“Thank you, Harlow,” Yarstone replied. “I cannot wait to make Lydia my bride. I have been pinching myself all day to make sure I am not dreaming,” he added.
Lydia gave a nervous laugh. “Mama seems overjoyed, and will have a new diversion, although I do rather dread meeting that horrible Lady Poinz again in the village. Why is she even here?”
“What happened, my dear?” Yarstone asked. “I do not believe we have spoken of it.”
Lydia related the incident, drawing out every detail of her mother’s reproach to the woman.
“Lilian and I were astonished,” she declared. “The woman should have a care. Our Mama can be fierce when she is protecting one of us.”
“Was she attacking one of you?” Yarstone asked, raising a brow.
“It seemed to me she was making a point at Lilian’s expense. Mama was not about to accept such behaviour and gave Lady Poinz a cutting set-down. I was most impressed.”
Lilian grimaced. Mama would be most embarrassed if she heard herself being discussed so.
“Did you, by any chance, see a man wearing black while you were on your walk earlier today?” Lilian ventured to ask.
“What are you speaking of, Lilian? Did you seen such a person?” Harlow asked, his voice tight with some emotion she could not quite determine.
“I thought I saw him earlier today, shortly after they left for a walk,” she said, motioning to Lydia and Richard, “but when I asked Mary to look, he had disappeared, assuming he even existed. However, I have never been one to see things that are non-existent. I thought it best to mention it to Father.”
“No, I did not see anyone. Did you, Richard?” Lydia asked, concern clear in her voice.
“The only person with us was your maid,” responded Yarstone.
After a moment of silence, Yarstone and Lydia returned to the drawing room.
“We are behind you, Lydia,” Lilian informed her sister, then releasing the brake on her chair so that Harlow could push it.
Lilian turned her chair to face him. She wished they could stay on the veranda a little longer, but with Lydia and Richard leaving, it was not appropriate.
“Wait. You saw someone watching the house?” he asked, his voice low.
“I thought I did, but he disappeared,” she responded, feeling a little unsure now. Perhaps she should not have mentioned it. She felt silly.
“Can you describe him?”
“Not very well. He was too far away. He wore black and had a large blot of black on his face…like a moustache, although it was not clear from the window.” Now she was worrying that there had been someone.
“One more thing.” He lifted up her chin. “You mean a great deal to me. I have work to do in the village tomorrow but would ask you to make sure Winston or your father are with you if you leave the house.”
“Should I fear something?” Her throat suddenly felt as though it was closing. Was she in danger?
“I do not think so, but what you have related leaves me concerned. I will return again late tomorrow evening.”
“I will do as you say.” She wondered if her father had found anything after she had commented on it to him earlier and decided she would ask him in the morning.
Harlow brushed a quick kiss across her lips and pushed her chair towards the parlour.
Mama spoke up at their arrival. “We may have all enjoyed our dinner a little more than usual. We were all about to retire.”
“I think I will make an early night of it as well,” Harlow replied. “Thank you for a lovely dinner. I believe I will spend what is left of the evening in my bedchamber. Good night.” He sketched a bow and left on his words.
Later, Lilian lay awake, thinking about the day. Cooper lay on the pillow next to her and she pulled him closer, nuzzling him. She felt a sense of calmness with Harlow in the house—there was no other way to describe it.
The next morning, Lilian hurried to dress and had Winston bring her downstairs to the breakfast parlour, with Cooper behind her, to break her fast, hoping she would see Lord Harlow before he and Lord Worsley left. Her father, Lord Worsley, and Lord Harlow were already eating.
“Good morning, daughter.” The Earl stood up as Winston eased his daughter’s chair to the table, placing her in the empty space to Lord Harlow’s left. “Cook has prepared you something special.” He gestured to a footman who brought a dish to her and removed the cover.
“Pancakes!” She clapped her hands together. “I whispered to Cook just yesterday that it had been a while since I had enjoyed a good pancake. This is wonderful. With sausage and syrup, it is my favourite!” She looked down at Cooper, who sat patiently looking at her. “I will share a piece with you, sweet boy,” she whispered, and tearing off a corner, slid it under the table, hiding it from her father.
“Lilian, the footman placed Cooper’s dish in the corner, which is already beyond the bounds of most households,” her father chided gently, turning his gaze to the small bowl sitting near the door.
Fancy getting caught, she chastised herself as she felt the warmth of colour stealing up her neck.
“Daughter, I have just been speaking with Lords Harlow and Worsley about the man you saw by the lake yesterday.” He put down his fork and spoke softly; a deep frown creased his forehead. “You had not imagined him. Winston and I found fresh footprints in a muddy area at the edge of the lake you described. They could not have been made by your sister or Lord Yarstone, since they were together. These prints were on the smallish side for a man, but they showed the presence of only one person.”
Harlow inclined his head in her direction. “Lady Lilian, please stay close to the house until Max and I look into this.” His voice was very sombre.
She gave an affirmative nod
