And we did.
ChapterThirty
Gwyneth arrived late at the breakfast table, moments before Gabriel. The two entered together, to meet the casual but knowing grins of the others.
“Morning,” said Royce, his face innocent.
“Sleep well?” asked Jeremy, barely holding back a chuckle.
“You look rested.” Evan calmly sipped tea with his good hand.
Gabriel sighed. “Any more of this and I shall take great pleasure in battering you all into tiny pieces and feeding them to the chickens.” He walked to the sideboard and glanced at Gwyneth as she sat in the chair Jeremy held for her. “Tea?”
“Yes please,” she nodded, ignoring the rest. “And I’ll take some of that toast.” She looked at the table then at the others, her brows meeting in an accusing frown. “Have you left me any raspberry jam?”
“Why yes, my Lady…”
“Of course, my Lady…”
“Here…”
She bit her lip against a giggle and merely nodded her thanks. Gabriel brought her tea and his breakfast, taking the seat beside her.
“So, Gabriel,” Jeremy took his own chair. “Do you have anything exciting lined up for today?” His lips twitched.
He glanced at Gwyneth. “They’ll be like this for quite some time, you know.”
She shrugged. “I know. We’ll get used to it, I’m sure.”
“I saw a couple of likely lasses eyeing our Gabriel here at Whitsun,” said Evan around a mouthful of toast. “They came by a day or so later asking for him…” He waved the crust in the air. “Seems like all the ladies are developing a taste for blonde hair and green eyes…”
Gwyneth rolled her eyes and was about to denounce Evan in the strongest possible terms when Giles walked in, an expression of deep concern on his face.
Everyone forgot about jests and watched him as he neared the table.
“What is it…” Royce stood.
Giles looked at them. “A body has been found. In the woods.”
“Oh dear God,” Gwyneth whispered, shock running through her veins like ice.
“Who?” Jeremy’s question came out like a gunshot, making her jump.
“He has not yet been formally identified, but it could be the Baron.” Giles looked at Gwyneth. “I hate to ask this of you, my Lady, but you are the best person to confirm or disprove my assumption. The clothing perhaps might be familiar, or something…” He spread his hands helplessly.
“Of course.” She rose. “I have to assume he cannot be identified from his facial features?” She lifted her chin, ignoring the horror dripping down her spine at the mere thought.
“That is correct, Ma’am.”
“I’ll come with you,” said Jeremy and Royce at the same moment that Evan rose.
Giles stopped them with an upraised hand. “Let Jeremy attend Lady Gwyneth. He knew the Baron’s brother. There may be other similarities he’s familiar with.” He turned his head slight. “Royce, we need you here. There may be formalities…I don’t know what authorities have been informed yet, if any. Gabriel, you and Evan must proceed as normal. My Lady will want an orderly house to return to.”
They nodded, appreciating the commonsense behind Giles’s instructions.
Gwyneth found herself once again understanding the close familiarity each man had with the others. They went from jests to teamwork in the blink of an eye. “I’ll change my shoes.” She left the room, hurrying upstairs to pick up her bonnet and shawl and change into serviceable half boots in case the path was muddy.
She dreaded this more than she could have imagined, but if he was the man who fired the shot at the window, nearly killing Evan… She squared her shoulders and returned to the hall where Jeremy and Giles waited.
