Henry turned to him. “Now, Broderick, would you kindly inform me what is going on? Where were you the past two days, and why did you take that, er… that particular woman with you?”
“Come inside, Uncle. Let us adjourn to your study, where we can discuss this matter in private.” Walking into the house, Broderick headed straight to the study, and then to the liquor tray, and poured himself some brandy.
Henry and Martha followed and shut the door behind them. His uncle folded his arms across his chest and glared. “Now will you tell us what’s going on between the two of you?”
It was lucky Henry hadn’t asked Broderick to explain his feelings for the young woman, because he still had mixed emotions about her. Confusion had been his constant companion for two days, along with pure enjoyment. All he knew was that Emiline entranced him, and the longer they were together, the more his attraction grew.
“Yesterday morning I was about to take a refreshing ride around the countryside when I happened across Miss Emmie doing the same. I suggested we ride together, only because it would keep us both entertained.” He paused, sipping his drink. “She had been extremely disappointed becausedear Rebeccamade it clear that she didn’t want Miss Emmie traveling to London with Lady Sarah. Seeing how Miss Emmie was a guest at your house just as Lady Sarah, I can imagine her disappointment.” He directed that harsh comment to his aunt.
Martha lowered her head and twisted her hands. “But Broderick, I didn’t know at first… but when we did, your uncle told Rebecca to invite her. The night before we were to leave, Miss Emmie came down with a stomach ailment, so we left—”
Henry waved his hand through the air as he looked at his wife. “It doesn’t matter now.” He aimed his focus on Broderick again. “You should not have been alone with her. I’m sure you are aware that you probably ruined her reputation.”
The hilarity of the comment made Broderick laugh. “Reputation as what? A lady’s companion? A servant of Lady Sarah’s?”
Henry scowled. “Well, just see that it doesn’t happen again, and for heaven’s sake, let us know if you take her away in the future.”
Broderick finished his drink and set the glass down on the liquor tray. Why did his uncle suddenly want to step into the role of his guardian? Broderick didn’t need to tell Henry everything he had to do, especially with Emiline. “I promise I will inform you when I deem it necessary, Uncle. Rest assured you shall be the first to know.” He turned to walk away, but his uncle grabbed his arm and stopped him.
“Broderick? You didn’t… um, compromise her, did you?”
Broderick didn’t know whether to laugh or get upset. His uncle acted as if Broderick had been with a real lady for two days—and one very magical night. He chose to chuckle instead of being angered. “Are you asking if I seduced her? Did I take her to bed? Ravished her, perhaps?” He laughed harder. “No, Uncle. I was the perfect gentleman.”Well, maybe not completely.
Henry shifted his feet as his wife blushed. “Fine.” He swiped his fingers through his graying hair. “Now that we got that out of the way, we need to find out who those men were that came while we were gone, and why they want Lady Sarah.”
Martha moved next to her husband and touched his arm as her eyes locked with Broderick’s. “We think they may return, and next time we may not be as fortunate.”
Chapter Fourteen
Broderick hurried towardthe stable the next morning, his long legs taking wide strides on his way. Questions swam through his head, and he couldn’t focus. It didn’t help when all he could think about was his beautiful Emiline.
Quickly, he brought his thoughts to a halt. His Emiline? That was utterly ridiculous. He could not—ever—think of her that way. For now, she was simply a diversion for him while he was in hiding. He really needed to get back to his original plan when he discovered the lord chancellor’s niece was here. Spending time with Emiline had been so pleasing, he’d forgotten that he still didn’t know very much about what Lady Sarah’s uncle was up to.
Inwardly, he cringed. What would his crew think of him now? They would certainly think he was slacking in his duties and that he had a weak mind—neither of which was something Broderick wanted to be known for.
Levi sauntered out of the stable, brushing straw off his trousers. The boy—perhaps not a boy any longer, since a small patch of facial hair grew on his chin—had been working for Uncle Henry for several years. If memory served, Levi’s family were also servants here.
“Boy, hold up there,” Broderick called out.
Levi scratched his ear. “Yessir?”
“I need to talk to you about those men who came looking for Lady Sarah yesterday. Do you remember how many were in the group?”
Levi nodded so quickly, his hat nearly slipped off his head. “Five, sir.”
“What were they looking for, exactly?”
“Well…” the boy said, tapping his finger on his chin as his attention lifted to the tree above Broderick’s head. “When I first saw them, they were still on their horses. They rode to me, instead of going to the house first. The one who seemed to be in charge had evil eyes and hair as orange as the sun.”
Unease washed over Broderick.Evil eyes…There was one man who fit that description. Lieutenant Mercer—the very man who nearly captured theAvengerseveral weeks ago. Broderick’s stomach churned with worry. “What age was this man?”
Levi met his stare. “I suppose he was somewhere around his fortieth year, sir.”
Broderick nodded. So far, the description of Lieutenant Mercer fit perfectly. “Continue.”
“Well, the man asked the whereabouts of Mr. Crampton. He said my master had something these men needed. I kept telling them that Mr. Crampton wasn’t here, but they acted like they weren’t listening to me, because they all started talking to each other at once.”
“Do you know what they were saying?”
