Carefully stepping to the bottom floor, Adrian kept his eyes on the railing. He studied not only the floor where the broken pieces had fallen, but also the steps where he had first felt the railing give away.
On the fifth step from the bottom, at the back of the crevice, was some sawdust. He frowned and peered back at the railing. It hadn’t broken off until the fourth step.
His stomach rolled as realization hit him. This wasnotan accident. Whoever had tampered with the saddle had been inside the house, too. This wasn’t a coincidence at all.
Chapter Eight
Ten days hadpassed since the ball at Hanover Hall, and the earl had been to see Bridget almost every day. During his visits, they walked around her family’s farm and the surrounding countryside. They discussed their likes and dislikes. She was grateful that one of her sisters—usually Priscilla—came with them, because Bridget feared they would run out of things to talk about. She also worried that the earl would bring up the subject of his wayward brother and see firsthand that Adrian was one of her major dislikes. Of course, then the earl would want to know why, and because she couldn’t confess her sins, she would have to lie.
Pa would say she was going to hell. Thankfully, he didn’t know, either.
Every day, Bridget waited for the earl to become bored with her or annoyed with her mischievous sisters, Felicia and Jannette, but he laughed at their antics and chatted with them as if they were longtime friends. If only Bridget could feel that way about the earl’s brother, but it still upset her whenever she thought about it, which was more often than she wanted.
It was difficult, but she tried not to wonder why Adrian hadn’t shown his face around the farm since their talk at the pond, and his absence gave her time to reflect on the anger still boiling inside. As the days passed, so had the irate emotion. Of course, she had been hesitant to forgive him for lying and treating her the way he had when they were at the pond, but at least now she didn’t hate him or loathe his very presence. Perhaps that was because she hadn’t seen him for a while.
Yet there were times in town, or while riding with the earl, when shefeltas though Adrian was watching her. She tried to shrug it off, but the prickles of awareness still crawled over her body. If he hadn’t been watching her from afar, why else would she feel that way?
By midafternoon, she was restless, and sewing on her sampler just could not keep her entertained. Lord Hanover usually came to visit around this time, anyway. It wasn’t that she looked forward to his visits, but at least it was something to do. However, it was hard to laugh with him because when she looked into his eyes, they were the same hazel color as Adrian’s, and they sparkled in the same way. How could she not think of Adrian when that happened? But she learned to look away whenever Lord Hanover laughed.
Bridget set her sampler down and picked up her mystery novel. But after reading two pages and not remembering one word, she gave up and placed the book on the side table. Deciding to prepare refreshments for Lord Hanover’s visit, she walked into the kitchen to boil the water for their tea. Earlier today, Priscilla had made some crumpets in preparation for the earl’s visit.
As Bridget moved back toward the parlor, Jannette and Felicia rushed into the house, laughing so hard their faces were red. Bridget studied their attire. Both girls had dirt smudged on their dresses, and their messy hair caused her to worry.
“What have you two been doing?” she asked in a high voice.
The girls exchanged glances and muffled their laughter behind their hands.
“Nothing,” they chimed in together.
“I would hope,” Bridget said quickly, “that you are not doing something Pa would get upset over.”
“Not at all.” Felicia shook her head. She nudged Jannette, and they darted up the stairs toward their room.
“Strange behavior,” Bridget muttered as she walked into the parlor. But then, her sisters were only in their sixteenth and seventeenth years. Perhaps they were still too young to act with decorum. Bridget then realized their behavior was actually typical for such silly girls.
She stopped at the window and peered outside. Rain clouds were gathering in the east, and she prayed it wouldn’t pour until after she and the earl returned from their walk. Being inside sipping tea and eating cakes was absolutely boring. It was as if nobody knew what to talk about.
Suddenly, the door slammed, and footsteps pounded on the floor. Bridget spun around just as Priscilla stomped into the room. Lines of irritation creased her sister’s forehead and around her mouth. She appeared as disheveled as Felicia and Jannette had been, but thankfully, not as dirty.
“Where are they?” Priscilla’s voice was louder than normal.
“I can only assume that you are referring to ouradorableyounger sisters.”
Priscilla rolled her eyes as she marched toward Bridget. “Do you want to know what those twoadorablegirls did this time?” She held up a slingshot, and the long strings hung over her fingers and fell nearly to the floor.
Bridget held her breath, not really wanting to know what had happened. She knew her sisters well enough. They were always up to some kind of mischief.
“They dressed the Gosmans’ sheep in Miss Tamara’s corset!”
Closing her eyes, Bridget groaned. “Let me guess,” she muttered, peeking at her sister. “Our sisters talked Miss Tamara into giving them her corset, again, so that they could dress the sheep in the latest fashion?”
Priscilla gave a sharp nod. “Oh, but it’s worse than that.”
Bridget nibbled on her bottom lip. Did shewantto know what could be worse? “Does it have something to do with the slingshot?”
“Indeed.” Huffing, Priscilla propped her hands on her hips. “After they dressed the poor sheep in the corset, they used the slingshot to shoot a rock into the bush where the sheep was grazing. It scared the poor animal so badly it began jumping all over the field. I made Felicia and Jannette help me catch it… and wouldn’t you know, that was when Lord Hanover drove by in his carriage.” She rubbed her forehead. “I know he saw us. It would be difficult not to see such a display. And I’m certain it absolutely appalled him. I mean, what titled lord would want to be married to a woman with sisters likethat?”
Bridget rubbed the back of her neck, trying not to get too upset. She couldn’t jump to conclusions. “Did you actually see Lord Hanover in the carriage?”
