“What I mean to say is—whois Mr. Hudsyn? How do you know that he doesn’t work for your papa?”
“What?” Annabel’s body tensed. “How could that be? I just met him by accident on my walk home. He wasn’t even walking in the same direction as me.”
“Don’t find that a bit strange? A gentleman of that sort walking on a country road by himself? Surely, a man dressed in a fine suit like the one he wore owns a carriage to go with his grand estate and title.”
“He doesn’t have a title. He introduced himself as Mr. Hudsyn, remember.”
“Exactly. Perhaps you are used to seeing gentlemen dressed as finely as he was, so you’ve become numb to it, but I haven’t. And I’m telling you, he is no ordinary gentleman.”
“Perhaps he needed fresh air and wanted to take a walk.”
Nate sighed. “You’re too trusting, lass. Did you forget that you’re the daughter of one of the richest men in England?”
“What are you saying?”
“How do you know that gentleman wasn’t following you?”
“Because he was coming from the opposite direction. He couldn’t have been following me.”
Nate grunted. “Was this the first time you walked that road?”
“No, I do it every day. I like to watch the students at the ladies’ college. I like it when the bell rings, and they all cross the yard and make their way to their morning classes. It’s exciting.”
Nate frowned at her. “You wouldn’t find school exciting if you’d been bitten by the master’s cane as many times as I have.”
Annabel laughed. “It’s not that sort of school. It’s a sort of university for young ladies. They award certificates of knowledge in all kinds of subjects like mathematics, science, and classical literature. They even offer free classes to working women twice a week.”
Nate snorted. “Sounds like a waste of time. I don’t know any working man or woman who needs university. It’s a place for bored rich folk to while away the hours.” He eyed her. “So, you walk the same way every morning, do you?”
“Yes, I suppose I’ve established a bit of a routine,” Annabel said. “It’s helped me settle in here.”
“It also explains why your Mr. Fancy Suit knew you’d be coming down that very road.” Nate turned off the High Street.
She hadn’t thought about that. Annabel pressed her lips together. What if Nate was correct? She had to be more careful.
“Did you say anything that could give you away?”
“Of course not!” Annabel remained silent about the discussion she and Henry had about the newspaper article.Was it merely a coincidence that he carried a newspaper that headlined my story?
She swallowed the fear that formed in her throat. “How could my father or Lord Craventhorp possibly know I’m in Canterbury? They think I’ve eloped to Scotland!”
“Rich men have eyes everywhere.” Nate turned onto Orange Street and pulled the reins, signaling his cart horse to stop outside the half-timber building that served as both shop and lodging for the Taylor family.
Annabel remained in the carriage, her mind fraught. Would she never be free? Was she going to have to hide for the rest of her life?
“I don’t mean to scare you,” Nate said gruffly. “But you must be careful. Your father won’t give up that easily. They’ll still be searching. Remember. if you’re caught, my life and Stella’s, for that matter, will be—”
“Never. I’ll never betray you or Stella.”
“You might not have to. Like I said, eyes everywhere.”
“Have you had a letter from Stella? Is she safe?” Annabel pressed her palms together.
“It’s too early. She’ll need to wait until the story dies down before it’s safe to write.”
Annabel sighed. “I miss her. Are you certain she’s safe?”
“She’s safe. They’ll go looking for her, but they won’t find anything. There’s only contempt for Mr. Leonard where they’ll search. He denies his heritage and looks down on his people. They won’t take his money to betray their own.”
