“I absolutely agree.” A voice chimed in from the door. He hid his surprise behind a nod of greeting when Millie entered.
“Aunt Mildred, to what do I owe the honor?” He spied the roguish glint blooming in his aunt’s eyes, and he fought a grin. She was up to something, the old rascal, and he would bet a year’s income it had something to do with the woman upstairs.
“I have a request.” She glided to him and looked him in the eyes. “I need you to explain where you found Miss Edwards. Something of importance was left behind in the rush.”
“I didn’t notice anything.” Then again, he wasn’t paying attention to anything but the bleeding woman in his arms.
She raised an eyebrow, and drawled, “I don’t doubt it. I’m sure you were preoccupied.”
Choking on a bark of laughter, he coughed and reached for his glass of brandy.
Harry wasn’t as successful at camouflaging his mirth. Mildred turned to him, grinning. The dragon sure had spirit.
“Miss Edwards insists she had a bag with her when she landed here. She explained the bag contains items that will prove her story. I have decided to aide her.”
“How noble of you, Aunt. You do understand that any footman we send may not find anything.”
Her sharp, narrow gaze speared him. “Logan, I wasn’t born yesterday, or the day before.”
Ignoring Harry’s garbled snort of laughter, Logan parried, “Thank you for clarifying.”
“A footman will not know what to look for, whereas Miss Edwards will.”
He didn’t like where she was headed.
“Are you suggesting I let her leave to find some lost bag?” His throat tightened. He couldn’t quite believe what she suggested. What kind of hold did Miss Edwards have over his aunt?
He swallowed.
What kind of hold did she have over him?
“Yes. She is perfectly trustworthy, and even if she weren’t, I would be with her to make sure she found her belongings and made her way back safely.”
Had she lost her mind? “Her safety isn’t my concern,” he thundered. “Yours is.”
Aunt Mildred’s eyes blazed, and she jutted out her chin. “If you don’t believe Miss Edwards is capable of leaving and returning without killing someone, maybeyoushould take her.”
She’d trapped him. He’d angered her, but he’d only been worried for her safety. “Aunt, if it will make you happy, and if it would speed Miss Edwards’ departure from my home, I will gladly assist her in retrieving her bag. I will take her tomorrow, if she is well enough by then.”
Millie’s eyes sparkled in triumph, and he understood he had been as finely played as a violin. He sighed in resignation and changed the subject.
“Are you still planning to host a dinner party Monday night?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” She drilled him with her gaze, then charged from the room.
He didn’t have time to argue before the door clicked shut behind her.
Harry stood and placed his glass on the table beside the settee. “She is certainly a force of nature.”
“You have no idea.” Logan wanted to frown, but a smile broke through. He laughed, the sound filling the room.
“So, what will you do?” Harry’s question was an all-encompassing query, whether he meant it to be or not. Logan sobered, his smile disappearing behind his need to clinch his jaw.
“I don’t even know if this bag exists, but if it will help move things along, I will take Miss Edwards to the south pasture to find it.”
“Rather nice of you.” Harry’s brows rose over his twinkling eyes.
“What else can I do? I am no closer to uncovering the truth about the thefts, and she is, unfortunately, my problem.”
