'Constance?'
Saunders began to open the book and then let it close again. 'She suggested to me that you ought to be informed, my lord,' he said.
'Ah,' Joshua said softly. 'Then I must thank her and thank you for complying with her wishes. It would seem that the plot is not quite cooked and that my arrival might have hindered its smooth progress. Why is it not cooked, I wonder, if there is a witness, a prosperous gentleman, willing to swear that he saw me murder my cousin?'
Saunders looked back at him but did not venture any suggestion.
'I believe,' Joshua said, moving away from the window and grinning, 'I am about to make the progress of this plot even less smooth, Saunders. I believe I am going to enjoy my day. Tomorrow you may give me a progress report on the new buildings and the repairs that were to be undertaken as soon as the harvest was in. I will want to see the home farm too and speak with my workers and their wives while I am here.'
'Yes, my lord,' his steward said, 'I am at your command anytime you wish.'
Joshua left the office wing of the house to see if any of the family or guests were up yet. But he must have been with Saunders longer than he had realized. Almost everyone was already assembled in the breakfast parlor.
'Good morning,' he said, striding inside. 'And a crisp, bright one it looks to be. Perhaps we could all drive or ride into Lydmere later? It is a pretty little fishing village with a harbor and beach below it. Ah, Freyja.' He took her hand in his, raised it to his lips, and kept it there a little longer than was necessary while he smiled into her eyes.
He might as well amuse himself by annoying both her and his aunt, he thought. Freyja's eyebrows arched upward, Alleyne grinned, Calvin cleared his throat, and his aunt smiled sweetly.
But playing the ardent lover was easier than living the reality of a fake betrothal, he decided, as he helped himself to food from the sideboard and seated himself at the head of the table. Last night's embrace had been more frustrating than satisfying, especially since he now knew what it was like to take an embrace with Freyja to its completion. He was, he had realized last night, in grave danger of falling ever so slightly in love with Freyja Bedwyn. He was going to have to work diligently to keep their relationship to its familiar pattern. The last thing he wanted was to be seriously in love with anyone.
He joined in the general conversation until Eve and Aidan, the last to arrive, since they had been in the nursery with their children, had sat down and begun to eat.
'It has occurred to me,' he said, 'that my homecoming will be an occasion to be remarked upon in the neighborhood-and I daresay my arrival did not go unnoticed yesterday. When it is known that I have also brought home with me my future bride, the occasion will be seen as one to be celebrated indeed. A grand ball at Penhallow would be in order-perhaps one week hence? I will see to most of the arrangements myself, but I have not been here for five years and doubtless do not know everyone who lives in the neighborhood now. You will help me with the guest list, I trust, Aunt? And Constance and Chastity too?'
Constance, flushed and bright-eyed, nodded her acquiescence. Chastity smiled.
'What a perfectly delightful idea, Joshua,' his aunt said, smiling sweetly, 'even if I am still in mourning for your dear uncle. But you must remember that this is neither London nor Bath. There are very few families of any note living within ten miles of Penhallow. A small dinner and reception will be more in order. I will send out the invitations myself and make arrangements with the cook.'
'About the dainties to be served at the ball, yes,' he said, smiling at her. 'Thank you, Aunt. I would appreciate that. I made many friends during my years in Lydmere. A number of them would enjoy kicking up their heels in the ballroom here, I daresay. And there are all my tenants, as well as the workers on my property. It will be like a village assembly more than a ton ball. It is to be hoped that your more genteel friends will not be offended by it, Aunt. I understand that Mrs. Lumbard has returned from Bath with her daughter. We will invite them. Perhaps her nephew will escort them-Hugh Garnett, is it?'
His aunt noticeably paled and stared at him with pinched lips. Chastity's fork clattered to her plate.
'He does escort his aunt about occasionally, I hear,' Joshua said. 'Indeed, I believe he escorted her here to tea quite recently?'
The Bedwyns were all watching and listening with avid interest, he noticed. Constance was staring at her plate, though she was not eating. Chastity's wide eyes were fixed upon Joshua's face. Calvin cleared his throat again.
'And so he did,' his aunt said. 'A pleasant young man. Edwina Lumbard dotes on him.'
'And yet, Aunt,' Joshua said, 'I believe he must have upset you badly when he ripped open old wounds that were perhaps beginning to heal.'
'Whatever do you mean, Joshua?' She set one hand over her heart while her shoulders sagged and her face looked haggard and pathetic.
'I believe,' he said, 'Garnett suggested to you, Aunt, that Albert's death five years ago was not accidental, but that he was, in fact, murdered. And I believe that he named me as the murderer.'
'Oh, no, Joshua,' Eve said, her hand too over her heart.
'Why, the devil!' Alleyne exclaimed.
'If this is correct,' Aidan said, 'it is a serious charge indeed, Joshua.'
'Gracious heavens,' Freyja said, raising her coffee cup to her lips with a perfectly steady hand. 'Am I betrothed to a murderer? How very diverting!'
Chastity was looking deathly pale. So was Constance.
The Reverend Calvin Moore got to his feet, cleared his throat again, and raised his hands, as if he were about to speak a benediction.
'You are quite right, Hallmere,' he said. 'Such a suggestion has indeed been made. Mr. Garnett claims to have been a witness to the events of the night on which my cousin died. It was because of this that Cousin Corinne summoned me here. She felt the need of a man, and a relative, to advise her. But this is hardly the time or the
