Holly rolled her eyes. “Of course. But there is more than one, and it’s easy to get lost if you’re not sure where you’re going. So we’ll just say that once the horse ran away, you got lost, fell—which accounts for your injuries—and lost your bag somewhere along the way.”
He sighed. “I’m going to look like a hapless idiot stumbling around and getting lost in a forest at night. At which time I also lose my bag.”
She nodded. “Yes, you are. But since you’re engaged in some sort of secret mission, and you’ve been set upon and nearly killed, I’d say being viewed as a hapless idiot is the least of your worries.”
Richard sighed. “Has anyone ever told you that you have an uncommonly sharp wit for a young lady?”
“Pretty much everyone I meet.”
“I’m not surprised.”
Chapter Four
In Which An Unexpected Guest is Introduced to the Residents of Forest Grange
Holly was as good as her word, and before Richard knew it, he was repacking her bag of supplies (and helping himself to a crunchy biscuit at the same time). This process was clearly familiar to her, since she had the fire almost out, the room tidied, and the mugs they’d used were already put away.
“I’m sorry you didn’t have chance to read,” he said, nodding at the book in her hand. “In fact, I should apologise for this entire mess.”
“Why?” She picked up her gloves. “None of this is your fault.”
“I agree with that, but you have become involved. That is not something I’d have intended, I can assure you.”
“I believe you. But then again, it was simple chance that I chose the right moment to look through my telescope, and sheer luck you were still alive when I followed up on that incident. So let’s say it was all fortunate coincidence and leave it there.” She walked to the door and opened it, waiting for him to pass through.
After he’d done so, she shut and locked it, returning the key to where she’d found it in the eaves.
“Do you not worry about someone breaking in?”
Her eyebrows rose. “This isn’t London, Mr Hawkesbury. And if anyone needed shelter that badly, they would be welcome to it. There’s nothing of value in there.”
He merely nodded and shouldered her bag. “I should follow you, since I have no idea where we’re going, and with the snow, I might miss the path and fall down again.”
“If you do, I promise I won’t hit you on the head,” she chuckled, then cleared her throat awkwardly.“Erm, that was a poor attempt at a jest, and I apologise.”
She started walking, then stopped, and he nearly strode right into her.
Skidding to a halt, he blinked. “What?”
“Your bag. The one you don’t have, and should. We’ll have to say it was tied to your saddle, I suppose. But I wish you would give me an idea of what was in it.”
“I’m a solicitor, Miss Trease. Other than a change of clothing, what would you expect me to carry?”
She trudged on again, seeming quite sure of her footing despite the thickening coat of snow on the path. “Well, papers, I would imagine. Documents. Some sort of important document.” She turned, nearly knocking him over. “A will. You’re going to amend Sir Duncan’s will. I hope not in favour of that man Blackstone…”
He shook his head. “You have an overly dramatic turn of mind, Ma’am. It was not a will.”
She sighed and headed back to the path, only to stop again.
“Aha.”
“What now?”
“I think,” she began, “I think it was something to do with Blackstone trying to establish a claim to Rosewood Park because he’s Sir Duncan’s illegitimate offspring.”
Richard was hard-pressed not to burst out laughing. But he managed and merely shook his head. “You, Miss Trease, must read entirely too many dramatic novels.”
“I read very few,” she announced, chin high. “And even then, only the good ones.”
