Holly nodded. “He was completely alone when I found him.”
“Thank God you did,” said her mother. “You should, of course, have brought him straight here. You know that.”
“Yes, Mama. And I’m sorry for that. But given that he’d been attacked so violently, I couldn’t be sure if he was still in danger. Not something I wanted to bring into our home.”
“So you bandaged him up and stayed with him, not knowing if those wicked men would come back to finish the job—and you with it?”
“Er…”
Lady Hazel shot her a look that spoke volumes. “Don’t ever do anything like that again, Holly.”
“I hope I never have to, Mama,” she answered. “But with all due respect, it was a unique situation. I did what I thought was best for Mr Hawkesbury and Forest Grange.”
“Well, I’ll let it pass this time, in light of the information you’ve given me.”
“Thank you, Mama.”
“But the question before us now is what do we do with Mr Hawkesbury? Is there any way we can help him retrieve his belongings?”
“You mean the documents?” asked Holly.
“Yes. And I’m not ashamed to admit I’d like to find those men and see them punished.”
“As would I.” She thought for a moment. “Mama, Sir Duncan and Mr Blackstone. They’re still here?”
“Yes, they are. As soon as the snow began, we knew we were in for a sizeable storm, so we had to offer them hospitality until they can resume their journey. Mr Blackstone could probably have taken his leave; a strong gentleman who appears quite able to negotiate bad weather. But it would have been a lot to ask of Sir Duncan, who neither young nor very fit.”
Holly frowned. “Why were they here in the first place?”
“I understand that Sir Duncan is engaged in some sort of business venture with Mr Blackstone.”
“Really?” Holly’s surprise was obvious. “That sounds rather obscure, doesn’t it? And in no way relates to us…”
“Well, I believe our properties share a border somewhere, not that it means anything, but indeed I can find no solid link or circumstance that might bring those two gentlemen to our door.”
“Neither can I, off the top of my head.”
Lady Hazel paused by the fire. “This man, Mr Hawkesbury. A solicitor, you said?”
Holly nodded. “Yes, and employed by the firm of Durnford and Hutchins, he told me.”
Her mother’s eyebrows rose. “I have heard of them. Most reputable, and exactly the kind of people Sir Duncan would employ for his business.”
“Well, that’s something in his favour.”
Sighing, Lady Hazel walked to her desk and consulted the lovely little clock that ticked away quietly on one side of it. “He will be roused soon. I believe any more information or conversation on this topic would best be served by his presence, don’t you?”
“He may not be too happy with me for telling you all this, Mama.”
“He’ll just have to accept it, my dear. And understand we are not his enemies, or a danger to him, but quite willing to assist him where we can.”
“Thank you,” she said, rising and going to her mother. “I love you most heartily.”
Lady Hazel grinned and hugged her daughter. “I love you too, even when you manage to get yourself, and by default me, into strange scrapes.”
“I believe you enjoy them, Mama.”
“Well…you’re not entirely wrong.”
