Chapter 9: Nobody Tells Cissy

Hayden was already at the door when Lydia caught his sleeve.

"Where are you going?"

"To the guest house."

"And do what? Knock?"

He stared down at her hand on his arm.

"Ask her."

"She'll cry," Lydia said.

"She'll say she was frightened, or lonely, or protecting us."

"She admitted to six letters in the garage and everyone forgave her in four minutes."

"I didn't forgive her."

"You let her go to bed."

His jaw worked.

"If we ask now, she has a whole day to burn whatever she's kept," Lydia said. "We need to see it first."

"She's Grandma's goddaughter."

"I know."

"Grandma loves her."

"I know," Lydia said. "That's why we need proof Henrietta can't argue with."

Hayden looked at the label on the table for a long moment.

Then he slid the envelope into his inside pocket and let out a long, slow breath.

"Nobody tells Cissy," he said.

"Nobody tells Cissy."

"Not a word."

"Not until we've seen the cottage."

The housekeeper's footsteps passed in the hall.

"Miss Cissy's gone to the florist, sir," she said through the door. "She'll be back for lunch."

Hayden shut his eyes.

"Everyone's gone," he said.

"Then what do we do till lunch?"

He opened his eyes.

She saw it hit him that she meant it.

He took her hand and led her up the stairs two at a time.

The bathroom in the east wing had a glass shower big enough for two.

Hayden turned the water on hot and held out a hand for her sweater.

She let him pull it over her head.

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