“Thank you, Lydia.” Lilian checked that the brake was set and then called for Cooper. The little dog had ventured around the partition but came running back when she whistled. She patted her lap, and he jumped into it. For a few long minutes, she looked around at the familiar sights. Her sister’s mare usually stayed in the next stall. She thought about visiting Ginger as she was leaving but decided to let Cooper become better acquainted with Danby first. Reaching up, she fondled her horse’s nose; he had, by then, turned from his manger and was leaning as far around the heel post as possible to whiffle at her. “Mind you do not get your legs caught in the chain, Danby, or Barney will put your headstall on. It seems that this will be a shorter visit than I had planned, but I will come again tomorrow and shall read to you.
There was a thud as something heavy fell off the wall at the entrance of the stable. Cooper began to bark, interspersing his barking with a strange whine.
“Stay,” she directed Cooper, but he had already run off in the direction of the sound.
“I must see what that was, m’lady. I will be back in a moment.” Barney hurried to investigate the noise and soon returned, carrying the small dog. The groom stood before her, looking puzzled and scratching his head. “’Twas strange. I have never known the lantern to fall off the wall afore. Lucky for us it were out, or we could have had a fire. I secured it back, but I shall check it again before I relight it. Yon dog seemed most distressed, m’lady. Kept jumping up and down like a flea…then he brought this piece of paper to me.”
“May I see that?” She reached for the weathered piece of paper. It had writing on it, but it was so faded, she could not make out the letters. The letters she could decipher were either muddled from the weather or maybe smeared by the hand that wrote it. “I cannot make this out. Are you able to read anything?”
She waited for the groom to look. Barney shook his head, clearly distressed, and handed the note back to her. She remembered he did not know how to read, and her face burned at the realization of her thoughtlessness.
“It was fortuitous it happened in daylight when the lantern is unlit,” she murmured aloud. An involuntary shudder shook her when she thought about what could have ensued. She was being foolish, she chastised herself. No harm had been done; Danby and all of the horses were safe. Nothing had happened. That cross would be too hard to bear. Lilian gave further thought to what Barney had said. “It does seem rather strange, Barney. I thought that one was too heavy to lift. I have never seen them moved. Grandpapa had it made just for the stable.”
“No, m’lady. We can lift them, but I ’ave never had an occasion to do so.”
“Would you please push my chair to the house? I think it might be difficult to push it myself back up the slope.” She offered a weak smile. “I fear my arm muscles have slackened while in London.”
“Yes, of course, m’lady.” Barney took the brake off and pushed Lilian and Cooper to the rear portico, where Winston was already waiting. Barney gave a polite nod and headed back towards the stable.
The door slowly swung closed behind them as Winston rolled her toward the dining room, where she then joined her family.
No one noticed the dark-haired, moustached man, garbed in black, step from behind the shrubs. He put a pencil in his pocket and stared at the door for a moment before turning to leave.
Chapter 12
Harlow was glad he had not been alone on this journey to Cornwall. It was nice to have Max with him. Nearly four days on horseback reminded him of the vastness of his country. Luckily, his valet, Haydon, had ridden ahead and reserved accommodations at all the inns en route. Having rooms secured was a tremendous boon. With the Season ending, many families were returning to their country estates for a respite from the haze of London. He estimated they had fewer than five miles still to cover and should be there by ten of the clock despite these last miles being some of the hardest.
“It is fortuitous that we have seen no signs of highwaymen during this ride. With many of the titled heading to their country homes, that has been a pleasant surprise,” he remarked to Max.
“Very.” Max’s response sounded automatic. He glanced at his friend, assuring himself Max had not nodded off. “Max, Tintagel is but a few miles ahead. I propose we rest for a few hours when we arrive and then go out to the lookout site.” Max shot him a look of surprise that confirmed his friend’s mind had been elsewhere. “A penny for your thoughts,” he coaxed.
“I was thinking about Maggie. Her birthday will be in three weeks. I am hoping to be there to celebrate it with her.” Max patted his pocket. “I have a present for her.”
“I know you miss Maggie and baby Nathan. Did you buy jewellery?” he enquired. “A ring, perhaps?” He sounded inquisitive and was chafed by his own questions. The look of testiness on his friend’s face encouraged him to clarify his thoughts. “Considering our commission, I would ask if that was wise to bring on the road?” Max narrowed his eyes, and Harlow immediately regretted his admonishing tone. “I apologize. Forget what I said. No one would dare challenge you for your baubles, my friend.”
Max gave a dismissive shrug of the shoulders.
Without doubt, the gift would be jewellery. The man was besotted. A twinge of jealousy coursed through Harlow when he realized he had no birthdays, apart from his mother’s, to fret over.
“You are wrong with what
