John Coachman drew up behind and stopped, tying off the reins before helping Georgie and Adam down. The grooms swung down and covered the first coach. Murphy waited patiently for them in the verge.
“Bi cúramach,”Georgie commanded and took hold of Murphy’s collar.
As the three approached the carriage the crowd parted, many offering nods and tips of the hat to Georgie. She returned the acknowledgement, but never turned away from the two men sitting up front. As she suspected, the two men also worked for the marquess, one the game keeper the other a general dogsbody used for heavy lifting.
“Dick Walters,” she addressed the surly-looking game keeper. “I am not going to waste my time accusing you of trying to kidnap my child and listening to your pleas of innocence. I am letting you return to Wyndham Abbey for one reason, so you may deliver a message to my father. First, if I were you, I would hold very still. Murphy,boladh. Baol féideartha.” Murphy leapt up to the driver’s seat and sniffed both occupants. Tim flinched back but froze when Murphy leaned in and growled.
“Wouldna move if I was you,” one of the villagers warned. “That lad has some fierce teeth.”
“He is correct,” Georgie agreed. “Murphy here has already dispatched with Jem. Jem will live, but will undoubtedly need a surgeon. As for you two—” Murphy leapt back down and sat docilely at Georgie’s side to have his head scratched. “Murphy now knows who you are. If you are found within a a hundred yards of him, he will know and attack you. And he is never out of my daughter’s sight. When you return to the Abbey, please feel free to tell the marquess that his plan went terribly awry and will again if he repeats his attempt. Not only that, but tell him that I have items of his and the marchioness’s that I will show to Murphy, so he knows their scent as well. If they interfere with my daughter again, I will not hesitate to set Murphy on them. Are you very clear?”
The gamekeeper glared at her with that look that betrayed his confidence that no woman could better him.
So, Georgie smiled. “If truth be known, I’d like to see you try. I was charitable to Jem and pulled Murphy off. I will not be to you. Now go bring this news back to the marquess. And Dick. I will tell my brother of your part in this, so he knows when he ascends to the title.”
At this point, the duke turned towards her. “May I add my own word, Lady Georgiana?”
Georgiana bestowed a huge smile on him. “I would be delighted, Your Grace.”
That definitely got the men’s attention. Half the villagers yanked their hats from their heads.
“Yes,” Adam said complacently. “You heard right. I have the honor of being the Duke of Rothray, which means I can easily make sure you vanish so thoroughly your parents won’t remember they had you. So, take the lady’s warning to heart. Because if any harm comes to her child, you will be punished for it, whether you were involved or not. And if her beast here doesn’t destroy you, I will.”
“We’ll be happy to help, y’r lordship!” one of the villagers piped up. “Yon little girl is one of ours.”
Adam turned a smiling bow on him and all the smiling villagers.
“Now,” Georgie said. “Both of you best be going before I change my mind and give Murphy here a treat.”
At the subtle flick of her finger no one else saw, Murphy let loose with another unnerving growl. Dick gathered the reins.
“One final question,” Georgie said before she lost her nerve. “Where were you to take her?”
Clem’s expression was pure malice. “Hopkins Home for the Insane. Yorkshire.”
Adam’s hand was back under her elbow, keeping her upright. Murphy wasn’t the only one who growled as the gamekeeper whipped up the horses and lumbered off. Sweet Jesus, Georgie thought. Sweet suffering Jesus. She knew her parents hated her. But that they could do that to a baby, no matter the reason. Their own grandchild. It was impossible. Ithadto be impossible.
“I may have to kill him myself,” she muttered, her head down, her stomach roiling with fury and grief.
“Happy to help,” Adam assured her. “Do you really have items of theirs Murphy can scent?”
She snorted. “Of course not.”
“Missus Grace?” one of the villagers spoke up.
Georgie lifted her eyes to see Mr. Jenson the butcher frowning at her. “We’ll keep an eye out too, ma’am. Nobody’ll take that child.”
Tears welled again, hot and bitter. But she saw the rest of them nodding and smiled. “I am blessed to have you all as neighbors. Now, I believe it is about time for tea.”
“We just had tea,” the duke reminded her.
“In that case,” she said, taking a deep breath. “Brandy.”
John Coachman helped them back into the curricle and waited for Murphy to reclaim his seat and the grooms to mount before turning the vehicle about. Georgie clasped her hands in her lap, her fingers white from the strain. She could feel the trembling set in. She wasn’t unfamiliar with it. When her cousin Gervaise had tried to kill her nephew Jamie, she had reacted much the same way. Cool and collected until the danger had passed, only to fall apart in the middle of the kitchen, much to Mrs. Prince’s astonishment. It had taken four glasses of sherry and three slices of gingerbread to calm her.
She had a feeling that today four glasses would just be a start.
Adam tried to lay his hand atop hers.
