“It seems so.”
“What staff remain inLondon?”
“House staff? The butler,Yates, two footmen, the housekeeper, Mrs. Muffat, Cook and thekitchen staff, maids, and the majordomo, Thacker. Father employedhim more than a year ago. It was before we went to France. Yatessuffers from lumbago and would require assistance while the familywas away. He has been with the family for many years and is soon toretire. Thacker runs the household with startling efficiency, buthe often tries Yates and Mrs. Muffat’s patience.”
Jack nodded. “I’ll visit ButterstoneCourt.”
“I won’t delay you withquestions. You can tell me all when we meet again.”
A groom appeared leading Arion fromthe stables, the big chestnut swishing his tail eager to beoff.
Jack buckled his portmanteau to theback of the saddle, then turned to her wanting to kiss her goodbye.Instead, he kissed her hand.
Ashley searched Jack’s eyes. “Takecare, please.”
As he mounted Arion, a rider appearedon the carriage drive.
Ashley shaded her eyes, watching asthe rider in footman’s garb, rode closer. “He wears my uncle’slivery!”
The footman pulled the sweating horseto a stop and jumped down. He strode over to Ashley, pulling aletter from his pocket. He held it out. “Good morning, my lady. ForLady Butterstone.”
“Thank you.” Her gaze flewto Jack’s, before she turned to the exhausted footman. “Cook willprepare you something to eat, after you’ve seen to yourhorse.”
With a deep bow, he led his horseaway, but before he’d reached the corner, Ashley had broken theseal of the letter. The paper wavered in her nervous fingers. Shegasped. “My uncle has escaped his captor. He wishes to advise mymother that he is in good health and will explain as much as he canvery soon.”
“What is Lord Caindale’sLondon address?”
“Rosemount House in CurzonStreet.”
He looked forward to speaking to LordCaindale. “I’ll leave you. Your mother will be relieved to learnthat her brother is safe.”
Ashley’s brow creased, her eyessomber. “Yes, she will.”
Jack swung into the saddle. He noddedto Ashley, turned the horse, and cantered along the carriageway. Heintended to see Geoffrey, Colonel Lord Bascombe, a trusted friendof his father’s and a respected member of the government. In Jack’sexperience, an officer’s relationship with the army never ended,even after one had left it. He would call at Bascombe’s domicilefirst, leave his card, and hope to see the gentleman during theday. No telling what he might have heard concerning Bonaparte’sdeath.
~~~
The curricle rattled along theHolyhead road toward Wales. They’d been traveling for some hours,during which Harry remained annoyingly taciturn. Erin glanced athis profile, missing the usual camaraderie between them. Even whenthey argued it was strangely companionable.
She wriggled on the seat. Eager tobegin their journey, she’d dressed quickly, and struggled with herstays. At least her cream wool pelisse hadn’t ceased, nor her sagegreen carriage gown, but her Italian straw hat was a little forlornfrom being crammed into her bag, and she feared her hair was indanger of coming down. A lady’s maid certainly had heruses.
Another half hour passed with only afew monosyllabic replies from Harry to her questions. Erina beganto suspect he was toying with her. She turned on the seat to viewhim better. He sat with one booted foot resting on the footboard,the reins held loosely in a gloved hand. “Harry?”
His dark eyebrows raised. Somethingunreadable in his brown eyes. “Done with daydreaming?”
She glared at him. “I wasn’tdaydreaming. I thought you didn’t wish to talk. Perhaps you prefernot to when you’re driving.”
“Remarkably, I’m able to dotwo things at once.”
She wasn’t sure why that soundedrather scandalous. Perhaps because the kiss was on her mind. It hadhardly left her thoughts since it happened. It hadn’t repulsed her.In fact, she’d rather enjoyed it. She sighed. Tugged at her Frenchkid gloves, then smoothed her skirts. She was in the process ofstraightening her hat when he stared at her.
“You appear to befidgeting. I hope you’re not too uncomfortable, we’ve a longjourney ahead.”
She could hardly tell him her stayscut into her chest. Instead the first thing she thought of poppedout of her mouth. “Why did you kiss me?”
“Aah,” Harrysaid.
He could enrage her with one word. Noteven a proper word, either. She narrowed he eyes at him. “Yes.Why?”
