Secrets of Sloane House(28)
“Of course, sir. Please do sit down, if you’d like.” Looking away, she murmured, “I’m sure you’ve never seen a woman as skittish as me.”
“It’s a big city. And we don’t know each other well . . .”
Hugging her bandaged hand a little tighter to her stomach, she added, “Being around so many people can be overwhelming, you see. I grew up on a farm in Wisconsin.”
“It is natural for a girl like you to be apprehensive. Even a young lady raised in the city would be.” He paused. “Some would say that is even a smart decision, though I will say that you have nothing to fear from me. I assure you of that.”
She rolled her eyes. “If it is a smart one, it is surely the only smart thing I’ve done today.”
“It’s been that bad?”
“The worst.”
“How did you hurt your hand?”
“I accidentally broke some china and sliced my palm when I was picking up the pieces.”
He winced. “That sounds painful. Do you need to go to the doctor?”
“I’ve already seen one. Mrs. Sloane called for him.” She shook her head with a bit of wonder. “Their personal physician came to the kitchens and took care of my hand. Can you even imagine? A doctor being called to care for a maid’s hand?”
“I’m glad she sent for the doctor. By the looks of that bandage, his assistance was needed.” When she smiled, he ventured, “What did he say?”
“That I needed twelve stitches,” she quipped. “But he also said that after a day or two of rest I’ll be right as rain.”
“Twelve!” Irritation flooded him as he recalled Veronica’s callous version of the incident. “Rosalind, that was no mere scratch, was it?”
“No, it wasn’t, sir.” A line formed between her brows as she fingered the fabric of her dress. “This is my Sunday dress. We’re soaking my uniform, hoping to get the bloodstains out of it. I hope we can.”
It seemed a trifling thing to worry about, what with her injury and all. “I’m sure the Sloanes will procure you a new uniform if one is needed.”
“I’ve cost them quite enough with the doctor’s visit. I don’t dare imagine that they’ll be too eager to spend another cent on my behalf.”
He ached to tell her that a single pair of Veronica’s gloves were most likely double the price of one of her uniform dresses, but he was afraid that would only make her feel worse about her situation. “Please don’t worry,” he said. “Accidents happen. And china cups practically beg to get broken.”
She smiled for the first time. “Thank you for saying that, Mr. Armstrong.”
Glancing at her again, he noticed how the smattering of freckles on her nose made her seem adorably innocent. “Tell me about your farm and your family. Do you have any siblings?”
To his surprise, a dark shadow appeared in her eyes. “I have a large family. My parents, three brothers, and . . . a sister.”
“You hesitated.” Seeking to tease a smile from her, he raised his brows. “Are you not sure if you have a sister?”
If anything, her expression became more stricken. “There were five of us growing up. Miranda, me, then Henry, Stephen, and Ethan. But a few months ago, my sister moved to Chicago.”
“And?”
“And after the first couple of months, we didn’t hear from her again. She’s disappeared.”
“She’s missing? Are you certain?”
“To be honest, I don’t know what has happened to her.” She paused, eyed him more closely, then blurted, “That’s the real reason I’ve come here to Chicago. I promised my family that I’d try to discover what has happened to her.”
“I’m surprised your parents allowed such a thing.” Reid was shocked. He couldn’t deny that.
“I’m afraid they didn’t have much choice. We are all desperate, you see. And very worried. Plus, when my father came to Chicago, he didn’t get much help. The police said she’d probably run off with a man.”
The police response shocked him as well. But he was also curiously drawn into her story. “Where was she when she left? Was she with a man? Did she have a job?”
Rosalind opened her mouth, then closed it just as quickly as she scrambled to her feet. “I must go.”
Reid got to his feet, too, and attempted to stop her. “Why must you leave this very minute? I could help you. I mean, I’d like to try.”
“I don’t know how you could help.” Nibbling her bottom lip, she blurted, “I probably shouldn’t have even told you this much.”