Loyalty to village and house,Luke repeated to himself as she led a tour for her family. He trailed slowly behind the group, noting the pride in her voice.
While the tour commenced, the housekeeper and the newly hired kitchen staff scrambled to prepare tea. Abbott dusted terrace furniture. If this trend continued, Luke thought, they’d be searching for bed linens and felling timber to heat guest rooms.
Midday stretched to afternoon, and Luke felt like a man standing in the gallows with a noose around his neck. Instead of pulling the trapdoor, the hangman tested and tweaked the mechanism, judged the rope for thinness, and reviewed the crime.
And then, ten minutes into tea, Princess Danielle pulled him to the side. “Do you think we might slip away now?” she whispered to him, biting her lower lip.
He blinked at her. “You mean leave? The two of us?”
“Well, retire. Upstairs.” Her face turned pink. She took a sip of tea, peering at him through lowered lashes. “The bride and groom are not expected to entertain the guests all day. Or so I’m told. Amelia is an expert on weddings. I’ll reunite with Elise later in the week. Now we might...”
“Right,” Luke said, watching her. Her pretty face was a mix of anticipation and shyness. She wanted to be taken to bed. Their wedding night. Even as his own body burned, he felt the noose cinch tight.
Time was up.
“That is, unless you...” She stared into her teacup.
“Oh no, let us clear them out, if that’s what you want. What was Amelia Broom’s protocol for retreat?”
“I honestly believe we’re meant to simply say goodbye and excuse ourselves. They can see themselves out? My mother will take over as hostess. And Abbott will help.”
Luke thought of escorting her upstairs, saying all the things he had to say, and then descending to face this same crowd, lingering on the doorstep. Fernsby would call him out; Killian Crewes would shoot him on the spot. And that said nothing of the violence wrought by the women.
No, no—they had to actually depart. Gone. He must be alone with her to tell her what he’d done. What had been done to her. Whatthey’ddone.
He cleared his throat. “Why not invite them to return for a proper meal in a day or two? This might suggest that their current visit has come to an end.”
“Oh, right, that should do it.”
“Alternatively, we could simply say, ‘Everybody out.’?”
Danielle laughed, but she backed away, nodding as she went. Turning to the group, she announced that she and Luke would like to invite all of them to return on Tuesday for a family dinner.
Correction,Luke thought tiredly,she alone would serve them dinner on Tuesday.He would be gone.
The invitation worked. Dogs and children were gathered, embraces exchanged, hands shook. Fernsby took the reins of Luke’s wagon to help transport her parents to New Bridge Road. Within a quarter hour, Luke and Danielle were alone.
“Do you suppose the maids need help clearing the tea?” she wondered. “I’m not accustomed to having kitchen help.”
“I’ve been reading up on this topic,” he said. “According to my sources, the mistress of the house does not clear dishes after tea—or ever. You wanted these people in jobs; let them do their work.”
“Alright,” she said. “In that case, should we... ?” She trailed off, picking imaginary lint from her gown.
Luke closed his eyes. He swallowed. His heartbeat began a march to the inevitable. “Will you take a turn with me around the garden?” he asked.
“The garden?” She looked confused.
“Yes,” he said, holding out his arm. “I am hoping we can talk.”
Chapter 19
“Princess Danielle...” the captain began, leading her down the terrace steps.
“Surely you may refer to me as Danielle now that we are married.” She gave a little laugh. She was glad he’d suggested they go for a walk. The rushed wedding had consumed their lives these last five days, and they’d had no time alone together. She’d missed him; at the same time, she was jittery with nerves. She craved the kinship and intimacy of a walk.
“Princess Danielle,” he repeated, “there is something I must tell you.”
Dani stopped like she’d been yanked by a rope.
