“So you say. You seem to have recovered remarkably well.” Seth nodded at Luke now. He wasn’t even pale. He supposed Luke just hadn’t wanted to take the risk of sneaking into Holmwood House. Seth himself had a few qualms about the idea.
“So? Did you find anything?” Luke asked, leaning forward.
“No.” Seth sat down in his own chair.
“What!?” Luke spluttered. “How can you not have found anything? This was our one chance to get into the Earl’s house. That man is a miser, he does not hold balls very often. He was only holding this one for his daughter’s wedding later this week.”
Seth jerked against the very notion, knowing that the wedding would not be taking place now as he had Lady Charity upstairs.
When she had first started to undress, he had been in no doubt of who she was. What other lady would have cause to undress in his house other than the daughter who lived there?
“We will scarcely get a better opportunity to gather insight on that man.” Luke shook his head, stood, and started to pace the room restlessly. Then, he paused and his gaze snapped back to Seth. “Did you locate his study at least?”
“No. There was… an emergency.” Seth refused to look at his friend. “I had to leave. It was all unexpected.”
“What sort of emergency?”
Seth did not answer. For some reason, it felt wrong. Perhaps the fewer people who knew about Lady Charity’s predicament, the better, but he also had a niggling feeling that Luke would not approve of his subsequent actions. He would no doubt see Lady Charity as the blood of Lord Holmwood, whereas Seth had seen her as something more. A woman who was cornered, frightened, and deserved a chance to escape and another shot at life. More than he was afforded by her father.
She cannot stay long though. It is only for one day, then she will be on her way. She said as much.
Though, the idea of not ever having a chance to know what kissing the lady could taste like grated in his gut. Would it be so wrong to steal one kiss before she left for good? He was owed as much, surely?
No. Seth sighed. No, he was not. He had behaved as any decent gentleman of good breeding ought to.
“You said the wedding was to take place soon,” Seth carefully began, curious to know more. “Who was the daughter to marry?”
“Oh, that letch of a man, Baron Tynefield,” Luke said offhandedly. “She is blind, you know, Lady Charity Harris.”
“She is?” Seth feigned surprise.
“Poor woman. You would think that was enough punishment in life, without being wedded to a man like him. From what Ihear, she has lived life quite like a prisoner. Don’t reckon Lord Holmwood lets her outside much. Then again, we know that man doesn’t have a heart, don’t we?”
“Hmm.” Seth agreed with a firm nod.
That bastard of a man.
There were many reasons to hate Lord Holmwood, and this was just another nail in the coffin.
“Well, I am sorry we got nothing from your journey.” Luke turned back to face him. “I’ll keep an eye out; in case he holds any other events… or perhaps I could get Monty to conjure up some other way to get into his study. For now, I should leave you in peace. You must be exhausted after that terribly long journey.”
“Thank you.” Seth reclined back in his chair, thinking of calling for tea and falling asleep in this room. As he reached for the bell, Luke’s eyes shot down to the makeshift bandage on his hand.
“What happened to you?”
“Cut it on a bush. It’s nothing.”
“A rather neat job you have done there.”
Seth thought back to how Lady Charity had mopped up the blood. She had been rather trusting and kind, trying to aid the intruder in her bedchamber.
Trusting or foolish, perhaps?
“It will heal quickly enough. Good day, Luke.”
“Good day.” Luke left, collecting Monty as he went. Shelby and Rufus scurried in through the closing door, picking their favorite spots across the room, with Rufus in the armchair and Shelby by the hearth.
Seth sat back, his eyes flitting between the two dogs as he listened to the sounds of Luke and Monty retreating down the corridor.
