“Shall you take tea in the library, my lady?”
“I believe I shall have it here. It’s nicer outdoors.”
“Very well.”
As he returned inside, Laura eyed his stiff back, then dropped her gaze to the letters. There was an invitation from the vicar and his wife to dine at the vicarage. She would reply today. It would give her an opportunity to ask him how she might assist the poor and set up her charity. Another invitation to tea had come from two aged spinsters, daughters of a viscount, who lived at Thrompton, a small manor house a few miles outside of Wolfram. Nathaniel had mentioned them toher.
She opened a letter of thanks from the women’s committee; everyone enjoyed her speech, and they asked if she would open the annual flower show this spring. She set about replying. Laura murmured her surprise at the next. Her old university chum, Howard Farmer, had sent his belated best wishes for her marriage. They had often debated together, and he’d once come to play tennis with her at Wimbledon. He now taught classics at the University of London. If she ever wished to see him, she was not to hesitate to contact him there. She smiled, glad forhim.
The last was addressed to Nathaniel. Why had Rudge brought this to her? The envelope bore one line, a hasty scrawl:His Lordship, the Baron Lanyon. One word in the corner caught her attention:Urgent!Laura hesitated for a few seconds, then seized her pearl-handled opener and sliced through the envelope, removed the letter and smoothed it out. It was exactly like the envelope. A scrawled, brief message, not dated, norsigned.
Baron,the man you sought has been seen in St Ives. He may plan to return to Wolfram. I pray the Lord protects you andyours.
The signature was impossible todecipher.
Her stomach tightening, she read it again. Protect them from what? Her hand shook as she tried to think what she should do. Should she contact Nathaniel? Would he disapprove of her opening his mail? It appeared too urgent to ignore, even if the writer did enjoy a dramatic turn of phrase. There wasn’t a telephone at Wolfram, but there was one at the post office in the village. Nathaniel had given her a number to call in an emergency. Would he consider this urgent? She gathered up her letters, aware that she couldn’t leave it for hisreturn.
In her bedroom, she took out her riding habit and rang for Agnes. Was it possible to install a telephone at Wolfram? She hated to be so isolated when Nathaniel was inLondon.
When a knock came at the door, she held her bodice together, expecting her maid. “Come in.”
Rudge stood at the open door. “Your morning tea is served in the rose garden, my lady. As you instructed.”
“I find I have to go out, Rudge. I need to telephone his lordship. Send Agnes to me, will you?”
“Certainly, my lady.” Surprise registered on Rudge’s chiseled features before he returned to his usual impassive expression. Surely he must have known the urgent letter would be dealt with? Why else add it to hercorrespondence?
In her green habit, Laura hurried to the stables where the groom saddled her horse. Trotting toward the causeway, she saw a man crossing from the village onto Wolfram land. She reined in her mount and waited for him to reach her. He walked with a confident swagger. Dressed in nankeen trousers, with a tan leather jerkin beneath a cloth jacket, he swept off his hat. Blond hair gleamed in the sun. He had a good-looking, rather insolentface.
His eyes swept over her approvingly. “You can only be Lady Lanyon.”
Laura’s horse pinned her ears, disliking the delay. “You know who I am, but I’m at a loss to know who you are, sir.” Annoyed by the familiarity of his tone and the bold look in his brown eyes, Laura steadied her mount, anxious to get to the postoffice.
“Theo Mallory at your service, my lady.”
“The head gardener at one time, Mr. Mallory, were you not?”
“The very same, my lady.”
“To what do we owe this visit, Mr. Mallory?”
Mallory frowned and replaced his hat. “I have business with Lord Lanyon.”
“His lordship is in London. He’s not expected back until Saturday.”
He walked beside her. “Then I’ll see him then. I’ve taken a room at The Sail and Anchor.”
Curious, she watched his expression. “I believe you lived in a cottage on the grounds at one time.”
Theo’s laugh possessed a scornful ring. “I did, my lady. Thank you for reminding me.”
What was he doing back in Wolfram? Something about him made her uneasy. “I bid you good day, Mr. Mallory.” She urged her horse into a trot. The tide lapped at the granite rocks just below the road. “How long before high tide?” Laura called back.
“An hour or so.”
“Then I must hurry.” Laura nudged hermount.
He followed behind her. Mallory’s manner was too informal, disrespectful, and although she was curious, she had no time to give to him now. She rode into the village, going over the conversation she was soon to have with her husband. It would not be an easyone.
