Chapter 61Nancy was in the stable tending the horses, it was where she spent most of the snowy days now since it was the warmest and most important place in the house for her. Each day, after assisting Rosey with the chores and keeping Mitchelle company while Rosey napped, she would hurry down to the stable to care for the horses and chat lazily with Phil, who was now accustomed to her presence. Beside her, Victory lay close to her feet, chewing noisily on a straw that Nancy threw in her direction occasionally. Phil was out to fetch the woods he had m started cutting up to fix a spot on the stable fence where the storm had left in ruins.That afternoon, Naya came around the stable in the guise of bringing Phil's lunch. She drove Nancy mad with her insistent chattering about things that she could barely keep her mind on. Nancy only waited patiently for Phil to return so she could head back to the main house, but unfortunately, that did not happen until almost later in the evening when

Chapter 63 Scarlett’s patience was running thin by the minute as she waited by the hallway. The house was quiet, nearly everyone was sound asleep, but she had to wait down here for her only ally if she was going to succeed with her plans without running into one of those lousy maids.“Lady Scarlet.” She smiled, “Finally. You do know it is not good to keep a lady waiting, don’t you?” He bent his head and nodded his answer, “I’m sorry, I had to make sure nobody saw me since you said you wanted to be discreet.” “And you were right to do that, all is forgiven.” Scarlett said easily as she led him out the front door, “We need to talk.” “We can do that here.” “No we can’t, it is a sensitive topic. What did you say your name was again?” “Philip. Phillip Norman, My Lady.” “Scarlett, if you may, Philly boy. Come with me.” Phillip followed the lady out of the main house, how she had managed to remain there without Nancy throwing her out was still a mystery to him. The maid who delivers

Chapter 65 Phil was grooming the black horse Daniel had gifted her outside the stable by the time she got there. The snow was not as heavy as it was the night before, so Nancy dropped Victory inside the stable and threw her a few straws to work on. She walked back to Phil and rubbed the horse’s mane dottingly.“I didn’t imagine it would need grooming so soon.” “They grow fast, Victory for example.” Phil replied, he did not look up from what he was doing, “I didn’t think you would come out today.” “Why not? What else would I be doing?” He shrugged, “Maybe resting. I think you are overworking yourself since Derek left. You help in the kitchen and here.” “I am not fragile, Phil. So you have no need to fear, I won’t break in two. And please let me have all the fun doing what I enjoy, now that Derek is away.”He nodded without looking up, “I see. Are you going to be there for that?” Nancy frowned, “For what?” “Never mind, Nancy. I have no business asking you that.” She studied him

Chapter 67The maid opened the front door after the third knock only to find Daniel Lincoln standing there, his hand was raised to knock for the fourth time but he was caught mid air. So he just stood there, waiting to be invited in. Nancy was in the parlor, he could see her from where he stood in the doorway, she looked moody but that was no surprise to him, she was always occupied with her thoughts or in some sort of mood each time they met."Sir Daniel," the maid said in a way of greeting."Just Daniel please, I suppose this is the part where you invite me in? If you are observant you will see that it's pretty cold out here with all the snow and…"Realizing her mistake, Mitchelle shifted from the doorway "Oh! I'm so sorry sir. Do come in, pardon my manners." Nancy was sitting by the fire in the large parlor, her back to the door. But he could see the solemn look on her face, her expression was distant and she hardly noticed his presence. She was aware that someone had entered the

Chapter 69Hurriedly, she set the book aside and continued pushing the other things in the bag. When she finally dropped the bag back where she had carried it, she took the book to the dressing table and brought the lamp closer. Nancy had to squint her eyes to be able to read the writing on the paper, the first part read;"I just learnt I will be a woman soon. To complete that, I need a family of my own. Mother is still in her shell concerning her last conversation with Father. But she says a noble lady's only obligation is to redeem her family's good name and uphold her husband's honor. Her happiness will come after. But I want no part of that." What in God’s green earth did that even mean? This was certainly Lydia's own. "A noble lady's only obligation… to redeem her family's good name… and uphold her husband's honor." Nancy shook her head as she tried to grasp the meaning but she flipped the pages instead since her head was already hurting from all the thinking she had been doing