She smiled. “You have done well, Hyrum. Remind me how much I owe you.”
Red stained his cheeks before he ducked his head and kicked the dirt with his foot. “Mrs. Worthington, you don’t owe me anything. I like helping you all I can, and I especially like it when you teach me about working in the stables. I’m learning more and more every day.”
A heavy sigh escaped her. “Well, Hyrum, you helped me, and I will help you.”
“I know.”
“Hyrum, will you have my horse ready tonight for me?”
He grinned. “Aye, Mrs. Worthington.”
Hyrum turned and walked out of the stable, his head held high, as if he’d won the game.
She smiled. The idea of sneaking off to spy on her husband tonight sent her heart beating fiercely against her ribs.
*
Trees canopied thedarkened sky and hid the moon, making the path harder to follow. The cool wind howled around Camilla, blowing leaves and dust in her face. With one hand she gripped the reins. With the other she pulled the hooded, dark brown cloak tighter around her head. The cool night’s breeze slipped through the man’s clothing she wore.
She still couldn’t believe she had been reduced to doing what Kat had done—spying on Malcolm.
After supper, her husband had told her he had to finish the drawings for Colonel Burwell because he needed to give them to the man by tomorrow. Did her husband realize she knew he was lying? It crushed her that he didn’t still trust her, but she couldn’t blame him, since she was lying to him as well.
She had feigned sleep until she heard him leave the house. Instead of following him immediately, she waited a few minutes, then left. She scrambled out of bed and ran to the stable to dress in the servant’s clothes Hyrum had left for her, mounted Thunder, and hurried on her way.
She had been trailing Malcolm at a distance for a while now, and it seemed as if he had just disappeared. Light fog had settled in the dark night. In the silence, a dog barked. Other dogs joined, and the sound grew louder as each second passed. She shivered and rubbed her arms.
When the moon broke through the fog and shone through branches, she reined in the horse and surveyed the surroundings. According to the instructions the servant gave her, the Lion’s Paw Inn was around here somewhere.
She nudged the horse with her heels, urging him forward. Just a little farther down the road, she was certain the inn would come into view. If not, she would return home. After all, spying was something new for her, and she was certain she didn’t know what she was doing.
After riding another mile—or, at least, it seemed that far—nothing was in sight. Discouraged, she tugged on the reins, turning the horse around. Through a group of trees, the fog had lifted enough for her to spot a building with lamps in the windows. Her heart pounded. Could this be the place?
She urged the horse forward into a gentle gait and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Malcolm’s horse standing at the side of the structure. She exhaled deeply. Comfort surrounded her at knowing he was near.
Climbing vines cloaked one side of the inn. She dismounted and tied Thunder to a tree before creeping closer to one of the windows. Inside, there were several tables and chairs, and a few patrons resting for a drink and some food. In the corner, she spotted Malcolm and an older man. Near their table was a window that was cracked open.
She smiled. Fate must be trying to help her.
Camilla took careful steps around the side of the building until she came to the window. She looked both ways, wanting to be certain nobody spotted her and thought she was up to no good. For certain, they would tell her to leave, and Malcolm might notice her.
On tiptoes, she leaned her ear closer to the window and, at the same time, kept a sharp eye out for anyone who might wander outside and see her. At first, she wasn’t sure what Malcolm was talking about. Listening closer, she struggled to zero in on their conversation.
It sounded as though Malcolm was describing a manor that was very large and luxurious. Even a fancy stable. She frowned. Why would he discuss that? Was he planning on moving? Yet the longer she listened, the more she realized that Malcolm was describing something he would build for the other man.
She hitched a breath. Why weren’t Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Crowley involved in this meeting? They were all partners. But Malcolm sounded as though he would take on this project alone.
Confusion swept over her, and she pulled away from the window. Slowly she moved toward Thunder. It would make sense that her husband didn’t want to work with his business partners, since he suspected them of being involved in the missing drawings. So, perhaps Malcolm was trying to start his own business.
The worry resting on her shoulders lifted. That wasn’t a bad idea. Malcolm’s talent would enable him to become wealthy on his own. So then why did he want to keep it a secret from her?
She mounted her horse and guided the animal down the path toward home. Thoughts scrambled through her head, of ways she could confess that she had followed him. But perhaps the way wasn’t to tell him, but to show him that she approved of his decision. Now, she needed to figure out the perfect way to do that.
She urged the horse forward, anxious about getting home to formulate a plan. As she neared town, familiar buildings took shape through the fog. She led her horse away from the main street, not wanting to be spotted by anyone who knew Malcolm.
Suddenly, prickles rose on her skin, and her stomach twisted in fear. She slowed her horse. Peering through the shadows, she felt as though someone was watching her.
She swallowed hard and pulled her cloak tighter around her neck. A shadow moved from behind a tree, and she caught her breath. A small animal darted in her path, and she yanked on the reins to stop the horse. Her heartbeat hammered out of control, but she breathed slower, trying to calm her fear.It’s only a cat.
