Teresa
Miss Teresa Barclay pushed her stepmother’s wheelchair through the gardens of their estate. The doctor had informed them her stepmother’s heart was about to give out, so she must remain calm and comfortable because there was nothing more he could do for her. Teresa had difficulty comprehending that reality as Lady Putnam didn’t appear very sick. Her black hair was still long and thick, and her dark eyes were vibrant.
“Teresa, I asked you to take a turn with me today because I have an important request of a sensitive nature.”
They had a good relationship, but Teresa had never considered them close, so her stepmother’s words took her by surprise. “What do you need? I’ll help any way I can.”
Lady Putnam grabbed her hand. “Promise you’ll do something for my niece, Hannah.”
Teresa nodded. “I’ll find a way to bring her here.”
Relaxing, her stepmother squeezed her hand. “Good.” She gave Teresa a smile. “You have a way of getting things done, and your father minds what you say. He’s not the man he may seem.”
Teresa loved her father, but he wasn’t the easiest of men to get along with. Yet, his marriage to Lady Putnam seemed to be one of love on both sides. News of her imminent death made him inconsolable.
“We were something, an important family,” Lady Putnam said.
“Of course,” agreed Teresa. “You married a viscount. You did very well.”
Lady Putnam’s connections were vague. She’d inherited a decent piece of property, but at the same time, her family hadn’t lived the life of landed gentlemen. Hannah was her sole surviving relative.
Lady Putnam shook her head violently. “No, we were important, and it’s gotten lost. You must bring back Hannah.”
