“Yes, of course I am.”
In the moonlight, his face looked pensive. “Thank you for tonight. It hasn’t been a total waste. Kyle’s nightly foraging has nothing to do with spying, and he’s one I can strike off my list.”
“What will you do now?”
“I haven’t decided, young Harry. First, I intend to see you safe within the bosom of your family. My good judgment must have deserted me, making you a party to this. It won’t happen again.” He tucked a curl behind her ear. “You can get some sleep. I’m sure you must be tired. I know I am.”
His words haunting her, Harriett left him and ran back to the house. Once in her room, she stripped off her clothes and climbed into bed, to toss and turn until daybreak.
♥♥♥
Gerard returned to the stables cursing himself as the worst fool. That was the end of it. He would not see Harry alone again until this business was cleared up. He hoped he’d been forceful enough, she could be so damned appealing when she set her mind on something. A husband would have his work cut out to rein her in. He’d enjoyed having her along with him, but admitted it had been an indulgence. This time he meant it. There’d be no more, even if she applied her womanly charms on him. The investigation was drawing to a close. The constable had cleared Barker, the young lad in the kitchens, and most of the staff, still with no clear suspect emerging.
A heavy-set man crossed the cobbles. Moonlight shone down on his face. Madoc! Placing his hand on the pistol tucked in his breeches beneath his jacket, Gerard left his horse and strode over to intercept him.
“What are you up to, Madoc?”
Madoc swung around.
“Oh, it’s you, milord. We have a problem. A fox has been getting at the chickens in the home farm. He’s just killed several and run off with another, the farmer and I have been trying to get the sneaky critter for several nights now.”
Gerard swung himself up into the saddle. “Good luck with it.”
“Thanks, milord. Madoc touched a hand to his cap.
Gerard rode toward home. One more off the list. Was he wrong? Might the murderer have got into the house somehow, struck and left immediately? With no jimmied windows, no doors left unlocked, no vines to scale to the second floor. How? He cursed, startling his horse. Might he have known about the tunnel?
