‘No, nothing at all, ma’am, beyond the instructions I have given to Miss Prudhome. A most capable lady, she knows just what to do. Good day to you, ma’am, my lord.’
‘I will take my leave of you too.’ Guy gathered up his hat and gloves. ‘I will send the youngest footman, which might help Jethro swallow his chagrin.’
‘Thank you, my lord, but we can manage perfectly well, I assure you, and I will not need your footman. I would, however, be grateful if one of your grooms could look after my cob, if that would not be too much trouble.’
‘You should not be unguarded at night. I will send a man over and he can sleep on a truckle bed in Ackland’s room- I assume you will be keeping him in the house for the moment?’
‘I will indeed, and I repeat, my lord, I do not need assistance, although naturally I appreciate your concern.’
‘Hester, you will appreciate rather more than my concern if you do not stop this stubbornness.’ He put his hands on her shoulders before she realised what he was doing. ‘I do not know whether to shake you or…’
‘Or what?’ Hester looked warily into his narrowed eyes, trying to ignore the flutterings that the feel of his hands on her sent through her body.
‘Or give into the very strong temptation to kiss you until you give in,’ he replied grimly.
‘Miss Lattimer?’ The front door swung open and Mrs Redland swept through.
CHAPTER NINE
Hester felt ready to sink. Of all the people in Winterbourne St Swithin to have discovered her virtually in the embrace of the Earl of Buckland, it had to be Mrs Redland.
She had reckoned without Guy’s considerable address. ‘Ma’am, you are just the person to assist me,’ he said warmly.
‘I am?’ Mrs Redland looked sharply from Hester’s rosy cheeks to Guy, who had only that moment dropped his hands from her shoulders.
‘Miss Lattimer, who is understandably distressed over the injury to her only male member of staff, was just refusing my offer to lend her a footman. I am sure you will agree with my anxiety that a household of ladies should not be without able- bodied male support.’
‘Well…’ Mrs Redland met Hester’s imploring gaze and hesitated. Hester nodded meaningfully at Guy’s back, then shook her head vehemently. Mrs Redland had obviously not forgotten their conversation earlier that day.
‘That is a most generous suggestion, my lord. However, I cannot but feel that such an offer, whilst meant with the most chivalrous of intentions, might be misinterpreted in some quarters. A single lady, especially one of Miss Lattimer’s years, cannot he too careful.’
Hester smiled at Mrs Redland, then rapidly composed her face when Guy swung round to look at her.
‘Very well, Miss Lattimer, it appears I am overruled by wiser counsel. I will send a groom over daily to attend to your cob. Please feel free at any time to call upon my household for assistance; you have only to speak to my butler. Good day, Miss Lattimer, Mrs Redland.’
‘Tsk!’ Mrs Redland regarded the door, which his lordship had most carefully refrained from slamming, with some amusement. ‘Not a gentleman used to encountering opposition to his will, that is obvious.’ She allowed herself to be ushered through to the drawing room, but refused the offer of a seat. ‘No, my dear, I merely called to enquire if there was anything I could do to help.’
‘Thank you, ma’am, that is most kind. It is all very worrying.’ Hester could not now believe that Mrs Redland had overheard anything compromising. ‘However, the doctor has been most helpful and Miss Prudhome has extensive sickroom experience.’
‘Very well, I will take my leave, but do let me know if there is anything I can do to assist or if, now Miss Prudhome has other calls upon her time, you require a chaperon.’ She paused as Hester was opening the front door for her. ‘I am sure his lordship’s intentions are merely to be attentive and of use as a neighbour, but I commend your reticence, Miss Lattimer.’
More than a little relieved, Hester made her way back to the kitchen. What a narrow escape!
‘There you are.’ Guy was sitting at the kitchen table, a steaming mug of tea in his hands. He stood up as Hester entered and the look he exchanged with Susan was not lost upon her.
‘I’ll just see if Miss Prudhome needs any help.’ The maid bustled self-consciously out of the door, wiping her hands on her apron as she went.
‘I will thank you not to conspire with my servants behind my back, my lord!’ She felt so angry that it was difficult to control her voice.
‘I merely remarked to her that I wanted an opportunity for a word in private.’ Guy gestured to the chair opposite. ‘Will you not sit down? This is an excellent cup of tea and I am anxious to finish it.’
Hester sat down with some emphasis. ‘Far be it from me to disoblige you, my lord. Please finish your tea at your leisure; I cannot imagine that we have anything else to discuss.’
The mug was grounded with enough force to splash tea on the scrubbed pine. ‘Why do you not trust me, Hester?’
‘Because someone is trying to frighten me out of this house and you are the only person with a motive for doing so.’
‘You obviously never studied logic-I am the only person whose motives you are aware of. That does not mean that I am therefore the culprit.’
‘Since society opposes scholarship for women, you are correct that I am untutored in logic. However, I have enough native wit to know when someone is hiding something. You will not tell me why you want the Moon House: you cannot therefore complain that I am suspicious of you. Tell me why you want my house and you may find I trust you.’
Guy ran one long-fingered hand over his mouth and chin, then shook his head decisively. ‘It is not just my story to tell you.’
Hester shrugged. ‘Then we have a stalemate.’
‘Do you seriously think I would harm you?’ That expressive hand reached across the table and captured hers. ‘Do you?’
‘No.’ She found she believed it. Her hand lay passive under his, then turned, seemingly of its own volition, until their fingers interlaced. ‘And neither do I think you, or anyone else, are tiptoeing about this house depositing roses personally. I am sure whoever is behind this is employing some agent and on this occasion they must have been frightened, put down the roses and left. It was pure accident that Jethro did not see them.’
‘He could have broken his neck.’
Hester shivered at the thought. ‘And so could any of us if Susan had not cleaned the flags in here thoroughly after spilling a pan of greasy cooking the other day. Accidents happen, my lord, and I would be foolish indeed if I trust everyone who appears well intentioned and friendly.’
‘Then at least promise me you will take care.’ He let go of her hand and she stifled a little murmur of protest.
‘I can certainly promise you that. And I have had all the locks changed and the window catches checked. Whoever thinks they can come and go as they please will soon find they are mistaken.’
‘If that is how they have been entering. They got in today, did they not?’ Guy put down his empty mug and stood up, looking down at her with sombre eyes. ‘Somehow I do not think you are dealing with someone who comes and goes by the front door, or even by a window.’
‘Then you believe this to be a ghost story?’ Hester laughed, wishing she felt as confident as she sounded. ‘I could almost suspect you of reading Gothic novels, my lord.’
He was at the back door, but swung round with some irritation. ‘No, I have not, Miss Lattimer, but I could wish that you had, they might produce some healthy fear in you. And for heaven’s sake, stop calling me “my lord” in every other sentence. You sound like a simpering miss at Almack’s.’
‘As I have never had the good fortune to attend Almack’s, my lord, I would not know how young ladies there sound. I have had to make my own way in the world and perhaps that has made me somewhat more independent than gentlemen like.’
