“Yes,” Ben agreed.So then,he thought,her outlandish tale had witnesses. And the man chasing her is here. “It’s ridiculous for certain. Good work, Lieutenant. Keep it up.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Frenton,” he called, stopping him as another question came to him. “Did you get a description of them: the woman and the man?”
Frenton gave him a surprised look. “I didn’t believe the story, so I didn’t–”
“You’re quite right,” Ben told him.
“There’s one thing,” the lieutenant said after he thought about it. “She had red hair. They said the woman had hair like flames flickering around her face in the wavy air.” The lieutenant laughed. “It’s quite a tale.”
Yes, Ben thought, it was. “I wonder why tell it if it wasn’t true?”
Frenton sobered, then shrugged.
They parted and Ben set his course toward the guest room. He had to re-route twice more to settle a dispute between two landowners. He’d had the fleeting thought of strangling them both when they stubbornly refused to settle their disagreement. But he left them both alive when he departed his receiving room a short while later-the dispute settled. Nathan, one of the stable hands, caught up with him next.
“Your Grace! The black mare has delivered! The foal is well and resembles its mother!”
The black mare was one of Ben's favorite horses. All the stablehands knew he favored her and they all looked after her well. He was happy the mare and her foal were alright.
“Kevin and Peter are waiting for you now to come greet the newest foal, Sir.”
Ben turned to give the stairs a solemn look over his shoulder then followed Nathan out of the house.
By the time he set his feet to his course again, supper was approaching. Had Edith served Miss Ramsey yet? How could her story could be real? She’d said a man appeared out of nowhere and with the aid of a pocket watch, brought her backto 1718 to escape the police.It was mad and Ben was mad for considering it.
Hair like flames flickering around her face.
It was her. It was her. He shook his head. It was too fantastical. People traveling through time? No. But… the woman in Ipswich matched her description.
He reached the door to her room and stared at it. What was this enchantment with her that he’d fallen under? Was his life so pitiful that he would find such amusement with a woman who was out of her mind?
Or was she?
The sound of male laughter seeped through the door and pricked Ben’s ears. He knew that laughter. He pushed open the door and gave his best friend, sitting on the chair across from her, a dark scowl.
Chapter Four
The Earl of Sudbury was very informative. Once Fable learned that he was the sulky duke’s closest friend, she set about finding out what she could about Benjamin West. There wasn’t much else to do. Her afternoon was turning out to be pleasant though. So far, Lord Sudbury had told her that the captainonce killed eighteen men without any help. Some high-ranking guy called Captain General Marlborough sent him to infiltrate enemy ranks and thanks to Ben, in the end, the king’s army won a decisive victory.
“He’s the king’s favorite,” Lord Sudbury told her, sitting in a chair across from where she sat on the settee. His eyes shone with sincerity, his smile wide with each word he spoke. It was evident that he felt very strongly about his friend. There was no trace of jealousy in his words, his voice, or his smile. From the moment she had asked about the duke, he gladly boasted about him.
“He has never lost in battle–or a game of chess. Do you play, Miss?”
She smiled and looked down. “A little. Tell me,” she said, lifting her gaze to his again. “Lady Prudence mentioned marriage balls.” In truth, this was the real reason she’d agreed to speak to him. Maybe Edith could have shed some light upon the matter, but the duke’s friend would have insight Edith didn’t.
“Yes,” Lord Sudbury said, smiling and waiting for what she said next. “She’s hosting one here in a few days.”
Hmm, Fable wondered if the king’s niece would be here. “Is it something like speed dating to music?”
The handsome earl’s smile didn’t falter despite looking a little lost. “Speed dating?”
“A ball to meet your wife?”
His dark eyes warmed on her. “Not mine. The duke’s.”
“Just…the duke’s?” She didn’t want to ask, but she needed to know.
