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“Thank you, Lady Cheston. I am very sorry for all the trouble I have caused.”

“Nonsense, my dear. The only person in this house who has been trouble over the last twenty-four hours has been my son. I can assure you that I will be speaking to him regarding what he put you through.”

Charlotte shook her head. “There is no need, my lady. I am the one responsible for placing myself in danger. In actuality, Lord Cheston saved my life.”

She raised one eyebrow. “Is that truly how you see it?”

“Yes, my lady. He deserves nothing but heartfelt thanks.”

The older lady exchanged a meaningful glance with Grandmama. “Well, then, perhaps there is hope for him yet.”

William turned his horse toward the distant grove of trees. The vast expanse of marshland to his right left few places for a man or horse to remain hidden. If Ryland was there, he was lying amidst the reeds. There would be no finding him unless one literally stumbled upon him. The trees, however, provided plenty of cover and ample wildlife for the nature enthusiast.

He urged his horse forward. The sun was setting, and it would soon be too dark to search without lanterns. If he found no sign of Ryland in the trees, he would return to the house with the hope that Mr. Wellington or one of his men had discovered their quarry.

As he approached the nearest oak tree, a loud rustle of leaves preceded a flutter of wings. Suddenly, a flock of coots took to the sky. William watched them go.

“Did we startle them, or was it someone else, Bella?” he muttered.

Slowing his approach, he entered the trees. The sound of water increased, and through the branches, he glimpsed the slow-moving river on the other side of the copse. He spotted a flash of white. Withdrawing his pistol, William reined his horse to a stop and slid from the saddle. Using the trees as cover, he inched forward until he had a clear view of the riverbank.

A horse stood grazing on the grass, his leather straps trailing the ground. A few yards away, Ryland was pulling a sheep from a boggy patch by its front legs. The gentleman was knee-deep in dirty water, and the sheep was more brown than white. The animal gave a frightened bleat, and the sound was echoed by two more sheep standing at William’s left. He glanced at the animals; their ears bore the distinctive clipped mark of the Tribbley Hall flock.

Gritting his teeth, he stepped out from the protection of the trees. “The magistrate wishes to speak with you, Ryland.”

With a start, the man swung around, dropping the flailing sheep to the firmer ground. He scrambled out of the reeds, his eyes darting toward his horse. “I have no time to see him today,” he said.

William took another step toward him. “Then you must make some.”

Ryland bolted for his horse, and William raised his pistol. He was not sure that Ryland cared much for his own life, but he most certainly cared about the marshland.

“If you force me to shoot, there is no telling how the sound—or, worse, a misdirected bullet—might affect the wildlife,” William warned.

Ryland froze, one hand on the reins and the other on the pommel. He took a juddering breath and dropped his head.

“It was for the sake of the animals,” he said. “That is why I took them. Sheep used to roam free on the Broads. They belong here.”

“You may explain that to the authorities,” William said. “You are a gentleman of means. When you have replaced all the sheep you have stolen around the district, perhaps they will listen to you.”

“My intentions were good.”

“Your intentions came at the expense of law and order and endangered Miss Densley’s life,” William said.

Ryland’s shoulders slumped, and like a light extinguished, the fight left him. “I should not have taken her mount.”

“There is a great deal that you should not have done, Ryland,” William said. “But this is neither the time, nor the place, to discuss it.” Keeping his gun trained on Ryland, William seized the reins from the man’s hand. “I will lead your mount behind my own,” he said. “You, on the other hand, will walk.” He pointed back the way he had come. “That way. And be quick about it. Neither of us wishes to have this journey take all night.”