Was that a chuckle? Annoying man.
“I thought you were made of sterner stuff, Miss Harrismith,” he commented as he continued down.
“Everything except spiders, Your Grace.” Which wasn’t the exact truth. Spiders and dukes.
“Keep up.”
She swallowed an impudent reply and closed the gap between them as he negotiated the narrow slippery steps with ease.
Finally they reached the bottom, and stopped before a solid wood and iron door with a big rusty ring latch, the heavy bolt at the top drawn back. Boards which had been nailed across to block access were cast aside on the stone floor.
“What in the world…!” The duke’s bantering tone was gone. He crouched down and examined the boards, then rose to drag the door open. Stepping outside, he turned to hold the door open for her to pass through it. Jenny was only too pleased to leave the oppressive place, made worse by their discovery. The possibility that a dangerous person had orchestrated the attack on William came closer to reality. She could sense the duke’s distress as she stood on the grass and gratefully dragged in deep breaths of fresh air.
“I’ll have it repaired immediately, Miss Harrismith,” he said not looking at her. “And I’ll find out who is behind it.”
Jenny had no answer. Her heartbeat was still uncomfortably fast. She looked around to get her bearings.
“Where are we, Your Grace?”
“This is the western side of Castlebridge, the moat would have been beneath our feet,” he said.
They were quite alone and not overlooked by any windows unless someone peered down at them from the tower. From this angle, the door looked insignificant, its entrance shielded by a lilac tree and a high privet hedge. The stables were visible beyond the grove of limes which bordered the carriageway.
She attempted to order her hair, stabbing pins into her scalp. Had someone used those stairs with the intention to harm William? And opened the nursery door while they slept? A shudder raced through her.
“If someone came up that way they must be familiar with this house,” she said trying to banish the apprehension from her voice. “And they would know about the kitten.”
She hadn’t fooled him. He turned to look at her. “I’ve frightened you,” he said after a moment. “You must leave this to me, Miss Harrismith. Rest assured, you and the children will not be exposed to any more danger. I’ll send a carpenter to board up the door. And this time he’ll make a thorough job of it.”
“Are there any other passages, Your Grace?”
“There are. But none on that floor. You should return to the schoolroom. It might be prudent for you to pick some flowers before you go back inside. Your absence could be noticed.” He paused, and his angry blue eyes met hers. “White lilies seem to be a favorite of yours.”
“Not especially, Your Grace,” she said suffering a need to defend herself. “The one I picked was half broken off. Actually, it was the only lily left in the bed. The rest were just bare stalks.”
His eyes turned to slate, and a muscle flickered in his rigid jaw. “No need to explain. I am not about to refuse you a few flowers. Bring the children to the salon at three o’clock. It’s close to luncheon. You missed breakfast and must be hungry.”
And with that, carrying the lantern, he strode away.
Jenny watched him pause to stare up at the tower high above them. He squared his shoulders and walked on as if whatever decisions he needed to make had been decided on. She was confident the duke would deal with this. That he would find this person. She had never known anyone like him. Perhaps only dukes had that degree of self-confidence. It made her feel a good deal better to place her trust in him and get on with her duties. She was sure the villain, for surely there was one, would be caught. His Grace was not a man to be trifled with.
*
Andrew sought thehead gardener before returning to the house. He found him digging in the kitchen garden, stirring up earthy smells blended with sage and rosemary.
“Your Grace?” Startled, he whipped off his hat and dug his spade into the earth before bowing.
“Good day, Wilkins. Looks like rain doesn’t it?”
“Might be just a shower, Your Grace. But I hope to get these beds finished before the weather turns.”
“The white lilies in the garden near the library. Why were they cut?”
“Ah.” Wilkins scratched his head. “Those were for the housekeeper. Mrs. Pollitt wanted to add ’em to an arrangement for the reception rooms, Your Grace. We are saving the hothouse flowers for the weekend party.”
“Good.” Andrew nodded, aware the man was nonplussed to find him wandering among the vegetables holding a lantern and asking inane questions. If things weren’t so grave, he might laugh at it. Perhaps Miss Harrismith would find it amusing too. “I won’t keep you, the wind is picking up.”
He sent the lantern back to the nursery and gave instructions for the carpenter to block up the door. Then he requested the housekeeper come to the library.
