She started to protest, but he spun on his heels and left “to make the arrangements,” leaving Maddy and David staring back and forth between Lucy and Rob’s departing back, identical bemused expressions on their faces.
Attempts to wheedle more information from Goodfellow as they rode away met little success. The corporal did admit that, “You won’t have to worry about Spangler. He won’t be bothering you again.”
“Because he’s in custody?”
“Yes. That.” Goodfellow clamped his jaw shut.
Rob threatened him. I wish I could have seen it. Do they all think I’m some sort of fragile flower?
“If the earl has him locked up, why is all this close surveillance necessary?” She urged her horse forward, and the corporal kept pace.
“The major believes it is. You should trust him.”
She did, but she didn’t like it.
Goodfellow went on, “I’m to talk to Abbott about spelling me, so we can have someone with you night and day.”
“That is excessive! I’m perfectly safe at Willowbrook.”
“Sorry, Miss, but those who mean you harm are on the loose. That snippy butler and Miller both.”
The butler. It triggered a memory. “Higgins is the dowager countess’s agent, isn’t he?” The men had danced around the countess’s abrupt departure and her involvement, probably to spare her daughter. Maddy had said as much when they left the room. “I know what my mother is. She’s capable of stage managing all of it,” Maddy had confided.
Goodfellow glanced away uneasily. “It isn’t for me to say.”
“Yes, then,” Lucy said. “Why isn’t Sir Robert with us.”
“I don’t know. He and the earl didn’t say.”
Leave the poor man be, Lucy. He’s trying to do his job,she told herself. She turned her mind to the future. She couldn’t put off finding a place of her own forever.
They rode back through the woods, and Lucy had to give Goodfellow directions.Rob didn’t need directions. He knows this land. But he plans to walk away from it.Sorrow stilled her voice the rest of the way home.
Chapter Thirty-Four
“What do youplan to do?” Lady Madelyn stood at Rob’s side, watching Lucy ride away with Goodfellow. He had come back into the drawing room when the front door closed behind them.
“Get to the bottom of the threats. One way or another.” Rob didn’t take his eyes from Lucy’s back, stiff with resentment.She’s in a fair temper. He didn’t blame her.You could have worded things more gently, you big looby. She isn’t one of your men.
“Not that, you lack-wit. Lucy. What do you plan to do about Lucy?”
He stared at his sister then. “I am not going to evict her if that’s what worries you. Once the threats are neutralized, I’ll make sure Miss Whitaker is settled, sell Willowbrook, and go back to my life.”
She rolled her eyes, the least ladylike thing he’d ever seen her do. “You don’t seriously think Lucy is the sort of woman to wait passively for you and David to sort out her life, do you?”
He hadn’t actually considered it in those terms, but, yes, he planned to make sure… A vision of the termagant with a musket stifled the thought.
His sister’s eyes softened. “You can be honest with me, at least, if not with Lucy. You care for her.”
“Of course, I do. None of this bequest business is her fault.”
“You want her.”
He turned back to the window, but the riders had disappeared from sight. “What man wouldn’t? She’s lovely—and ladies aren’t supposed to speak of such things.”
“Come away from that window. She’s gone, and you can’t pretend you aren’t longing to be with her.”
“Miss Whitaker has my respect. It’s better if I keep my distance.” He looked at Madelyn just in time to catch another eye roll. “I’ll ride home to check on her in an hour or so.”
