Less than an hour later, outfitted in his own riding gear, Daffin accompanied Regina and Nicole out the back of the manor house. As they set out on the path to the stables, Daffin glanced around uneasily. He didn’t like the idea of Regina being out in the open. It was true that he had seen no evidence of an intruder since they’d been here, but he didn’t like to take chances.
Nicole spun in a circle and sucked in lungsful of air. “It’s so good to be outside. I don’t even care that it’s so cold.”
Regina laughed. “I agree. It’s been positively stifling in that house.”
He was barely listening. He was focused on keeping his eyes and ears sharp, attuned to any noise or movement. The usual servants bustled about. He’d got to know them all over the last several days. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary.
“Honestly, Daffin, you cannot think the shooter could behere of all places. We’d see him coming a field’s length away,” Nicole said.
Daffin continued to scan the countryside. The meadow was clear and packed with untouched snow. Beyond it, a copse of trees. Nicole was right. No one could approach the house without being seen, and he’d had the footmen and groomsmen on watch round the clock. He stood watch daily himself. “Until we have a better idea who he is, I don’t know what he’s capable of, which means if you’re outside, you’re potentially in danger.”
They entered the stables and the smell of fresh hay, leather, and horses met their nostrils. Nicole waved to one of the groomsmen. “Good morning, Jacob. Did you saddle Atalanta?” They’d sent a footman to ask the groomsman to saddle the horses.
“Yes, my lady,” the groomsman replied. “She’s right there in the stall.”
“And Excalibur?” Regina added.
Daffin’s head snapped to the side to face her. He arched a brow. “Your horse is named Excalibur?”
“And she’s a girl,” Regina said with a nod. “I was a bit grandiose as a child.”
Daffin shook his head and grinned at her.
“Let me go greet my girl,” Regina said, on her way toward the stall. “I’ve missed her so much.”
Now that they were in the confines of the stable, Daffin relaxed a bit, but his guard remained up. They were about to ride through open fields, and that would be dangerous. Jacob should come with them for added protection. It couldn’t hurt to have another set of eyes. He turned to speak to the groomsman.
A gasp from Regina made him swivel. She stood by her horse’s stall, her hand over her mouth.
“What is it?” Daffin asked, quickly making his way to join her.
Regina pointed toward the saddle. Daffin turned his gaze in the direction she’d indicated. He narrowed his eyes. There was a small card sticking up between the saddle and the horse’s back.
He leaned closer and snatched up the card. Only five words were scrawled on it in a messy hand.
I’m watching you, Lady Regina.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
The front door slammed and Regina jumped. She and Nicole had been waiting in the green salon for what felt like hours. Nicole paced in front of the grand fireplace while Regina stood near the door, waiting for Daffin’s return. Two footmen had been posted at the doors to the salon to ensure no one other than the duke, Lady Harriet, or an approved servant came in or out. After seeing the ladies safely back to the house, Daffin had returned to the stables and the meadow to search for tracks in the snow, any sign of the intruder. He’d just returned.
Regina had never been more afraid. She’d been so certain she was safe here. There’d been no sign of anyone following them from London but it wouldn’t be difficult to guess where she had gone, and the location of the Duke of Colchester’s manor house was hardly a secret. Knowing that the madman had followed them to her country home madeRegina’s stomach twist in knots. It still made no sense. Who wanted to hurt her? And why?
When Daffin entered the room, Nicole whirled to face him, her eyes flashing. “I don’t care if I am with child, Daffin. I want to help you search. I cannot stand to think of someone skulking about our property. I am angry beyond words.”
Daffin began to pace in front of the fireplace. “I understand, Nic, but you must think of the babe. Sit. Rest. Please.”
“I don’t want to sit. I don’t want to rest.” Nicole had nearly ripped her handkerchief in two. “I want to go find whoever this is and beat him.”
Daffin gestured to the settee. He waited for her to sit before he spoke. “I know you’re not used to letting other people do things for you, Nic, but in this case, you must trust me. I cannot allow you to help search when you could be hurt. You know you’d give the same advice to someone in your position.”
Nicole groaned. “Fine. I agree with you, but I don’t have to like it.”
“Did you find anything?” Regina came to stand next to Daffin. She searched his face. It was somber. He scrubbed a hand across the back of his neck.
“There are several sets of tracks around the stables. They all lead to and from the house… except one.”
“Where did those tracks lead?” Nicole asked, leaning forward.
