"Who are you writing to?"

Emma looked up at her roommate, sixteen-year-old Eleanor Crawford. She had been in the earls' employ for a year as a chambermaid and had been most helpful in acquainting Emma with Lavender Hall. The room they shared was small, only large enough to fit two twin beds, a dresser with four drawers allotting each girl two for themselves, and a table in the corner that held a wash basin and pitcher they used for cleaning up. Their room did not have a window and at times made Emma feel claustrophobic.

"My family back in Brighton."

"Do you miss them?"

Emma had learned Eleanor was an orphan and was quite pleased when she landed the position here. There weren't many respectable jobs for a girl her age and from what she had told Emma the earl paid good, and she was well looked after by the other staff. Particularly a certain groom she was sweet on.

"Yes, but I'm often traveling so I've gotten used to it."

Emma was the oldest of eight children. The youngest Henry, her only brother, was two. After her father died in 1869, she was forced to find work so they wouldn't lose the farm. Her mother did what she could, taking in mending and such, but it wasn't nearly enough, and she was busy with the little ones. The second eldest Beatrice had married and moved away. Occasionally she wrote but she never sent any money. Though Emma knew her husband, a lawyer, could afford to send something now and again.

Nursing paid better than a maid or seamstress and so Emma completed the necessary training. But it wasn't enough, they were dangerously close to losing the farm. And if that happened, what would they do? Where would they go?

"It must be so exciting to travel from place to place," said Eleanor wistfully.

Emma shrugged. Truthfully, she had grown tired of the constant uprooting and long bumpy carriage rides she had to endure. And often at the end of one of her positions she was leaving because her patient had perished. Despite her best efforts sometimes even an angel can fail.

"What was he like before?" Emma asked.

"Who the earl?" Eleanor asked. "Before his accident you mean?"

Emma nodded.

"The same."

Emma frowned. "I find that hard to believe."

"It's true! You would have had to know him before his parents died. I'm told he changed after that."

"By whom?"

"Huxley. He's worked at Lavender Hall for decades."

"What happened to his parents?"

"Lost at sea. Shipwreck."

"How awful," Emma said. That certainly explained a little of the earl's boorish behavior.

"He was an only child. Now he just has his aunt and cousin."

"Yes, Huxley said they left shortly after the accident. How could they abandon him when he was on his deathbed?"

Eleanor shook her head. "They don't care for him. Personally, I think they wanted him dead

"But why?" Emma was astonished that anyone could be that cruel.

"Because then Reggie would become the new earl."

Emma mulled that over.

"What do you know of his accident?"

"Not very much. Just that Aquila was spooked and threw off the earl. It's odd though. He's an excellent horseman and Aquila is such a sweet boy. Nathan said he wasn't so sure it was an accident at all."

Nathan being the groom Eleanor was sweet on.

"Do you think he'd have time to answer some questions I have?" Emma asked.

Eleanor brightened. "Oh yes!"

"Wonderful!"

Emma returned to her letter. But her thoughts were elsewhere. What if Eleanor was right and it wasn't an accident? What would the earl do if he learned the truth? But first and foremost, how was Emma going to prove it?