JAMES SIPPED HIS coffee and watched as his butler appeared in his peripheral vision. He didn't remove his gaze from the newspaper he was currently reading, "what is it?"

"A missive just arrived for you, Your Grace."

James held out his hand and a sealed paper entered it. Setting down the newspaper, he ripped it open. He was aware of Vivienne's gaze from across the table as she curiously looked on while eating a plum cake. He ignored her.

His eyes quickly scanned the document, careful of presenting any outwards emotion.

Your Grace,

I investigated Lady Selina's governess like you requested. Her name was Deborah, and she was in the earl's employment until a few months before his death. It was a difficult task to locate her as she moved back into the country but I as able to speak to her. Her reasons for leaving were an ailing mother whom she had returned to nurse back to health.

I also investigated if the late earl was planning on fleeing the country. He had not spoken to anyone about getting passage into America. However, once I asked some other lads at one of the gaming halls, I learned that he died in the same carriage incident as your father. I was unable to gather more detail on that incident, but I believe that the Home Office may have more information. Although I am unable to request access to such information, it maybe plausible for a peer of the realm in your standing.

- Gilford

James' heartbeat increased as he read the last few words. He never believed his father's death as being suspicious. He had only been eight at that time, not remembering much at that age. What he did remember was the pain and agony upon his mother's and her becoming promptly sick afterwards. His great-aunt Esme had lived with them until his mother's death and James had been shipped off to Eton soon after.

What were the chances that two high ranking members of the aristocracy were in a carriage incident together? They must have been targeted for a purpose, only he didn't know what it was. Could it have simply been a highway robbery? He did not believe so. Gentlemen didn't usually carry large sums of money worth murdering for. Besides, he remembered his father being a decent shot. He would not have been an easy target.

It seemed that his search for Lady Selina was only beginning. Greater pieces— ones he hadn't imagine were falling into place. He just needed to put them together to see the entire puzzle.

***

Vivienne finished the last book the duke had given her with a sigh. She didn't think it was possible, but she was tired of reading. The last few days, she'd confined herself to the room finishing the novels quickly. Her favourite was still Pride and Prejudice out of the three she had read.

She walked up to the window, which overlooked the garden. The duke had quickly fled after breakfast upon receiving a note. Vivienne had been curious but before she could ask him a question, he had excused himself to his study before departing the manor a couple of hours later. She didn't think he was back yet, which made it the perfect time to explore the estate grounds. While she had a much better idea of the interior of the manor, the exterior was a different story. She hadn't been outside since the gardener banished her, but she doubted he would say anything if she ventured outside now.

Slipping out the door, she paused for a moment to see if there was any noise. She had done her best to avoid the servants of the household. While most of them kept their distance, she was aware of the glares she received from many of the other maids, often making her want to crawl back into her room. She had never received much attention—and to be despised by so many simply because of her rank was heartbreaking. She'd hoped to become friends with a few of the chamber maids, but it was now abundantly clear that she would not be welcome into their group.

Vivienne successfully maid it to the front door where Martin stood and bowed. "Good afternoon, my lady."

Vivienne gave him a nod. "I'm going to explore the manor grounds for a bit."

If Martin seemed alarmed, he didn't display it. "Would you like me to send a footman with you to act as your guide?"

Vivienne shook her head, "That's quite alright. I wouldn't want to bother them. Besides, I'll only be a while."

The butler opened the door, "Very well Lady Vivienne. I hope your afternoon is pleasant."

She beamed and walked outside the door. The sun's glare filled her eyes, and she lifted her hand to shield herself. Normally, she would have preferred to wear a bonnet, but the dressmaker had not arrived at the manor yet, leaving her to wear the duchess' gowns. They were of good quality; however, they didn't fit her well enough and seemed to drag on the floor. She'd nearly tripped a couple of times before raising the hem on a few of them to prevent such accidents from occurring in the feature.

The weather was exceptional well and the slightly cold breeze felt nice on her skin. She had been cooped up inside for too long—though that was her own doing.

Vivienne didn't know where to go. She could of course, visit the luscious gardens however she had a feeling that the gardener would not be too pleased to see her. In the loud distance, she heard a small neigh. She turned to the right and squinted, seeing a reddish-brown building quite a distance away. That must be the stables, she thought to herself. It looked different in the day then it had in the darkness. Although she hadn't exactly been well acquainted with horses, she did find them majestic and beautiful.

