“Get him out of the way?” Gideon asked.
“Vincent said maybe you didn’t kill him, but you probably have him locked up in your mine in Wales,” Bert said.
It was so uncannily like what his father had actually attempted to do to him that Gideon was momentarily taken aback. “And you, Bert, what do you think?”
“You’ve been nothing but fair with any of us here,” Bert said.
So if I’m stealing Woodglen, you don’t care…“But do you believe the stories?”
“It don’t seem likely to me, and the rest of it was lies, so no. I don’t,” Bert said as if making up his mind, his face still troubled. “Still, I heard your boy told Lady Tavernash that he is to have Woodglen. How can that be? Begging your pardon, Mr. Kendrick, but bastards can’t inherit.”
“No offense taken, Bert.” Daniel’s words had flown through the staff faster than Gideon had expected. He could only wonder how much more trouble they would cause.
Chapter Thirty-Three
When Mia suggestedthat they take the children to Nether Abbas two days later, Gideon expressed reluctance. She wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“You were right that people needed to see me after our marriage. We haven’t shown ourselves enough. As long as we’re hidden here, rumors continue to fly. People need to see you with your children,” she insisted.
He frowned down at his morning coffee, looking for excuses to avoid facing down the gossips, she suspected.
“Your work is caught up,” she went on, and she was right. There was nothing more to be gained staring at the same ledgers. Gideon had been riding out with Marshall, reviewing and learning about estate management, but he was frustrated at the lack of progress in other areas that kept him here. Unless they caught Jem or found proof Lady Tavernash embezzled, there was little they could do. Nor, had they heard anything from Dr. Standish in Shaftsbury about Lizzy Carter. Mia had taken some of the old journals from the stillroom archives but had not yet read them.
“A day with the children would be good for both of us,” she said. “We can let the girls buy some hair bows or fripperies at the drapers, and maybe stop for tea.”
He gave in.
They took the open landau with Bert at the ribbons once again. Gideon, however, rode Hannibal alongside.
They left Bert with the horse and carriage at the livery at the edge of town and walked. Curtains twitched as they passed, and the back of Mia’s neck tingled with the sense of watching eyes.
Helen lingered at the window to the apothecary. “You promised me lavender soap, Euphemia,” she said.
Mia, delighted that she’d unbent enough to address her by name, agreed that was so. Mrs. Duger, who Mia suspected had hurried from her post at the window, glared at them from behind the counter.
“We’re interested in more of that lovely lavender soap,” Mia said, her smile forced and her jaw stiff.
“Is this the boy who claimed Woodglen will be his one day?” Evelyn Duger demanded, staring at Daniel.
Helen raised her chin and gazed directly at the woman with all the hauteur of a potential duchess. “My uncle, His Grace of Glenmoor, has assured my brother that is so, though why it should be of your concern, I cannot say.”
Mrs. Duger glanced away, muttering about disrespectful children.
“I think I don’t want that soap after all,” Helen announced, turning on her heels and leaving the shop.
Mia glanced up at Gideon, who reined in his temper with obvious effort. “Then we may as well be on our way.” He tipped his hat, and they left.
“What a horrid woman! She shouldn’t have our patronage,” Helen pronounced.
Mia couldn’t argue. She smiled, certain that this newfound stepdaughter would grow into a formidable woman someday.
“I agree, Helen. And she won’t. However, kindly refrain from repeating or announcing what your uncle said. Remember what I told you about expectations and legalities?” Gideon cautioned.
“And greed,” Helen said solemnly. She turned to Mia. “Papa’s American uncle tried to use Daniel to take money from Uncle Phillip last year.”
Mia wondered how long before they had to explain the entire truth to the children. Gideon’s vague “expectations” may have merely confused them, but Helen’s story had to terrify them. No wonder Gideon tried to keep their family mess quiet.
Mr. Pettifer the draper filled their order for ribbons in silence, but his furtive glances at Gideon and Daniel made his curiosity obvious.
