Nearby, Josiah was overseeing the footman fasten their bags to the carriage, whilst the butler watched on, cradling the bruise on his face.
“You need a physician,” Josiah said softly to the butler and patted him on the shoulder. “Go to one. Take as much time off as you need.”
“Thank you, my Lord,” the butler said, though he did not look comforted. “Maybe I will attend some boxing lessons as well. I never want to feel that helpless again when a man goes after the Marchioness.”
“You are a good man,” Josiah said, clapping him another time before he walked forward, toward Francis. “I never want to live a day as dark as this again,” he said, so only Francis could hear him.
“Agreed,” he said with a nod, as he turned his gaze to looking up and down the road.
“Is something wrong?” Josiah asked, following his gaze.
“I am not sure,” Francis said, continuing with his watch. “I thought I saw someone watching us at the end of the road.”
“They could have just been curious because of all this mess. Nosey neighbors certainly are a thing round here,” Josiah said tiredly, shaking his head.
“Maybe,” Francis said, chewing his lip, but he wasn’t convinced. “Let’s get into the carriage. Quick.”
They both clambered in and soon the carriage was heading off, but it wasn’t long before Francis couldn’t bear to watch his sister in Josiah’s arms across the carriage on the other side. Diana was resting her head on her husband’s shoulder with Josiah’s arm around her, holding tightly to him. The intimacy, the trust there, it was all something Francis had felt recently, but he was not permitted to indulge in such public displays.
He turned his gaze out of the window, desperate to find something else to look at, when he realized that there was a carriage behind them on the road. It was at some distance away from them, perhaps just heading in a similar direction, yet remembering that feeling of being watched at Josiah’s house, Francis watched the carriage all the more.
When the road bent road, it afforded him a better view of the carriage following, until he realized that it was gaining ground.
“Stop!” Francis called and clattered on the roof. The carriage came to a rather clumsy halt in the middle of the road.
“What is it?” Josiah called after Francis, but he didn’t answer. He flung open the door and jumped down, moving toward the back of the carriage to look behind them. Other riders in the road rode around the carriage, moving on. Even passersby walking along the paths stopped and looked at him, wondering what he was doing. He had his focus on the carriage that had been following them.
He did not miss the way the driver looked up, his eyes finding Francis’. The driver seemed to stiffen before pulling on the horses’ reigns and urging the carriage to make a turn off the road, onto a new lane. Francis followed them with his gaze for a minute.
“What is wrong?” Josiah’s voice made Francis turn away, seeing his brother-in-law had jumped down from the carriage.
“We were being followed,” Francis said.
“You are sure?” Josiah asked, stepping away.
“No, not certain,” Francis said, shaking his head, “but I do not want to take chances.”
He urged Josiah back into the carriage with a wave of his hand and closed the door behind him, before moving up to the front of the carriage, climbing up onto the footboard and taking the seat beside the coach driver.
“Your Grace!” the driver said, turning to look at him in surprise.
“Apologies,” Francis said, “I wish to keep a better eye on the road, so I will join you up here. Also, we are going to take a different route home.”
“As you like, Your Grace. Which way would you like to go?”
“The most complicated and ridiculous way you can think of.” He could see the driver’s eyebrows lift in surprise. He wasn’t going to give the chance for anyone to follow them, just in case he had been right.
* * *
“Oh, I wish you had told me the truth sooner, my Lady,” Mrs Goodman said as she bustled around Phoebe yet another time. “How about another cup of tea? Or another slice of cake?”
“Thank you, Mrs Goodman, you are very kind,” she smiled at the sweet-tempered housekeeper, seeing the way that Louisa was sitting nearby laughing under her breath.
As soon as Mrs Goodman had helped Phoebe sneak back into the house, Phoebe felt compelled to reveal the truth to the housekeeper. It seemed to be the elder lady’s prerogative to now fix any hurt Phoebe had with as much tea and cake as possible.
“What about lemon and poppy seed cake?” Mrs Goodman said as she poured her another cup of tea. “I think there is some in the kitchen.”
“My Lady will be gaining weight if we keep feeding her up like this,” Louisa said with a laugh.
