“We know it is a man,” she offered.
Actually, that was not a certainty. Lucian simply assumed it was a man because the missives, especially the last with the dead flowers spoke of a romantic interest. Though, he supposed it could be a woman, though unlikely because whoever it is, was also free to follow Eliza to Greenhaven Cottage. Few women had such freedom and the only man who could travel as he wished would be a lord, or son of a lord with little responsibility, not someone who was employed, which still was no assistance in narrowing down who could be sending the missives.
“Could you retrieve them for me?” he asked.
Eliza gathered the documents that she had brought outside and took them in and returned a moment later with the letters.
“They are in the order of when they were received.”
Lucian lifted the first letter.I prefer you in green, not yellow, as you wore to the MacGregor luncheon. “Do you recall who was at that luncheon?” he asked.
“No. I was not there long myself,” Eliza answered.
“You could write and ask who was in attendance. It would at least provide you with a list of names,” he suggested and wondered why she hadn’t already.
“What if he wasn’t a guest, but lurking in the shadows, like he does now?”
There was that possibility. “You will not know until you have a list and then can see if a name is often repeated as evidence of who may have been watching you.”
Eliza pursed her lips. “I suppose I can do so.”
He set it aside and picked up the next.I see you prefer lemon drops to caramel charms. “Do you recall anyone being around when you purchased lemon drops before you received his missive?”
“No. Lady Victoria and I had been shopping when those were purchased. It was a bright and pleasant day and many people were strolling and shopping,” Eliza answered. “I also didn’t receive the letter until nearly a sennight after I had made the purchase.”
What little evidence he had, Lucian was convinced that the man was of privilege and not in trade or a servant given where those encounters had taken place.
He lifted the next letter.Did you have a nice time picking out hair ribbons?“Do you have any recollection who may have been present when you were looking at ribbons?” he asked.
“This is one of the missives that has me confused.”
“Why?” Lucian answered.
“I have not shopped for hair ribbons this year. I cannot recall the last time that I did, but it has likely been at least five years.”
He frowned. “Five years since you have purchased a ribbon?”
“I no longer wear hair ribbons, Lord Garretson. Those are for younger women.”
Except, he had noticed women older than Eliza wearing hair ribbons.
“I outgrew hair ribbons even if others have not,” she added. “I prefer combs or pins when arranging my hair.”
“Perhaps he was mistaken as to what you were shopping for,” Lucian offered as it was the only explanation that he could think of.
The next letter made him frown further.It is so easy to slip when walking too close to a lake.“When did you fall into a lake and where was it?” he asked.
Eliza stared at him. “I have only fallen into a lake once. Here.”
A chill swept down his spine.
“Only three people know of that incident.” Him, Eliza and her brother.
“Could it be a servant within your household?” Eliza’s grey eyes widened as she realized what she had suggested and quickly looked around.
For a moment Lucian considered that perhaps it was someone he employed but dismissed the very idea. When would any of them have had the opportunity to be present when Eliza purchased lemon drops, or looked at ribbons? As he had not attended the MacGregor luncheon, there would have been no reason why any of his servants would have been there either. Which he explained to her.
This was most puzzling and disturbing.
