He nodded his agreement.
“Second”—she smiled—“we remain on our mounts. No taking a walk together.”
“Hmm.” He looked thoughtful, and she raised an eyebrow. “Agreed,” he responded once he caught her gaze.
“And third, I cannot be very long. My mother expects me any minute.” She took his measure, noting that although his linen was worn and his eyes were a little tired, she admired so much about his face, his being. But it wouldn’t do to dwell on that all day. “Now, what shall we speak about?”
Alex’s warm chuckle filled the space between them. “You always were direct.”
“One does not come casting pebbles into someone’s window without also wishing to be direct, Alex.”
He dipped his head, a little red painting his cheeks. “You are right.” His blue eyes caught hers, dancing in the afternoon light. “First, I wish to say thank you for our conversation at the stream. Your words were much needed.”
“Of course.” It felt good to be helpful to him. “I would love to hear whatever is on your mind.”
He tilted his head. “Then, I shall tell you. I have been thinking about your maid. Did you say her name was Margaret?”
“You wish to inquire after my maid?” Just a moment ago their conversation had seemed so promising, and she’d been nearly sure the color on his cheeks was due to her. Now he was asking about her servant?
“No. And yes.” He winced. What on earth could he mean?
“Why do you ask after her?” Something about all of this seemed suspicious, and she narrowed her eyes.
Alex blew out a breath. “I should have known you’d want the whole story.”
She nodded, crossing her arms in front of her. “I thought you knew I have always liked the details.”
He rubbed his hands on the withers of his horse as their mounts sauntered a bit further down the small lane. “I’ve been thinking about how you said she recently came from working in the mine. Do you know which mine?”
“Alnwick, but before you worked there, I think.”
“And she just left the mines and applied at Otterburn?”
“No,” Charlotte replied, still confused as to what he was getting at. “She had an injury, though I don’t know exactly what happened. I came upon her on the side of the road when I was riding, and she couldn’t remember much.”
“Hmm. I kept feeling like I needed to ask you more about her, and now I think I know why.”
“I have no idea what you mean, Alex,” she said, trying not to sound too exasperated at his enigmatic words.
He sighed. “I employ a valet, or a man-of-all-work, as my only servant.”
This was news to Charlotte. Alex had told her he oversaw the mine, but she hadn’t known he lived such a lean lifestyle. His faded blue jacket should have given her some hint, but all she’d noticed was how handsome he looked in it. How many other basic particulars about him did she not have answers to?
“My man has a sweetheart. Not yet engaged but courting, I suppose you could say.”
“I am happy for him,” Charlotte said, confusion wheedling into her voice.
Alex gave her a sympathetic smile. “A few weeks ago this young woman went missing. She worked at the Alnwick Mine. Moxham has been worried about her, said her name was Mags. Now that I oversee the Alnwick Mine, he and I have been trying to sort out what happened, but no one has admitted to anything. When you said your servant had been working in the mines just a few weeks before and then today mentioned her name—”
“Margaret,” Charlotte whispered, Alex’s meaning illuminated like a newly struck match. “Margaret.” Words flew from her mouth without volition. “When I found her, she’d sustained a head wound and forgotten most of her recent past, though some memories have slowly started to come back to her.”
Her conversation with her maid a few days ago flashed into Charlotte’s mind. “Can I ask you one thing?”
“Certainly.” Alex’s clear eyes shone with interest and promise.
“Does this man—this Mr. Moxham—does he, by chance, have a chipped tooth?”
Alex’s Adam’s apple bobbed as his eyes widened. “How did you—”
