The cornered steward’s gaze flashed toward the papers on the desk, lending credence to Hugh’s suspicions. Leaning backward, Hugh snatched the account book and glanced down at the open pages. “Ahh… a second set of books.” Licking his index finger, Hugh turned a few pages and casually perused them. “Fascinating, Peri, old man. Much more compelling than your fictitious works.”
And suddenly, Hugh found himself not such an easygoing fellow after all. This man, no, thisblackguardwas stealing from him! Where had the funds that had been allocated for a butler gone? For a stable master? For a housekeeper, for God’s sake! The estate was meant to support numerous servants and tenants. No wonder tenants were migrating overseas.
Periwinkle was not a small man, but this did not keep Hugh from grasping him by the collar and lifting him at least a few inches off the ground. “You will gather your belongings, and by that I mean yours and not mine, and be gone from this estate within the hour. If you are caught lifting so much as a spoon, you’ll find yourself swinging from the end of a noose in the blink of an eye. Do I make myself clear,MisterPeriwinkle?”
But the man could not speak as he was, instead choking from the manner in which Hugh held him, so Hugh was forced to loosen his grip.
Once released, Periwinkle rubbed his neck and blathered, “I was just doing my job to the best of my ability, my lord. No reason to be accusing a person of anything dishonest. Besides, where would I go?” The man was pitiful.
Hugh studied his hands. They shook from his anger. This was not like him. He normally abhorred violence. Glancing back at Mr. Periwinkle, Hugh wondered if perhaps he wasn’t being hasty. The steward was the only person in residence who knew what was going on here. Periwinkle was a liar and a crook, but until Hugh figured this mess out and found a replacement, perhaps he ought to keep the old man around a little longer.
Contemplating his options, Hugh walked over to one of the shelves behind the large desk and ran his index finger along the surface. When he withdrew, his fingertip was covered with a gray grimy material. The manor was filthy.
He then picked up a small model of a ship, and with one quick breath, blew a cloud of dust off the helm. “You think I ought to allow you to remain, Mr. Periwinkle?”
Before Hugh finished his question, the man’s head was bobbing up and down. “I do, m’lord,” he answered eagerly. The man was still rubbing his neck. “Caught us on a bad day, is all. You should have given me notice you were coming. I would have spruced the place up for you.” Hesitating a moment, he added, “M’lord.”
Hugh let out a heavy sigh and placed the small ship back upon the shelf. This situation was quickly becoming more and more overwhelming. He hadn’t put much effort into anything of substance for years, and he was beginning to feel more than a little guilty about it. When he’d first inherited, Hugh hadn’t yet reached his majority. That had been justification enough for him to allow the running of his estates to be done by solicitors and stewards. But that excuse no longer applied. He was in his thirties, by God!
Not sure where to begin, Hugh ran his hand through his hair. “Very well,” he relented reluctantly, “you shall remain here on probation. For now, you are to return to the steward’s quarters. We’ll go over these books tomorrow.”
Periwinkle went to casually collect the black leather tome from the top of the desk, but Hugh pressed his own palm down upon the offending item first. “Tomorrow, Mr. Periwinkle.”
Periwinkle was obviously reluctant for Hugh to have access to what appeared to be the more truthful version of estate accounts. The man paused and then rubbed at his bottom lip thoughtfully. “I’ve some entries I’d like to finish today, m’lord, if you wouldn’t mind.” Again, he reached for the book, but Hugh had already picked it up himself.
“No hurry, Mr. Periwinkle. Now, good day to you.” Hugh sat down in the chair that had overturned earlier and opened the book to begin perusing it himself. When he did not hear the steward exit, he glanced up dismissively. “Leave me now, sir.”
It didn’t take long for all of Hugh’s suspicions to be confirmed. This book was, in fact, the real accounting of the estate. And the figures far more detailed and concise than anything he’d been sent. If Periwinkle hadn’t been so criminally inclined, he would have made an excellent steward.
