Laura's Second Chance (Widows of Virginia Book #2)(8)

“I heard a noise and when I looked out the window I saw Mr. Smith walking towards the farm.”

“At this time of night?” Laura frowned.

“Yes, but that’s not all, he was… uhm… he was in his night shirt.”

Laura’s eyes grew wide.

“I tried to call him, but he didn’t answer.” Arthur took a deep breath between the words quickly coming out of his mouth. “I ran after him, but he was way ahead and by the time I got there he was sitting with his back against the barn. I tried talking to him but he didn’t respond. The only thing he muttered was your name, and that I should take good care of you, Mrs. Bennet. Since he mentioned your name, I thought you might be able to do something…”

Laura was taken aback at what she had just heard. What was going on with Robert?

“Take me to him.” She closed the door behind her and tightened the robe as the night chill hit her cheeks.

She walked briskly by Arthur’s side until the barn was in view. Soon Laura saw Robert’s slumped near the door, but she couldn’t see his face as he hid it between his arms.

“Robert?” She ran towards him, heart thumping in her chest.

But he didn’t react, and soon both she and Arthur were by his side.

“Robert?” She almost reached out for him, but held back her hand at the last moment. There was no response.

“Mr. Smith.” Arthur tugged at the man’s shoulders.

This time Robert jolted awake and his eyes darted around. He blinked a few times and rubbed his hands against his face.

“Are you hurt? Are you all right?” Laura knelt in front of him, peering up at his face. What happened here? Why would he sleep all the way out here?

He looked at her, frowned and then turned to Arthur.

“You shouldn’t have brought Laura out here,” he said in a cold tone as he hauled himself up onto his feet. He brushed the dirt from his night shirt. With an outstretched arm he begun ushering Laura towards the road home. “It’s late and cold and–”

“He did the right thing.” Laura cut him short. He completely failed to acknowledge the strangeness of the situation. “Why were you sleeping out here? Were you drinking?”

“No.” Robert paused. He sought her hand and held it. “I stopped drinking a long time ago.”

Laura found his warmth welcoming. She remained quiet, contemplating her next move. Robert must have taken that as a good sign, as he offered his arm. Not wanting to prolong their stay outside she took it and they walked back home arm-in-arm with Arthur by their side.

Something was not right. Questions formed in her mind. Laura thought back to their earlier conversation, then to the times before she married her husband. She’d seen this kind of behavior before, deflecting questions and acting like everything was fine. But by the time she gathered her courage to ask him about anything they had reached the house.

“Will you be all right?” Robert paused with one hand on the main door. “Would you like me to walk you back to your cottage?”

“I’ll be fine.” Laura smiled at him. She thought she should probably be the one walking him to his room. Just to make sure he didn’t wander off again… “Will you be resting now?”

He nodded. “I’ll head straight to my room. Do you require anything?”

“No. Don’t trouble yourself.” She waved one hand urging him to leave first. When he didn’t move, she rolled her eyes. “I want to make sure you actually go inside.”

Robert chuckled. “Of course, Madame.”

He opened the door, stepped into the house, then paused and looked over his shoulder. “Goodnight, Laura.”

Once she was sure she had heard the creak of the footsteps on the old staircase she turned to Arthur. She took the lantern from the boy.

“The cottage isn’t far, and I just need to get something from the kitchen first,” she said. “I’ll walk back myself, you get some sleep now.”

He was about to protest but she gave him a stern look and he complied with her request.

Laura took a deep breath. If she wanted answers, there was only one place she could find them. She gently opened the door to the house careful not to make a sound. The flickering light of the lantern danced over the walls.

She tiptoed towards the office door. The cold metal of the handle almost burned in her hand. Will it open? She turned the handle, the lock clicked and she gingerly pushed the door. Should I be doing this? She paused on the threshold for a moment.

But Laura’s instincts were telling her that Robert needed helped, and she certainly wasn’t going to sit by and watch the man destroy himself. He had pulled her out of her darkness. She had to repay the favor if she could. Laura opened the door further and approached his desk. The light from the window fell on the papers scattered all around. She placed the lantern to one side and picked up a document from the top of the pile with trembling fingers.

She skimmed through the text: bank… final notice… unpaid loans… Her eyes grew large as she read the amount at the bottom of the statement. Every document she read told the same story. They were from several different institutions but were all notices demanding money with growing urgency.

She stood silently, wondering how this had happened. She was sure Robert came from a wealthy family with a great number of assets. However, the pile of papers clearly painted a different picture. If Robert didn’t pay his debts, he would lose the farm… Along with everything else.