Gideon felt like he had been hit with a cricket bat.
Clavering went on. “He has the real authority. I can see that. And the will to do it. I’ll lend my position, Kendrick, but you have to carry the thing.”
Gideon shook his head. “The village needs to see you acting alone, my lord. It will be seen as objective. They don’t trust me.”
A knock at the door heralded Fillmore’s arrival. “My lord, gentlemen, Mrs. Kendrick has ordered tea for the green drawing room if you would care to join them.” He drew in breath. “Lady Tavernash has already done so.”
Mrs. Kendrick has ordered… Gideon couldn’t suppress his smile.
*
The kitchen didWoodglen proud; Mia suspected a visit from the viscount was cause for pride.
“Shall we wait for the gentlemen to pour?” she suggested.
Eustace wandered the room, picking up figurines and putting them back down, examining paintings, and making a nuisance of himself as he had all afternoon. “Is Kendrick coming? I’d like to get a good look at him. Rowley will be jealous.”
“Did you invite the heir?” Selina whispered.
“Mr. Kendrick is meeting with your father and will be here soon. As for Mr. Tavernash—”
A commotion outside the room made her groan. Lady Tavernash’s strident tones echoed in the grand corridor. Mia ought to have formally invited the woman but had secretly hoped she wouldn’t notice they had guests. She had begun to wonder if Lady Tavernash had spies in every corner of Woodglen.
The baronet’s widow swept into the room, chin high.
Mia rose, curtseyed, and spoke before the woman could. “Lady Tavernash, you are just in time. Fillmore brought this lovely tea just minutes ago, and my uncle, the viscount, will be here momentarily.”
It seemed to take the wind out of the woman’s sails.
“Lady Tavernash, may I make known to you my cousin, the Honorable Eustace Selwyn? You have met the Honorable Selina Selwyn once before, I believe.”
Eustace strolled over and managed a decent bow that almost offset the rude way he studied the lady.
Selina dipped a curtsey and asked hopefully, “Will Mr. Tavernash be joining us?”
Lady Tavernash examined both as if they were some species of bug. “My son has more important things to do than—”
The arrival of the gentlemen put period to her pronouncement, and Mia managed to see everyone seated with little difficulty. “Shall I pour?” She didn’t wait for a reply.
Eustace grudgingly agreed to carry a cup to each person. “You’ve become quite the lady of the manor, Fee, for all you’re married to the village troll,” he whispered in her ear.
Lady Tavernash pounced quickly. “Are we to know what this mysterious meeting was about?” she asked, eyeing Gideon over her teacup.
Uncle Ludlow straightened and clutched one lapel. “Mr. Kendrick has delegated me to act as magistrate until such time as the duke returns.”
Lady Tavernash turned a shade of putrid purple. “Mr. Kendrick has delegated? Who is he to delegate? My Felton is the highest-ranking man here. He is the heir presumptive. He should decide such matters. If the Crown were to get word of this…”
“Your Felton can’t even get his substantial bulk out of bed this early,” Mia muttered under her breath, drawing a frown from Selina, the only one close enough to hear.
“I remind you, madam, that Mr. Kendrick has power to act on the duke’s behalf. He has authority to act as magistrate himself, I would warrant, but he has requested Viscount Clavering’s assistance in a delicate matter regarding the…the shire,” Marshall said.
Eustace, who had been studying Gideon intensely, bobbed up at that. “Power to act?” When Gideon ignored him and his father did as well, he went on. “Is it about Lizzy Carter? I heard Kendrick had been snooping around,” he said.
Gideon glared at Eustace, and her cousin shrank back to Mia’s delight.
“The girl that was abducted? You are investigating,” Lady Tavernash said, glaring at Gideon. “That is sending the fox to inspect the chickens!”
“My dear madam,” Uncle Ludlow intoned, “Mr. Kendrick had wisely distanced himself from the matter and requested my help. We will see justice done.”
