Heat flooded Charlotte’s cheeks. She knew she could trust Ellen, but did the woman have to make it quite so obvious that it wasn’t her natural custom to come riding?
But perhaps Alex hadn’t noticed the implication of the woman’s statement, for he spoke without any teasing. “Thank you for meeting me. During my years away from this place, I’ve often dreamed of coming back.”
His eyes seemed to swallow up the great expanse of wood and road, the hazy, cold morning mists still hanging about in places on the tree line. He seemed lost in thought, hardly even aware of her presence. Charlotte waited for him to continue their conversation, but he didn’t.
Perhaps all he did miss were the trees. She bristled at the thought. “I need very little excuse to ride these woods as well.” She raised herself higher in her seat and didn’t meet his gaze. His distant demeanor clearly meant he didn’t wish to spend time with her. “It is obvious you feel at home here on your own, Mr. Jenkins. Ellen and I were just returning to the castle. I wish you a good ride.”
She could feel his eyes lock onto her face as she pulled on her mare’s reins.
“Oh no, please don’t leave.” She met Alex’s gaze, and his bewitching smile started to work on her. “Might I ask how far your property now extends?”
“The fields on that side,” she answered slowly, eyeing him, “and all of these woods until that open patch there.”
Alex followed the direction of her finger, and his eyes widened. Was he impressed by how much land her family had amassed these past years?
“The closest landowners to my family are the Calloways, though compared to our acreage, their portion is relatively small.”
“I see,” he answered. He looked away and then back at her with another question. “The ruins—are they still accessible?”
The intensity of his brow worried her. Something was on his mind. Had he come to treasure hunt in the ruins? And was it her imagination, or did his gaze smack of guilt?
She wanted to know what he was about. “I can take you there, if you wish.” She tried for ease, but her voice hitched. He had no idea what those ruins had come to mean to her since that awful day. He’d see for himself that his dreams of striking it rich were in vain.
Hoping he’d missed her emotion, Charlotte dug her heel into her horse and took off in that direction. Alex pulled up next to her, and Charlotte checked more than once that Ellen still followed. She knew Ellen didn’t relish her time on a horse, but the dutiful servant kept up at a canter.
When they reached the secluded area, Ellen hung back, giving them privacy. Penny took a few more steps forward, and then Charlotte pulled her to a stop.
“Have I upset you with my request?” Alex lifted his brow in question.
“No,” she answered untruthfully.
He wrung his hands. “I thank you for mentioning you’d be here. I appreciate your kindness, considering... everything.”
“It is nothing.” She reached up and absently fidgeted with her necklace, where her dark garnet pendant hung. “Wewerechildhood friends, I believe.”
His head tilted and his eyes boasted a teasing glint. “Indeed? You considered me a friend all those years ago? Despite my... bad tendencies?”
“Bad tendencies? Isn’t nearly every thirteen- or fourteen-year-old boy plagued with bad tendencies?”
He laughed. “So you admit it! You did think me awful.”
“Awfulis a strong word, Mr. Jenkins. Trying, perhaps. Insufferable, most definitely.”
Another chuckle. “I suppose one doesn’t get rid of a friend merely because of a few faults.”
She nodded, a bit of her suspicion falling away. He’d set her at ease once again.
“So where is it?” he asked.
“Here.” She gestured to the moss-covered circle of earth.
“But it looks like the rest of the forest.”
“Yes.” She couldn’t help the sagging in her shoulders. “After you left, I was so angry at Christopher that I would escape here to be away from everyone. I dug during my free time for days and days. Then Christopher wanted to be a part of my excavations. He forced his way in and took over completely. As soon as he went back to Harrow, I filled the entire hole with dirt and covered it with moss and logs. After a few unsuccessful attempts to find it when he came back on holidays, Christopher gave up on it entirely.”
“That’s why you didn’t want to come back.”
“Yes.” She fingered the chain at her neck.
