Dominic inwardly groaned.
If this was about the Masque, it could wait.
“A man named Irving called last night. Brought a big brute with him. Asked for Miss Harland by name.”
She clutched her chest and glanced around as though the fiend lurked behind the topiary. “What did he say? You didn’t tell him I’d been here? You didn’t mention the gardener’s cottage?”
“I told him I’d never heard of you. That Hawke was out of town.” Ramsey sniffed. “There was a scuffle, but Beattie marched them down the drive with two rifles aimed at their arses. Reckon they’ll be back.”
Irving clearly had a death wish.
“Make sure the footmen are armed. Keep the gates chained until the Masque. Hire more men if necessary.”
He didn’t look at her, but he felt her fear as keenly as if it were his own—her shallow breath, the stillness in her limbs.
It roused something fierce in him.
Something he had no right naming.
“Could you not have told us that inside?” Dominic said.
Ramsey gave an exasperated sigh. “We’ve another unwanted visitor. Lady Sanders arrived at dawn. She says she’s not leaving without?—”
“My aunt is here?” Miss Harland paled.
“She’s come to take you home.”
Dominic tensed. Like hell she would.
“Sell me to Mr Irving, more like.” Her voice shook with fury. “She only lived with my father because she was broke. Uncle Samuel left everything to his secret family in Norfolk.”
“The Moseley brothers will expect her to repay the ten thousand pounds,” Dominic said. He knew exactly why Lady Sanders was here. Desperate people did foolish things.
“Don’t tell her you’ve agreed to pay the debt on my behalf,” Miss Harland replied. “She’s been running up credit herself, with no thought of who will settle the bills. She’ll be looking for a way to line the coffers.”
Dominic caught Ramsey’s widening eyes.
“You’re paying Harland’s debt?”
“It’s a trifle,” he said flatly. He didn’t owe anyone an explanation. “The only way to keep Miss Harland from being marched aboard a ship in Fobbing Marshes.”
“And I shall find the means to repay your kindness, sir.”
“No need,” Dominic said. “Perhaps it will earn me a step towards the pearly gates.” Though he doubted he’d ever reach them. “I only wish someone had done the same for my mother.”
There. Let Ramsey call him a fool now.
“Where is Lady Sanders? Beattie had better be her shadow.”
Ramsey jerked his chin towards the hall. “In the drawing room. Taking tea. Beattie brought out the Sèvres.”
“Then let’s get this over with.”
Miss Harland leaned closer as they mounted the stairs. “I’m not leaving with her. I’m of age. She has no claim on me.”
“Trust me, Miss Harland. You’ll not leave here unless it’s of your own free will.”
He felt her gaze on him as they crossed the dark oak hall.
