“Thinking of Mr. Donner, perhaps?” he asked as they gainedthe landing.
She smiled, turning to the left down the corridor thatbeckoned. “Perhaps. I talked with a number of interesting people tonight—Mr.Donner, Lord Featherstone, Mrs. Denby, Hester’s mother.”
“Hester’s mother?” The question came out far too much like ayelp as she wandered into the withdrawing room on that wing.
“Don’t get in a pucker,” Elizabeth soothed. “It wasn’t as ifyou were much company. You were positively surrounded at times.” She went tosit on one of the chairs near the window that overlooked the Channel. Theshutters had yet to be closed, and darkness pressed against the glass.
Rob shook his head as he sat beside her. “Amazing what athousand-pound donation can do.”
“Was that all they wanted?” she asked. “To comment on yourgenerosity to the dame school?”
Once again, his cravat seemed to be tightening. He tugged atit with two fingers. “Perhaps at first. I’m sure it didn’t help that I agreedto the vicar’s proposal.”
Her brows went up. “And what did our fine vicar propose?Seat cushions for some of the pews? A donation to the benevolence fund?”
Rob swallowed. “I may have agreed to allow the use of one ofour leased properties as a home for widows.”
Her eyes widened, then narrowed. “Widows? What sort ofwidows, precisely?”
“Real widows,” Rob assured her hurriedly. “Proper widows.That is, widows I have never so much as met. Oh, leave it be, Elizabeth.”
She trilled a laugh and cuffed him on the shoulder.
Truly, he wasn’t sure why he’d agreed to allow the use ofthe house. How many widows in need of supporting could Grace-by-the-Sea have?And why was he the one to support them? Elizabeth was right to question him. Itwas ridiculous, him a benevolent patron. He was ridiculous.
So, why did some part of him feel smugly pleased to havebeen of use?
Their temporary footman came hurrying into the room then,bucket in one grip. So, that was why he hadn’t been at the door. He must havebeen carrying coals for the morning fire; his gloves were already dusted withblack. A slender fellow with brown hair, he couldn’t be much older than twenty.Now he jerked to a stop at the sight of them and bowed his head, deferential tothe point of hesitancy.
“Ah, there you are, Bascom,” Elizabeth said. “RemindMonsieur Antoine I am hoping for kippers tomorrowmorning. In the breakfast room, if you please. I seeno reason to eat in that cavernous dining room on the ground floor.”
“Yes, Miss Peverell,” Bascom said, but his voice cracked.
That might not be because of his youth. Monsieur Antoineruled his kingdom with raised voice and hurled crockery. Woe betideanyone who failed to bow. His father had praised the man’s cooking but left hismanagement entirely to their housekeeper in London. But Mrs. Hurley had stayedto take care of the house there in their absence. Elizabeth was directing thestaff while they were in Grace-by-the-Sea.
Still, the footman hesitated, glancing from Rob to hissister as if wondering what he was supposed to do now.
“Don’t let us disturb you further, Bascom,” Rob told him.“See to your duties.”
“Yes, my lord. Thank you, my lord.” The young footman edged fromthe room as if he thought they might take a bite of his grey livery.
“Be patient with him,” Elizabeth chided. “He’s new to therole.”
“He isn’t the only one,” Rob quipped.
Elizabeth smiled at him, and all at once he became aware ofthe quiet. It was a momentary reprieve. He had never stayed in a place moreconducive to noise. As the day warmed, the Lodge cracked and popped like anelderly gentleman rising from his chair in a stretch. It made similar protestsas night came on and the air cooled. Wind whistled down the chimneys, sangthrough cracks in the window casings. At a particularly high tide, waves beaton the cliff below and set the entire place to reverberating. He had yet toexperience it in a storm. It would likely be akin to sitting in front of anorchestra madly tuning up all at once.
“I should like to visit the spa tomorrow,” his sisterannounced, stretching out her legs. “Say eleven?”
He was expecting his steward any day, with more decisions tobe made, but someone could always come for him if Mercer arrived.
“Very well,” he said.
“See that you wear something appropriate,” Elizabethordered.
Rob frowned. “Since when do you comment on my wardrobe?”
She reached out and tweaked his lapel, as if it had been outof place. “Since you decided to turn a new leaf. We must present you in thebest possible light. Oh, look. What’s that?”
He thought she meant to prevent further questions, but hefollowed her gaze to the window. Something flashed at sea—blue.Like a prick of a pin in the dark of the night.
Smugglers.
Excitement tingled up his back. A shame he must be the viscountnow. What he wouldn’t give for a little adventure.
Then again, why shouldn’t he make sure his home was safe?
“I’m sure it’s nothing that need concern you,” Rob said,purposely turning from the view. “You must be tired from all that dancing. Iwon’t keep you any longer. Good night, Elizabeth.”
She scowled at him. “You know something. I won’t be leftout, Rob. What was that? What do you intend to do about it?”
If only he had his father’s ability to demand obedience.Then again, Elizabeth had never bent, even to their father.
“I understand smugglers may have been using the pier belowthe Lodge,” he explained. “That flash was a beacon asking whether it is clearto come in. Someone may be out on the property now, answering.”
“And you intend to face him down,” she accused. “I won’t letyou go alone. Give me a moment, and I’ll fetch Thomas’s dueling pistols.”
He stared at her. “Thomas dueled?”
“Only once,” she assured him primly, “and he didn’t hit hisopponent.”
Rob shook his head in disbelief. “And I suppose you know howto load them.”
She nodded. “I asked Father to show me.”
This night was only getting stranger. “No need to fetchthem. Bascom can come with me.”
“Bascom would hop up on a chair if a
