"You are Anselm's family," Linnet said. "Madam, would you agree?"

"The east wing is closed," Madam said, and she did not look up.

Philippa's smile held for one breath too long.

Then she laughed and waved her hand.

"Of course. Silly me. I'll light a candle at the chapel instead."

She stood and kissed Linnet on both cheeks.

At the door she glanced back down the corridor toward the east stairs, quickly, and then she was gone.

Madam waited until the front door closed.

"She counted the doors," Madam said.

"I saw."

"She is not stupid."

"No," Linnet said. "She isn't."

That night the house slept, and Linnet did not.

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