Collin stood and moved back to the window. “I have learned a hard lesson by judging a woman because of her family’s lowly circumstances. However, with Miss Benson, it’s her personality that I don’t find appealing.”
Hope sprang inside Adrian. Now that he knew his brother wasn’t interested in marrying Lyndsey, perhaps Adrian had a chance of changing her mind about him.
Several seconds passed in silence. Finally, Collin glanced over his shoulder at Adrian.
“Have you heard from Father recently?”
“No. I think he’s still in Ireland. Why?”
“Because he urgently wants to meet with me, and yet we never seem to find a time to be in the same town at the same time.”
“And that surprises you? Father has always been a busy man.”
“True.”
Collin returned his gaze to the window. Suddenly, he gasped. His jaw hardened and his lips thinned. His face grew redder by the second. He pointed to whatever was outside.
Adrian hurried over by him and peered into the back yard. He swept his gaze around the area, but didn’t see anything. “What is it?”
“There. By the oak tree. Does it look to you like a man is trying to hide?”
Once Adrian looked at the tree in the distance, he realized what his brother was staring at. But at this distance – and because of the long, black hooded cape the person wore – Adrian couldn’t tell if it was a man or woman. But there was definitely someone trying to hide behind the wide oak tree.
Collin swore. “Tell me you saw that.”
“I did,” Adrian whispered as his heart hammered.
“I shall not allow this person to keep us prisoners in our own house for fear of being harmed.” Collin pushed away from the window and marched toward the door. As he swung it open and was ready to leave, he stopped suddenly.
The butler stood in the doorway, his hand lifted as if he was ready to knock. “Uh, my lords, Miss Benson and her sister Miss Priscilla have arrived. I showed them into the sitting room.”
“Thank you, Gilbert. We’ll be in momentarily.” Collin glanced over his shoulder at Adrian. “Keep them entertained until I return. I’m going to get to the bottom of this trickery.”
“Make sure you take a weapon.” Adrian pointed to their gun cabinet.
Nodding, Collin marched to the cabinet, grabbed a pistol, and loaded it with ball and powder, before leaving the room.
Adrian composed himself as his brother rushed down the corridor, heading for one of the back doors. Adrian’s mind spun as he slowly stepped toward their visitors. He’d never seen his brother fire a pistol, and Adrian prayed Collin knew what he was doing.
When Adrian entered the sitting room, his gaze flew to Lyndsey. Her wonderful scent wafted around him. He wanted to sigh with pleasure at seeing someone so lovely in his home. But her worried expression made him pause. She sat next to her sister with her arm around Priscilla’s shoulders. The younger sister’s face had lost color, and moisture beaded her forehead. She had her arms against her middle as though she was in pain.
He rushed toward them and knelt beside Priscilla but peered into Lyndsey’s pretty eyes. “What is wrong?”
“Forgive us, my lord, but Prissy has suddenly become ill.”
He touched Priscilla’s clammy hand. “Would you like to lie down in a room?”
Priscilla’s blonde ringlets bounced when she nodded. “If it’s not... too much... trouble.”
Her voice was faint and weak. Adrian knew the girl needed to lie down immediately. He glanced toward the open door of the sitting room. “Gilbert. Come here, quickly.”
The shuffling of feet on the tile in the corridor was heard before the older, white-haired butler entered the room and bowed.
“Yes, my lord?”
“We need to get Miss Priscilla to a room, posthaste. Please inform Mrs. Sinclair to ready a room for her.”
“As you wish, my lord.” The butler hurried out.
