Interesting. Henry rubbed the back of his neck. “I was not informed of his arrival, though now that I think on it …” His words trailed off as he recalled the harsh reprimand he’d handed the footman the last time Woodley had interrupted him. “However, it is not out of the realm of possibility Woodley turned him away. Yet even were that the case, why was Dankworth in the garden?”
“I asked as much.” Juliet jutted her jaw. “He claimed the benefit of evening air and not wishing to disrupt your train of thought, though he was quite cryptic about it as usual.”
He snorted. A flimsy account if ever he’d heard one. He’d have to pay the man a call in the morning and ask him exactly what he’d been about.
Charity leaned forwards slightly. “Henry, I didn’t like the way he looked at me.” She winced again, untangling her fingers from the fringe and pressing her palm against the side of her abdomen.
Alarm settled sickly in his gut. “Are you unwell, Sister?”
She shook her head. “It’s nothing. Just a cramp I’ve had on and off all day.”
Henry stiffened. Oh. Women’s things. A subject he was loath to broach. Instead, he turned to Juliet, unable to stop a glower from tightening his brow. “Why did you not call for me immediately?”
She straightened as if ready to do battle. “Do you really think you would have heard me in here all the way from the garden? Besides, I was perfectly capable of managing the situation. Mr. Dankworth is singular to be sure, but he is not a threat.”
“A man does not hide for innocent reasons.” A growl rumbled in his throat. Hewouldspeak with the fellow on the morrow.
Juliet folded her arms, boldly staring him down. “I shielded your sister the entire time. He would have had to plow me over to get to her.”
“And I am supposed to feel good about that?”
“Calm down, Brother.” Reaching across to him, Charity squeezed his knee before settling back against the sofa. “It is true I could have run to safety if Mr. Dankworth had advanced, but nothing of the sort happened. It is what took place after that which I thought you should know.”
“There is more to this?” His voice rose.
And the women flinched in unison.
Exhaling deeply, he pinched the bridge of his nose, fighting to collect himself. Bullying these two would get him nowhere. He dropped his hand while lowering his tone as well—though the strain in his voice likely betrayed him. “Forgive me. Continue, please.”
Charity shifted uncomfortably on the cushion. “After Mr. Dankworth left, I told Juliet I wished to return to the house. I didn’t wait for her reply, and as I hurried away, I tripped over something.” She side-eyed Juliet.
Juliet held up a ribbon, tightly wound in her hand.
Henry’s brow furrowed. “I don’t understand.”
“My hair ribbon was stretched low across the path,” Juliet explained. “Tied at ankle height.”
His chest tightened. Someone had deliberately set a trap—for Charity? For Juliet?
He stared at the ribbon as though it might explain itself, mind spinning, not with suspicion of Juliet—for he could not believe that—but with fury that someone had entered her room and used her belongings. Violated her space. Threatened his family.
Again.
“You’re certain this is your ribbon?” His voice came low and tight.
Juliet nodded. “It must’ve been taken from my dressing table. I had not noticed it missing.”
Hmm. A convenient excuse. The tiniest doubt niggled at his mind. Pushing it away, Henry exhaled through his nose and forced himself to think. “So … whoever set this snare wanted it traced back to you.”
Juliet’s mouth trembled. “It appears that way.”
Beside her, Charity pressed her hand again to her side, her face drawn and pale. “If you’ve no objection, Brother, I—I believe I’ll lie down for a bit.”
At once, Henry moved to her. “Of course. Let Mrs. Hamby fetch you a sleeping draught.”
Charity offered a faint smile before rising and quietly slipping from the room.
Henry waited until the door latched behind her, then turned back to Juliet. His fists clenched at his sides. “Juliet, you swear you …” The words snagged on his tongue. No, she would never. Involuntarily, he shook his head ever so slightly, then took a beat to shift direction. “You realize what this means? Whoever it is that’s doing such things is not only toying with Charity—he is now trying to cast blame on you.”
