“Has anyone else returned, Ben?”
“Only the baroness. Her ladyship was most upset. She wishes to see you.”
“Let’s get the children back to the schoolroom, Miss Harrismith.” Andrew gestured to the red-haired footman. “Come with us, Jeremy, return to your post outside the door. Forrester? Inform Cook, the children, and the governess who is the heroine of the hour, shall require a hearty meal.”
Miss Harrismith looked slightly flustered as she took the children to the nursery to wash and change their soiled clothing. Andrew found he wasn’t ready yet to leave them, and helped with their clothes, tying Barbara’s ribbons, and buttoning her shoes. The little girl patiently held out her small foot. “We don’t have to go back to that nasty place, do we, Father?”
“Never, sweetheart,” he said huskily.
Miss Harrismith met his gaze as she helped William into his coat. It wasn’t over. He still didn’t know who this monster prowling the estate was. Where were Ivo and Raymond? He intended to find this man and when he did….
In the schoolroom, he took Miss Harrismith aside. “I’d like to learn more about what happened. I’ll return as soon as I can.”
She nodded briskly, only her tear-stained cheeks gave away any emotion. “As you wish, Your Grace.”
It astounded him how she’d quickly returned to her composed self, something he’d begun to suspect was a way of hiding her true feelings.
Greta waylaid him on the stairs. “I expected you to come to me. They told me you arrived back from London at ten o’clock.”
“There was another attack on William, Greta.”
“Was there? I heard the shots while I was riding, I declare I almost lost my seat! Did you find the man?”
“No. Where were you?”
“I was returning to the house.”
“Alone?”
“Yes, I—”
“Where is Ivo?”
“Ivo rode off in a bad temper, he might be anywhere.” She waved an impatient hand. “All these questions! It is your cousin I wish to complain about.”
Andrew gritted his teeth. “Oh?”
“Mr. Forsythe accosted me. We had dismounted to take in a pretty spot by the river. I didn’t expect him to pounce on me. He… he tried to seduce me!”
“What happened precisely?”
She placed a hand on her bosom. “He tried to remove my clothing.” She stared at him, her mouth thinning. “You don’t seem particularly concerned, Harrow.”
“What happened after you refused him?”
“He mounted and rode away, and I came back to the house. I was completely unnerved. I thought he might be the shooter. I have no idea where he is now. I hope he’s left the estate. I refuse to set eyes on him again.”
“I’m sorry Raymond took such liberties, Greta. I need to find him. Excuse me.”
Andrew descended the staircase before she could utter another word. He strode back to the stables where Irvine waited, a bandage on his head. Neither Raymond nor Ivo had returned.
“You are coming with me? Shouldn’t you rest, Irvine?”
“I can rest when I’m dead, Your Grace. I want the man who did this to me, and I want him even more because he tried to hurt William.”
“Glad to have you.” Andrew instructed the stable staff to take precautions against any possible trouble. Once he’d saddled a horse, checked both pistols, he and Irvine rode out searching for the two missing men.
After they crossed the lane that skirted Castlebridge and headed east, Raymond appeared riding across a field. His cousin hailed Andrew and rode up. “Have either of you seen the baroness?”
