“Oh, dear,” murmured Miss Benedict, beginning to wring her hands.
“How do you know it was this North fellow?” Lucy asked.
“His description matches the one that Sir Nathan got from the servants at Lion’s Gate and Miss Leonard and Miss Sprockett. The recent cut on his face is more than likely the wound Leo—I mean, Miss Leonard inflicted when she hit him with the carriage whip.”
“And everyone believed him?” Lucy asked, confused. Her brother nodded.
“That’s stupid. How can anyone be that dumb?” She turned toward Miss Benedict, making a face at her as she shook her head.
“I suggest you head home. I believe Miss Benedict has not been the only person to show her antipathy.”
“You mean stupidity,” said Chrissy, folding her arms across her chest and giving her governess a disgusted look. “Poor Leona!”
Deveraux cracked a smile. “Why? Don’t you think Miss Leonard will be able to put them all summarily in their places?”
Lucy shook her head. “She’s capable, but I don’t think she will. I don’t think she’s very good at looking out for herself. Justothers,” she said, gathering up the reins. Fitzhugh let go of the harness.
Deveraux laughed. “I find that hard to believe. We will see you back home. Come on, Fitzhugh.”
As they turned to walk away, they heard Chrissy launch into Miss Benedict, calling her a gudgeon, a silly widgeon, a goose cap, and other names that got lost in the wind as the carriage headed back toward Castle Marin. The men ran to the blacksmith’s shop.
“Rawson, would you mind keeping the horses here for a while?” Deveraux asked, flicking a coin in his direction. The blacksmith caught it easily and told him he’d be obliged. Then Deveraux turned toward the young groom who accompanied them into town. “Get your horse,” he barked.
“Easy, Dev . . . We don’t know how rampant this is.”
“Oh, don’t we? I’ll wager it’s on the lips and minds of everyone at Castle Marin and in the village. Do you know what that kind of rumor can do to someone?”
“Miss Leonard strikes me as a very strong person.”
“She is, but no one’s that strong,” Deveraux said bitterly, “no one!”
CHAPTER 9
“Leona! Where’s Miss Leonard?’’
Deveraux’s angry voice resounded through the entrance hall and into the surrounding rooms. Leona heard him quite clearly from the library. She laid the book of poetry down beside her on the sofa.
“Nigel! What are you shouting for?”It was Lady Nevin. The countess sounded irritated.“Leona went into the village with Lucy and Chrissy."
“No, she didn’t. Purboy, have you seen Miss Leonard?”
Leona tried but couldn’t hear the butler’s response.
“Damnation! You, too?”
“Nigel, what is going on?” demanded Lady Nevin, her voice louder now.
Leona swung her feet to the floor and leaned forward, straining to hear the ensuing low-voiced conversation between Deveraux and his mother.
“Purboy, summon the staff to assemble here in fifteen minutes. No, there shall be no excuses. Absence shall mean immediate termination!"Deveraux suddenly ordered just before the door to the library crashed open, rattling pictures on the wall.
Leona fell back against the sofa cushions, one hand creeping up to cover her heart beating frantically in her chest. A tiny sound escaped her, a small mew of fear as she stared wide-eyed at the sight of Nigel Deveraux in the doorway. His black hair was in wild disarray, his dirt-streaked coat reminding Leona of the first time she saw him. A handkerchief wound around the knuckles of his right hand showed evidence of fresh blood.
He strode into the room and firmly closed the library door behind him, shutting out the curious faces of his mother, Maria, and Fitzhugh.
Leona shrank back into a corner of the sofa, biting her lower lip as her eyes searched his face for any clue to his thoughts.
He stopped three feet away and stood towering over her, his face a mask, his eyes hard, glittering gems. A muscle in the granite surface of one cheek jumped spasmodically. He stood staring down at her, taking in her pallor, her wide vulnerable eyes. Her expression tore at his insides. This was not how his Leona should be. She should be fighting and spitting and yelling enough to give the devil his due! What have they done to her?
