“Neither do I.” Penelope pursed her lips.
Thaddeus took a seat at a table apart from the others. He glanced back toward the forest and then broke into a wide smile.
Pen leaned forward, following Thaddeus’s gaze. “Can you see who he is looking at?”
“Emmaus, most like,” Mrs. Renton replied.
“I’m not sure.” Thaddeus respected Emmaus, but that smile... She’d never seen that smile.
“There he is!” Mrs. Renton exclaimed.
Emmaus was, indeed, heading toward Thaddeus. But Thaddeus’s smile had been for the man by Emmaus’s side—the captain. As he came into view of the other guests, he began to limp.
“Anthony,” Penelope said, “isn’t the only one up to something.”
Thaddeus motioned Emmaus and the captain to his table. After a brief discussion, they all sat. Then, the group caught Anthony and Thomas’s attention.
“I can’t hear what they are saying,” Penelope said.
“Open the window,” Mrs. Renton suggested.
“They’ll know right away why we opened the window,” Pen replied. “That won’t do. I’m going down to the conservatory.”
However, by the time she reached the conservatory, Thaddeus’s table had been overturned. Emmaus was restraining the captain and Thomas was restraining Anthony. As for Thaddeus...his expression was pure glee.
Silently, Penelope opened the door.
“Homeless vagabond,” Anthony sneered.
“I used to be rich,” the captain replied.
Deep, rough and somehow familiar, the captain’s voice sent shivers to Penelope’s toes.
“Your fortune, too,” he continued, “may change. Why do you complain? The others are unconcerned that this young man invited us to share his food.”
“Easy for them,” Anthony replied. “They give of the wealth I gave to them.”
“And what of you? Whose wealth do you give?”
“Get out!” Anthony roared.
He tossed his chair in the captain’s way.
Behind Penelope, Mrs. Renton gasped.
“Go!” Anthony commanded again.
“Only His Grace or His Grace’s heir can order me to go. What do you say, Lord Thaddeus?”
Thaddeus bowed heads with the captain, speaking in low tones. The captain listened and then nodded.
“Until we meet again.” Mockingly, he bowed to Anthony without looking down.
Fire-filled challenge emanated from his gaze.
“Mrs. Renton,” Penelope reached behind her for the housekeeper, “go out the back and stop them before they leave. Imustmeet this captain. I must meet with himat once.”
~~~
