* * *
As soon as the door closed behind them, Miss MacCallum smiled to herself. By the time he handed her into the carriage, she was grinning.
“Are you going to tell me the reason for that farce?” she asked after he settled across from her. “You were there, so you must know he did not fall, let alone from the top of that ladder. That would be a good fifteen feet, and I assure you, had he done so and landed on his shoulder, he would not easily move it, let alone hold it straight out to his side.”
“Well, as you said, it was not broken.”
“Even if it were not broken. Nor was he in pain. Not really. He did not flinch at all when I examined him.”
“He is very fit. And uncommonly brave.”
“The books on the floor dealt with agricultural practices. They looked to be at least a hundred years old, so notmodernagricultural practices. Did you and he have some argument over how barley was harvested in the last century and he needed to consult the authorities of the time?”
“You are too clever for the average ruse, I can see.”
“Please do not forget that.”
“I was not consulted about the how of it, but the goal was to arrange for me to see you without having to call at Hume’s house. It appears the plot, even with your excessive cleverness, succeeded, because here we are.”
She barely reacted. “Why not simply write and ask to meet me in a park? That is what Haversham did.”
“Would you have come?”
“Of course. Curiosity would have bested any sense that said not to.”
“What did Haversham want?”
“He merely wanted to apprise me of the efforts being taken on my behalf.”
“He needed to meet you in a park for that? At least he did not declare himself another suitor. There are enough of those already.”
“I could do worse than Mr. Haversham. After all, he has the king’s ear all day long. With some persuasion, I might have all I seek.”
He assessed her in that light, as if he never had before. He pictured her working her woman’s wiles on such as the king’s lackey. “I expect you could be most persuasive if you chose. Poor Haversham would not stand a chance. Speaking of suitors, has Hume proposed yet?” It was none of his business but he wanted to know.
“Is this why you wanted to speak with me? To find out Mr. Hume’s intentions and to make sport of those suitors? If so, I am dismayed a peer has time for such childishness. I assumed such as you were engaged most days with important governmental issues.”
He almost colored himself but managed to keep his face acceptably cool. That he needed to fight that battle, let alone because a woman had dared scold him, was so unusual as to fascinate him. “I wanted to speak with you about documents and evidence. I am told you and Hume visited the War Office.”
“You know about that? Have you set spies on me?”
“Miss MacCallum, when the world knows your business, the world sticks its nose into your business. I do not need spies because anyone with information is gleeful to tell me everything. Did you and Hume find anything useful?”
“Why should I tell you?”
“To add to the evidence on your side of our dispute. There is no point in finding more if you keep it a secret.”
She came as close to pouting as he guessed she ever did, but soon gave it up. Which was too bad because it turned out she had the perfect mouth for pouting and she looked adorable.
“Unfortunately, I found no new evidence, only my great-grandfather’s name in the lists of the deceased. Mr. Hume said there are also records kept by Parliament regarding the lords, but he can’t get me in to see them.”
“I can.”
Her gaze turned quizzical. “Would you?”
“We will go there now, if you want, and examine any record pertaining to him together. However, it is not Parliament we must visit, but the College of Arms.”
“This is very good of you to explain and help. Suspiciously so.”
