“If he is here without mother that would mean it is government business, although why he could not simply send a messenger, I’m sure I don’t know.” She shook her head, completely distracted. “But I would be the last one to be notified. Especially if my brother Alex is in town.”
Suddenly, though, she wanted to be there as well.
Nate spent a moment thinking. “I believe it to be our best option. A messenger will arrive tomorrow morning with the message that your father is home and ill. That should be excuse enough.”
Pip blinked. “Is he?” she demanded.
Nate shrugged. “I have no idea. But that message would provide urgency.”
“C’n I go home, too?” Robbie asked all of a sudden.
Everyone stopped.
“No, lad,” Beau answered.
“But me mum will be that worried.”
Beau reached out to lay a hand over Robbie’s on the table. “I know, and I’m sorry for it. But if we even tell her all is well, she might give you away and put herself in danger. Do you understand?”
Pip saw the tears well in the boy’s eyes and wanted to hug him. “It won’t be long,” she assured him. “Until then…”
“Would you like to hide in the stables with Hawkins?” Beau asked.
Robbie’s grin reappeared. “I like the horses.”
“Robbie also brought us a message,” Beau told Nate, and then explained. “Bring anything to mind?”
Nate just shook his head.
“Well, now that we’ve figured all that out,” Joyful suddenly spoke up, hands on broad hips, wooden spoon in one, “what about some dinner? Cook said it was mulligatawny. Who knew y’all had curry?”
“Are you staying, Nate?” Beau asked as Joyful began ladling soup into bowls.
The man cast a longing look at the thick soup and shook his head. “I have preparations to make.” Standing, he drained his wine and picked up the rest of the bottle to take with him. “Lock the cellar door. At least for tonight. I won’t see you again.”
Beau was getting to his feet, but Nate waved him down, gave a general wave to the room and slipped back out the door as Joyful set out bowls, spoons and bread.
“Kinda spooky, ain’t he?” Robbie offered, looking to the door.
“A good word for him,” Beau agreed, accepting a bowl from Joyful and passing it down the table. “Now then, lad. Eat up. You’ll stay here tonight and then sneak over to the stables in the morning.”
Pip was just about to dip her spoon into her soup when Beau’s words registered. She couldn’t help it. They made her smile.
“That’s right, Robbie,” she said, suddenly feeling better. “We already have some blankets on the sofa in the library for you.”
That quickly Beau’s head came up and he commenced to glare again.
Pip smiled. “Good thing my bed has lots of room, husband.”
She decided not to mention the dressing room. Even so, poor Joyful, who was being ejected from her little bed there, flashed her own prized scowl.
“I’ll stay up to watch for any problems,” Beau snapped.
“If you don’t mind, milord,” Billings retorted, suddenly looking older. “I’d like to stand the first watch. Was in the navy before the duchess, she hired me. Won’t let anything happened to her or hers.”
It took Beau a minute, but Pip hoped he could see the devotion in Billing’s eyes and allow him the responsibility. Finally, Beau nodded. “Thank you. It has been a long few days. I will relieve you after four hours.”
“Yessir.”
