“I told you Samson was too temperamental.”
“Yes, but you know I never do as I’m told,” replied Malcolm with a smirk. “If you wanted me not to purchase the mount you ought to have proclaimed him far too staid or docile. It was as though you were challenging me to try my hand at him.”
“Heaven save me from fools,” muttered Sidney.
“If it did, you would never have married, for only a fool would’ve agreed to be your wife. How is Molly?”
Crossing his arms, his friend relaxed into the squabs. “Out with it. Samson threw you, as I knew he would. Did that young lady come to your rescue?”
“I will have you know that I rescued her from certain death,” replied Malcolm with an arched brow. And in quick succession, he described the lovely Miss Leigh and the mighty creek that nearly claimed her life.
“She thought you were a groom?” asked Sidney, but when he gave his friend another examination, he shook his head. “Not surprising, though you look more like a beggar than anyone with proper employment. What happened to your hat, gloves, and jacket?”
Malcolm waved that away. “I was too warm, and as I was left to walk back to Boxwood Manor by myself, I saw no harm in leaving them behind. I hadn’t anticipated crossing paths with a lady.”
“And now, you’ve met someone who catches your fancy, and she thinks you are a groom?”
Though he knew he ought to give at least a halfhearted attempt to dismiss Sidney’s assumption, there was little point. Malcolm did, in fact, fancy Miss Leigh. But he couldn’t share in his friend’s dire tone.
“It is perfect, Sidney, don’t you see?” asked Malcolm with a beaming grin. “If I truly wish to escape the matchmaking mamas and their mercenary daughters, I’ll have to do more than merely escape to the country.”
“And walk right into the arms of one of the most mercenary ladies in the area,” said Sidney with an arched brow. “Miss Leigh has been on the hunt for a wealthy husband since she first graced society, and her parents will do almost anything to secure it. She’s flirted with every affluent bachelor in the country, and they nearly succeeded in snapping up some rich bloke from London last year. No doubt they are already planning to secure Mr. Malcolm Tate. Rumors of you and your income are already circulating.”
Malcolm shook his head, though it wasn’t Sidney’s assessment of the situation that had him balking. “I do not know the family, but what I’ve seen of Miss Leigh speaks highly of her. She’s a lovely creature and an engaging companion, and though she thought me a lowly groom, her interest was piqued. I came to Greater Edgerton looking for anonymity, but that was a fool’s errand when gossip travels faster in the country than in town. This, on the other hand, is perfect. If I am ever to find matrimonial bliss, I must know if my bride loves me or my money.”
With a heavy sigh, Sidney shook his head. “Time will do that. That’s the point of courtship, after all. There is no need to resort to lying and deception.”
“It isn’t a lie—”
But Sidney’s sharp scoff and Malcolm’s wriggling guilt had him reconsidering that statement. “Perhaps it is a deception, but it is hardly a nasty one. I can understand a lady being disturbed by a fellow lying about having less income than he claims, but who would be angry about him having more?”
With a scoff, Malcolm shook his head and turned his gaze to the window, watching the trees and shrubbery as they passed. “I am tired of wasting weeks and months on a young lady, only to discover she’s after my income. This is a perfect scenario, and Miss Leigh handed it to me on a silver platter.”
They crossed a bridge, and he studied the trickle of water passing beneath them. Malcolm smiled to himself as he considered the great fortune that had landed in his lap. Not only the misunderstanding, but the lady who’d begun it. His thoughts drifted through their conversation, and his grin grew. Sidney’s opinion of Miss Leigh couldn’t be discounted, but as Mr. Malcolm the Groom, it wouldn’t take long to see the truth behind her feelings and sort out his own. A few weeks perhaps.
A quick word to the staff would help matters along, and though he couldn’t think exactly how to engineer another meeting with Miss Leigh, surely there was a way to do so.
Chapter 4
Inching out of the alleyway, Rosanna glanced right and left and held back a grimace. There were people about. There always were. If there was one constant in this town, it was that from dawn to dusk, there were carriages, carts, or people milling about. Using back channels and side streets, she’d managed to avoid the majority, but having reached the edge of the town proper, Rosanna had exhausted the last of her cover.
Thankfully, her home was just down the lane—almost within sight—and this stretch of road was less occupied than the rest. Rosanna simply had to risk it.
Pulling her bonnet low, she ducked her head and hurried down the street. A cart sounded from behind, and Rosanna drew to the side, allowing it to pass before she scurried towards the drive. True invisibility was beyond her abilities, but she managed to sneak across without drawing too much attention before she slipped through the front door and breathed a sigh of relief.
Until she heard the sound of voices.
Closing her eyes, Rosanna winced. To the untrained ear, it may sound only like the general chatter of her family, but she’d spent far too much time entertaining in the parlor to mistake it for anything but visitors. This may not be Mama’s day for morning calls, but that mattered little, for the lady adored inviting guests into her home.
Rosanna crept towards the stairs, avoiding the creaky floorboard near the landing. As the parlor was not adjacent to the entryway, it was probably unnecessary, but she wouldn’t risk drawing Mama’s attention.
“Miss, you’re home,” said Jane, standing at the top of the stairs with Mama’s purple shawl in her hands. “I shall tell the mistress.”
The maid moved past Rosanna, and she reached out to stop the girl. “Can you not wait until I’ve had time to change?”
Jane’s brows drew together, and she glanced in the direction she ought to be moving. “I have orders to inform her the moment you arrive.”
Shoulders dropping, Rosanna sighed. Jane was already hurrying away to inform her mistress, and she wasn’t about to stop the girl. The maid had her orders, and giving her opposing ones would only upset the girl. No one with sense crossed Mama—especially the servants. Without Prudence to balance the lady’s volatile temperament, Jane would be lucky if she didn’t get tossed out without reference for the impudence.
