That question made her pause and consider all of them. She realized that Langford tried to reassure himself that she would not be vulnerable as well as alone, that she would have the skills to survive whatever life she chose after she left England’s shores.
“You will be relieved that we will not stop at an inn tonight,” he said in late afternoon. They were both back inside the carriage. “I have a property here in Somerset. It is called Liningston Abbey. We will stay there, then continue into Devon when we know where we are going.”
“We already know where we are going. I think we should move with all speed.”
“We possess the name of a man. That is all. Tomorrow I will send Vincent across the border to purchase a county directory. In it, we will find exactly what we need.”
Vincent had joined them in early morning, riding after them to report that the dagger had been picked up from the bakery on Culper Street, and was on its way with Langford’s friends following. He rode beside the carriage like a sentry most of the time, but a short while ago, had galloped ahead of them.
A half hour later, they turned off the road and rolled up a lane.
He pointed out the window. “We are almost there.”
She looked out to see the house. “Oh, I don’t know if this will do at all.”
“Don’t you think so? It is not grand, but—”
“It can’t have more than a dozen bedchambers. Why, it is little more than a cottage.”
He realized she teased him and laughed.
The closer they got, the more she sensed the sea. “Are we on the coast?”
“Near it. There is a spot where you can swim if you want. You do know how to swim, don’t you?”
She shook her head.
He frowned. “That will never do.”
The house grew larger with each minute. Not modest at all to her eyes. It appeared to have grown large over the years as chambers were added and the rooflines merged. The central block had visible timbers crossing its façade, indicating its ancient origins.
“There will not be many servants. It is not used much.”
“How many such houses do you own, that are not used much?”
“Twenty.” He shrugged. “Maybe twenty-five.”
She kept her gaze on the house. She rarely thought about their differences in stations anymore. Oh, she would see him at times and notice how he stood and how he knew well his place in the world. One could never forget completely. But it did not imbue every minute they spent together.
Now she accepted that in her ignorance she had not realized just how big that difference was. Here was a man who owned twenty houses. Or maybe as many as twenty-five. He did not even know exactly. He held one of the highest titles in the land, so of course he also held wealth. But in her ignorance, she had not understood just how much. A feeling of despair seeped into her heart.
* * *
Vincent waited for them along with the housekeeper and caretaker when they stepped out of the carriage. He had ridden ahead to alert them of the pending arrival.
Gabriel accepted the servants’ greetings. “Mrs. Braddock,” he said while an elderly lady curtsied. He had scoured his memory all day before plucking that name out. “Our arrival was precipitous. It must have caused you undue concern.”
“Not at all, Your Grace. I hope you will find that all is in order. I have sent for a girl from a neighboring house to serve your guest. Your man here said he would do for you. There’s also a cook and two women coming to help with the house. The meals may be simpler than you are accustomed to, but this cook is quite good in her own way.”
Gabriel eyed Vincent, who barely hid his glee at arranging this promotion to valet for himself. Gabriel envisioned the mishaps awaiting. “I suppose he will do well enough. I am sure your other arrangements will be perfect.”
He turned to the caretaker. “Tell the groom that we will need my horse, and another for the lady, in two hours.”
He escorted Amanda into the house. They paused and looked around the old hall that now served as the reception chamber. A large hearth filled one wall of the square space, and tiles lined its floor. Heavy, dark beams ran across the high ceiling and paneled the walls.
“I don’t remember it as quite this dark,” he said. “We will use chambers in a wing to the left that are more fashionable, so don’t be discouraged by this first look.”
“When were you last here?”
