“Perhaps, because of hissudden arrival in Paris and the heated conversation that took placebetween him and my father. My uncle is a foolish man, but thatalone isn’t a crime. He could well have been deceived. I can’tbelieve he was directly involved in the murder of that maid, andcertainly not my father’s death. It crushed him. I know him, Jack,he’s not capable of such violence.”
“You might be right,” Jacksaid in a quiet voice. “Nevertheless, he is involved in thisconspiracy up to his neck.”
“What will youdo?”
Jack stood and gazed down at her. “I’mnot sure. I have to find him first.”
She rose to her feet, her eyes sad.“Of course, you must act as you see fit.”
He sighed. “I’ll treat the man fairly.But there will be others who may not.”
Distress rumpled her brow. “I’mleaving for my home in Oxfordshire tomorrow.”
Jack raised her hands to his lips.“God speed, sweetheart.”
She shook her head. “I hope that oneday…”
“Yes, sweetheart, one day.”A promise he feared might be broken if he found her uncle to beculpable.
Jack turned and left, his bodystrangely leaden.
~~~
Erina had chattered all the way totheir destination, her eyes returning again and again to herhusband. She took in the jaunty angle of his hat, his bronze greencoat obviously made by a Bond Street tailor, his relaxed fingers onthe reins—a nicely shaped hand, his narrow, hard-looking thigh inhis buff trousers as he rested his polished boot on the footboard.Nothing she heard herself say was particularly remarkable. Mostly,it was a flowing discourse on the wedding. That stuffed bird onMrs. Jeffrey’s hat. Was it a real one? If so, how would it havedied? Was there enough food for everyone? What a blessing her aunthad been. What a pity Cathleen could not have been there. Erinamust write to inform her of every detail. How good it was to seeCaptain Ryder again.
Apart from the occasional indulgentsmile, Harry said little, his attention seeming to remain on hispair of grays, the horses’ heads bobbing in unison in front ofthem. Finally, after she’d resorted to a one-sided discussion onthe changes in the scenery, the curricle pulled in through a largeset of gates bearing the name Virginia Grove.
“Here we are.” Harry smiledat her. “You must be tired; it’s been a long day.”
Erina was too nervous to be tired. Atthe end of the driveway stood a long, three-story apricot brickmansion set in pretty gardens. “How charming,” she murmured. Itcertainly was, but her voice sounded thin, and she chewed herlip.
“I’m pleased you like it.”Harry pulled up the horses. A servant rushed from the direction ofthe stables to take the reins while another came through the tallfront doors. Harry helped her down. Erina smoothed her skirts andentered the airy hall lit from above by a towering arched window.She allowed Harry to lead her across the marble floor, to where amiddle-aged woman in black with a crisp white collar waited, herhands clasped in front.
The woman bobbed. “Congratulations onyour nuptials, sir.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Lawson.I’d like you to meet your new mistress, Lady ErinaFeather.”
He turned to Erina. “Mrs. Lawson isour very efficient housekeeper. She has been with us for someyears.”
“Allow me to offer myfelicitations, my lady.” The housekeeper sank into a curtsey. “Ihope you had a pleasant journey. Your trunks have arrived. As youhave not brought your maid, I trust Merry will be satisfactory forthe time being. She’s a well-behaved girl. But should you wish tointerview a replacement for the position, I shall be happy toarrange it.”
Erina was more than happy with thearrangement as at home their upstairs maid, Lucy had helped hersince her father began economizing. “I’m sure Merry will beperfectly adequate, thank you, Mrs. Lawson.”
Harry took Erina’s hand and drew herthrough an arched doorway. They entered a long room, with afireplace at one end and French windows opening onto a terrace atthe other. It was furnished in varying patterns of green and rosepink. Beyond the windows the lawns rolled away through animpressive park of established trees.
Erina walked over to the windows. “Thegrounds are magnificent. I can’t wait to see more ofthem.”
Harry stood at her shoulder. “I lookforward to showing them to you.”
She turned to him. “Have you everlived here?”
“This is where I grewup.”
“I didn’t knowthat.”
He smiled. “I haven’t lived here forquite a while.” His gesture drew her back to the view. “Look,Erina.”
A groom led a bay horse across thelawn below the terrace. Erina shrieked. “Jessie!” She opened thedoors and rushed over the terrace and down the steps to stroke hermare’s velvety nose. The groom greeted her, and Jessie neighed inrecognition. Erina swiveled to find Harry grinning at her. “You hadher brought here and didn’t tell me?”
