Moreham smiled at her and nodded to the settee by the fireplace. “Have a seat, dearest, once the house quiets down, Cross will come.”
A knock on the door punctuated Moreham’s words. He left her to open the door. Cross slipped into the room. “Hurry, Whitney just went to the stable. I fear he is riding out.”
Without another word, Moreham headed for the door behind Cross. She hurried after him and pulled him to a stop. “This way. There is a servants’ door. Better chance of leaving the house unseen.”
Gillian led them down the stairs and out into the cool night air. All three walked briskly through the gardens to the back gate. Once they arrived at the stables, Gillian directed the lone groom to saddle three horses.
“Don’t even think to leave me behind,” she declared.
Chapter 15
Take Gillian with us to who knows what.
Moreham wanted to take his wife, toss her over his shoulder, return her to their bedchamber and lock the door. He knew he was not going to do any such thing. He’d made a promise and she intended for him to honor his vow. He should’ve known his wife would not stay behind no matter what she’d said to Philly.
The groom led their horses out. When Gillian stepped forward and whispered to her horse and set about to ready her to ride as well as any man would. Moreham marveled at the many surprises his reluctant bride had rained down on his head since the night she lured him to Preston House.
Cross grinned at him. “You owe me a guinea.”
“Pretty sure of yourself, weren’t you?”
“No, I was certain of her ladyship. You would not be aligned with a milkwater miss. My lady, may I give you a leg up?” Cross offered.
Gillian smiled her thanks. Moreham neatly stepped in front of Cross and took her in hand. Cross laughed as Moreham tossed her up into her saddle. Once Moreham was mounted, he threw a coin through the air to the groom.
“That’s the first payment. Keep our ride out tonight to yourself and I will match that when we return. Speak of it and I’ll see you without employment.”
“Moreham, must you threaten the staff?” Gillian asked from behind him.
“Dearest, that was not a threat that was a fact.”
The chastised groom nodded and faded into the shadows.
“Now, shall we be off? We must walk our mounts. If Whitney hears the horses, he will know someone is following him. Such a discovery will only mean a fruitless midnight ride for us. Whitney will claim he couldn’t sleep and decided to take a midnight ride to tire himself.”
“I’ll ride ahead. Better chance of not being discovered if I go alone.” Cross offered.
“Excellent idea. We will hold back. Wait for us at the fork.”
“Will Whitney go to the rear of the abbey?”
“At night? I think not. Uncle is not that brave. The abbey is much more unsettling in the dark than in daylight. If he is going to the ruins, he will take the left lane at the fork.”
“There you are, Cross. We need to know if he is going to the abbey. If he takes the left lane, we can take the right and enter the abbey through the rear gate.”
Cross doffed his hat. “Would you think less of me if I pray for the duke to be in search of a pint at the tavern in the village?”
“Not feeling up to traipsing through a haunted abbey tonight.” Moreham asked.
“The ruins make my blood run cold even in the daylight. Can’t imagine the flights of fancy I will suffer in the dark.”
With those words, Cross urged his horse forward and rode off into the darkness.
Moreham waited for her to ride up beside him. “Cross owes you his thanks. He wagered you would not be put off.”
“You wagered on my loyalty to my uncle?”
“No, we wagered on your ingenuity, or rather Cross wagered you would not remain in the background. I wagered I had you firmly under my thumb. I was the fool soon parted from his coin as the old saying goes.”
He hoped Gillian felt a twinge of remorse. She was causing him trouble at a time when he needed all his faculties trained on Whitney. He rather enjoyed watching her emotions flicker in her eyes. Even in the darkness he could see the trepidation assaulting her. She deserved no less.
Gillian took hold of his hand and halted his horse. “Moreham, I am not a simpering lass you can charm to do what you want. I will be by your side every moment until I prove my uncle is innocent of any wrongdoing. Now, let’s be off.” Denying Moreham the opportunity to speak, she took the lead and headed down the darkened lane.
Moreham urged Paladin forward. “Gillian, you win this time. However, you will do as I say. I will have your word, or I will tell Cross to follow your uncle while we return to the manor and our bed.”
“I promise to be a good girl. Now, shall we be off? If we tarry for very long, we’ll miss whatever my uncle is planning to do tonight.”
He wished he could believe her meekness was heartfelt. The woman loved her uncle and Moreham knew she’d never desert the duke. Not for the first time that night, he prayed she was correct in her faith in Whitney.
Moreham couldn’t help hoping Whitney was on his way to the village for a game of chess with the squire at the inn. Even as he prayed, he knew better. The duke was on his way to the abbey. How he would console Gillian when Whitney’s subterfuge became known weighed heavily on his heart. A novel event since everyone knew Moreham did not possess such an organ.
Cross was exactly where he was supposed to be. At the fork in the road. Gillian held her breath as they rode up to his side. No one spoke.
Cross shook his head. “He went to the left, not more
