Victor frowned. Why was she visiting the stables? Jinx the stablemaster, told him that Charlotte did not ride, nor did she wish to.
“Lord Blackmar left word that he would like to be wakened no later than ten,” the maid reminded.
“I know, which is why I must hurry.”
There was another pause and Victor wondered what other secrets his wife was keeping from him. Had he pressed yesterday while they were discussing the accounting, perhaps he would already know. Or perhaps not. She still hadn’t told him about being a governess and it was his fault for not asking.
He wantedherto tell him. He didn’t want a confrontation, but feared that was brewing, especially since she was hiding more than he realized.
“The bruises from yesterday have grown.”
“I will be much more careful today,” Charlotte assured her.
Bruises! How had his wife gotten bruises?
Then he recalled her fall, but she claimed to have been unharmed.
Once he heard her footsteps down the hall after passing his set of rooms, Victor hurried through his toilet and made it outside just in time to see his wife pat a mare, wave to Jinks, then set off down the road.
Victor had half a mind to hurry and join her but decided against it. He wanted to know what she did with herself and why it was so secretive.
“Would you like me to saddle your horse?” Jinks asked as Victor approached. The man had quickly glanced over his shoulder in the direction Charlotte had gone. She was already out of sight.
“No, I think I’ll just take a walk this morning.”
It appeared the man wanted to form an objection but held his tongue. This was becoming more interesting by the moment. His wife had secrets and every one of her servants held them for her.
Victor followed Charlotte from a distance. Not once did she suspect he was there. Did the woman have no sense when it came to her safety?
Upon approaching the mill, Charlotte walked directly to the small building which sat away from what Victor assumed were the workroom and store houses. As she approached, the door was opened and out stepped Melcombe. The man held a warm smile for Charlotte, and he extended his hand while she climbed the few steps. She then entered, Melcombe behind her and the door closed.
Victor refused to believe what he was seeing. There had to be a reasonable explanation.
Slowly Victor approached the building trying to decide what to do. For fear of being caught before a plan had formulated, he ducked to the side of the building, opposite the mill. When he heard voices through the open window, Victor edged closer and hoped that he would hear an innocent discussion to put his mind at ease.
“Come here, Charlotte. I have something for you,” Melcombe said.
“Oh, I can see.”
“Feel it,” Melcombe commanded.
“Remarkable,” Charlotte purred.
There was silence for a few moments and Victor’s imagination took flight.
“So soft. You still amaze me,” Melcombe’s voice was low.
“It is really nothing, Preston.”
Had his wife just called Melcombe by his Christian name? What the blazes were they doing and why were they so amazing?
Victor’s stomach tightened as suspicion swirled within.
“Has your husband noticed your disappearances?”
“No. He sleeps late each morning. I suspect he is still abed.”
“A place I would not mind being,” Melcombe groaned.