Deciding the stables were the best place for her exploration, Vivienne set out. She didn't see any other servants on the estate grounds, making it much easier to conceal her presence—although she wasn't doing anything wrong. The duke had not forbidden her from stepping outside but it still felt wrong. She knew she was well protected, but she still had irrational fears of the men who attacked her village returning to finish her off.

Ignoring those fears, Vivienne forced herself to place one step in front of the other instead of fleeing the manor. She couldn't be cooped up in the estate for the rest of her life—besides, the duke had promised to introduce her to society. That meant she needed to be well enough to leave Chalcott manor in the first place.

When she arrived at the stables, she found the door to be slightly ajar. She pushed it opened with all her strength, just enough so she could slip in. The inside of the stables was clean as it could be but what took her breath away were the magnificent horses. Stall after stall held horses of different sizes, and colourings. She hadn't known that the duke possessed so many horses!

Vivienne stepped forward, surprised to see there was nobody else in the stables. Splendid. She would have a greater sense of privacy when viewing the magnificent beasts instead of having someone leering over her shoulders.

The first stall held a foal and its mother. The mother whined as Vivienne approached and she immediately stepped away. It did not seem like the mother wanted her near its foal.

Vivienne walked to each stall, trying to gather the courage to pet one of the horses. She hadn't done it before, and their size slightly frightened her. They could bite her if they didn't like her touch and she very much liked her fingers attached to her hand. It was deep into the stables when she stumbled upon a grey horse. Its black eyes bore into her before it placed it's head on the wood separating them.

She saw a kindness in the horse she hadn't seen from the others. It seemed that this horse was much older, almost exhausted of the world around it. She bravely placed her hand a few meters away from the horse's head before closing her eyes. It seemed safer to allow the horse to come to her.

A few seconds later, she felt the brush of a wet muzzle against her hand. She opened her eyes to see that the horse had moved its head forward to touch her palm. The horse nickered softly, and puff of warm air expelled onto her fingers. Smiling softly, she stepped a bit closer and edged her other hand on its forehead.

She gasped in delight. The fur was so soft. Much softer than any fine fabric she could imagine. She drew soothing circular patterns that the horse seemed to be enjoying as it whined a few more times. Vivienne met the animal's eyes and felt as though it was looking into her soul. It was like the horse was trying to assure her that she was safe and cared for.

"Hello my love," she whispered. "What's your name?"

The horse of course did not answer but nickered in response, making Vivienne smile. She continued petting the beast, whispering sweet words ever so slightly. She felt much calmer here in the stables, away from the judging eyes of the servants and the duke himself. She was broken away from her thoughts when she heard a small meow. Imagining it at first, she ignored it, but something meowed again followed by a loud neigh soon after.

Frowning, she stepped away from the grey horse and began walking towards the noise. When she reached the bend, she saw a stall holding a sleek black horse tucked away in the corner. It seemed like the beast was removed from the other horses. He was neighing loudly, hooves raised in the air before stomping it down on something in his stall.

Vivienne was hesitant to approach the beast, but the meowing was getting louder. Trying to maintain as much distance as she could, Vivienne looked inside the stall to see that her hunch was correct. A small kitten had accidently made its way into the horses' stall, causing the animal to be agitated beyond reason.

She watched in horror as the black beast once again tried placing its hooves on the kitten, missing it by a few centimeters. Before she knew what he was doing, she unlocked the padlock and slipped into the stall. The horse's eyes immediately went to her as it snorted in anger. Vivienne tried staying towards the edge of the stall as the tabby kitten continued meowing.

When the kitten saw her, it leaped up into her arms. She cuddled it close to her chest thinking that she was out of danger, but she had made a grave mistake. In her haste to get into the stall she had forgotten to close the padlock after her. The horse let out a big neigh before its hind legs pushed into Vivienne's body. Her body slammed back into the wooden fence with a force.

Pain, nothing like she had experienced before filled her body. She couldn't move. Her vision was blanking but she watched in horror as the black horse escaped the stall and galloped off. Her vision clouded and everything turned black soon after. 

---------------

The mystery continues. Poor Vivienne, trying to save a kitten and getting hurt.