But where ought he to start? Catching a glimpse of the bottle of scotch Periwinkle had been enjoying earlier, Hugh decided this quandary would have to wait until tomorrow. He walked over to the cabinet and poured himself a hearty amount of the aromatic spirit.
And then that memory again. Of Penelope covering his hands with hers and lifting the drink to her own lips. This recollection was not hazy, nor dreamy, nor did it feel in any way like something of his imagination. No, he remembered he’d suddenly noticed the blue specks of light surrounded by her otherwise emerald eyes.
He shook his head and drank the liquid in one long swallow.
The warmth filled him almost immediately. He closed his eyes. Of course, it had been a dream! Good God, the alternative was unthinkable!
Chapter 4
“Iso wish you could stay longer, Penelope.” The Duchess of Cortland, Lilly Redmond, did not look away from the babe in her arms as she spoke. Breaking ducal tradition, Lilly had decided she would not have a wet nurse for the child. She was determined to feed the child of her own body. “You can do it, little Edward,” she told the baby now as she encouraged him to suckle. Her endeavor had not been an easy one.
Penelope leaned forward and watched as the tiny infant turned his head from side to side, eluding his mother’s fingertips. He then let out a few disgruntled cries, causing Lilly to lift him to her shoulders and pat his little bum. “What will I do without you, Pen?” Lilly asked, looking over at her this time.
Penelope smiled reassuringly at her friend. In spite of the challenges the duchess experienced as a new mother, Lilly was more beautiful than ever. Her unusually colored golden eyes looked a little more tired than normal, but her hair was done up in an elegant twist and her clothing was, as always, immaculate. “You’ll do just perfectly, Lilly. Look at him. He’s plump and healthy. I don’t think there has ever been a happier baby.” She said this in spite of the grumbling sounds coming from the cherub.
Lilly glanced back down at the baby and sighed in agreement. Her smile widened when the little marquess let out a satisfying burp. “He is, isn’t he?” And then a frown of concern marred her forehead. “But what is it, Penelope? You haven’t been yourself since Edward was born.”
Penelope sat up straight. What did Lilly see? Was her condition so very obvious? “I—well, er, I’m just feeling a little restless, that’s all.”
A familiar odor suddenly began filling the room. Oh, not the biliousness now! The nausea she’d felt upon waking had gone away after nuncheon. It was not supposed to come back! Lilly mustn’t learn the truth of Penelope’s situation! For she would be inclined to tell Cortland, who was Danbury’s best friend. Penelope nonchalantly lifted her hand to her mouth and inhaled the fragrance of her soap from earlier.
She need not have been concerned. Lilly had become aware of the odor as well and rose from the rocking chair. Her concern for Penelope temporarily forgotten, she laid the baby down on a padded dressing table. “At least we know he’s eating enough! Right, little man?” She cooed to the infant and then glanced back over at Penelope. “As long as you know you’re welcome anytime. I don’t ever want you to feel as though you’re not wanted here.”
Lilly’s words, simple though they were, suddenly had Penelope on the brink of tears, and she glanced out the window. The hills were a deep green and the sky ominous. Was a snowstorm approaching? That would not be advantageous at all! In an attempt to ward off her weepiness, Penelope forced herself to think of anything but her apparent situation. She’d felt unusually emotional throughout the past week. This was unacceptable.I am not a watering pot!
She discreetly wiped at her eyes before turning back to Lilly. “Oh, I know, Lilly. You and Cortland have been kindness itself.” The baby gazed adoringly up at his mother. “I’ll most certainly miss playing with little Edward. But I probably ought to go home and spend some time with Mother and Father before the season, for I’m contemplating forgoing London this year.” The season would kick off in a little more than a month. She most definitely needed to get a few things ironed out before then. She couldn’t have Danbury trolling through the young debutantes now! Not when she was carrying his child.
Penelope stood up abruptly at the thought. “I’ve told Rose to get everything packed today so that we can leave first thing in the morning.”
