The professor coughed on his tea and appeared on the brink of apoplexy.
Andrew leaped to the rescue. “Jolly good! We’ll bring some of the manor’s hounds. Rafe can bring his wolfhound. The thieves will have to act quickly, if they believe we’ll be returning after dinner. Arrange the invitation, and I’ll start bragging all over the village.”
El hastily rose. “Excellent. Do you wish to obtain the non-invitation invitation, sir? Or shall I?” The expressions warring on Greybourne’s visage were a joy to behold.
Thirty-three
Grey
“This is the most dimwitted thing I’ve ever allowed myself to do.” Grey held still so Eleanor could straighten his cravat. He despised formal clothes. “Why does it matter if I look perfect if I am only to change once we arrive?”
“You will need to greet your hosts. It is generous of them to allow us the use of their hounds and soldiers.” His blamed assistant stepped back and nodded approvingly.
She was wearing a yellow slip of a gown that looked very well on her. He ought to demand that she dress for dinner all the time, except he would forget to eat while wondering where she’d hidden that creamy bosom this past year. Besides, she had no wardrobe to hold a host of gowns, even if he bought them for her, which he was tempted to do. No matter how cold this rotten summer was, he was tired of seeing her in shapeless black wool. It was akin to covering a Rembrandt with a charcoal sketch.
“I cannot imagine how our culprits will miss a hound patrol.” Grey greeted Andrew as he came down looking respectable in his made-over frockcoat, with gold buttons most likely clipped from some gentleman’s castoffs.
“And you say I am the one without imagination,” Eleanor scoffed. “The manor’s men are already stationed along the river road. When the carriage departs, they’ll move closer under cover of the commotion. Mr. Bradford’s yard is the difficult part.”
“I stationed one of the guards in the privy,” Andrew said in amusement. “It is a good thing it is newly dug. He’ll leave the door open and be able to see anyone approaching from that direction.”
“The pair of you would make good criminals.” Grey was happy to have them on his side. He’d always been alone, which had made it easier to leave a situation than fight back.
He was still apprehensive about any skirmish with Eleanor involved, but he had little authority over her. He could order her to stay at the manor. He couldn’t tie her up and lock her in.
He’d far rather have her where he could see her—and he was rather enjoying her enthusiasm for fighting back. He still thought he or his book was the more likely target than poor Comfrey. Stupid thieves shouldn’t be too dangerous.
Captain Huntley had ordered his barouche around, adding to the gossip that should now have spread even to the careless artists. If Black Dickie Bradford attended the tavern, then he’d be apprised of their invitation as well.
Grey was fairly certain nothing would come of this nonsense, but it appealed to his frustration and desire for action. Even if they couldn’t prove any thief they caught was Comfrey’s killer, it would be one less scoundrel off the street.
The housekeeper had gone home, as was her habit. When the carriage arrived, it had the top down. Grey assisted Eleanor into the forward-facing seat, where her maid excitedly joined her. Young Silas slid their valise into the luggage rack and took the postilion position with a grin. Miss Fields happily took the rear-facing seat, eager to see her friends in the manor kitchen.
Andrew sat beside the driver, leaving Grey to sit beside the cook and study their twilight surroundings for Hunt’s hidden guards.
A stranger in slouch cap strolled down the lane in front of the house, not unusual since a few locals lived nearby. Grey thought he detected a silhouette on the stone wall bordering the yard, but the heavy shrubbery cast shadows, and the figure blended in. Another pair of strangers appeared to be coming up from the river, carrying fishing poles. Grey hoped if they were guards, they had better weapons than that.
At the manor, a stableboy ran out to take the carriage. The cook and lady’s maid excitedly hurried for the service entrance in the rear.
A footman carried the valise containing their change of clothing into the manor’s carriage entrance. Eleanor gripped Grey’s arm and waited for her brother’s slower progress before they followed the valise. The twins went together and, apparently, they went where Grey did.
Looking more elegant than Grey had ever seen them, the siblings did their best not to stare as they strolled down the entrance hall leading to what once would have been a grand ballroom and was now a sewing manufactory. Past the ballroom was the central corridor of the original fortress, a once dark and dreary passage now illuminated with gas lamps, lighting the majestic white marble staircase to the upper floors. A grandiose floor clock on the landing struck seven as they arrived.
Clare Huntley and Cousin Thea were just descending, decked out in their silks and laces. Thea scowled at him.
Clare hurriedly ran down the last few stairs to take Eleanor’s hands. “Miss Leonard, welcome! I want you to feel free to come and go here as needed. We have discussed my ulterior motives. I hope you will join us for dinner.”
Letting her flimsy shawl fall down to her elbows, Eleanor curtsied and shook her chestnut curls. “No, I fear we are only using you as a screen to cover our clandestine deeds.”
Studying this newly sophisticated version of his assistant, Grey almost missed the point of Clare’s laughter. He was brought back to the moment when their hostess turned to Andrew, welcoming him as well. “You are too handsome to go unnoticed. Surely you will stay and entertain us?”
Accustomed to being acknowledged first, Grey refrained from growling, appreciating that their hostess was putting the twins at ease. He wasn’t entirely certain of the necessity since they were both openly studying their hostess and surroundings. The educated Leonards had the ability to fit in anywhere, he was starting to understand—and respect.
So he glared back at his cousin. “I thought you told Mrs. Huntley our plans.”
Thea shrugged her bare shoulders. “I see no reason why you or your assistants should be involved. You could stay here, as normal people might. Let pirates tear Bradford House apart.”
His dratted cousin knew Grey preferred a simple existence, not one where he must be reminded of a position and responsibilities he never sought. Besides, he could be endangering infants simply by stopping here.
