Violette sipped her tea, working to stop her hand from trembling. The Carricks’ butler, Mason had served her a plate of food, but her stomach was too tight to eat. The elderly man stood nearby while she waited for the captain and Charlie to join her. In spite of her concerns, she couldn’t help but enjoy the soft breeze and warm sunlight of the summer morning. Sparrows chirped and sang among the trees and shrubs of the garden. The only things that marred her enjoyment of the pleasant surroundings were thoughts of the private discussion the captain and his brother were having. Her stomach tightened whenever she wondered what they were saying.
She was the topic, no doubt. They were probably wondering what to do with her. She set the cup down in the saucer. What if they were deciding to give
