[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
There was no lock.
Oh, George muttered. That doesn t narrow it down.
No, my lady. He sauntered back to the table, the firelight illuminating one side of his face and throwing
the other half into darkness. His lips curved. Did he think her funny?
Where did you go this morning? she asked.
I went to question the farmers who found the dead sheep and my carving. He stopped only a foot
away from her.
She could feel the warmth of his chest not quite touching hers. Was he staring at her mouth?
He was. I wondered if one of them had left the hedgehog. But they were men I didn t know, and they
seemed honest enough.
I see. Her throat was dry. She swallowed. He was her steward, for goodness sake. What she was
feeling wasn t at all proper. Well. George folded the towel and put it away on the shelf. We shall just
have to do some more research tomorrow.
We, my lady?
Yes. I shall accompany you.
Just this morning Lord Granville threatened you. Harry Pye wasn t looking at her mouth anymore. In
fact, he was frowning into her eyes.
George felt a twinge of disappointment. You ll need my help.
I ve no need of your help, my lady. You shouldn t be gadding about the countryside while . . . He
trailed off as a thought struck him. How did you come to my cottage?
Oops. I walked?
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
You . . . It s over a mile from here to Woldsly! Mr. Pye stopped and breathed heavily in that way
some men do when a female says something particularly foolish.
Walking is good exercise, George explained kindly. Besides, I was on my own land.
Nevertheless, would you please promise me not to go strolling about on your own, my lady? His lips
tightened. Until this is over with?
Very well, I promise to not go out alone. George smiled. And in return, you can promise to take me
on your investigations.
Harry Pye s eyes narrowed.
George drew herself up straight. After all, I am your employer, Mr. Pye.
Fine, my lady. I ll take you with me.
Not the most gracious acquiescence, but it would do.
Good. We can start in the morning. George swung her cloak around her shoulders. About nine, I
think? We ll take my gig.
As you wish, my lady. Mr. Pye advanced ahead of her to the cottage door. I ll walk you back to
Woldsly.
No need. I asked that the carriage be brought round at nine. It should be here by now.
And indeed, when Mr. Pye swung wide the door, a footman was waiting discreetly by the path. Her
steward eyed the man. He must have approved, for he nodded. Good night, my lady.
Until tomorrow morning. George drew the hood up over her hair. Good night.
She walked to the footman and then glanced over her shoulder. Harry Pye stood in his doorway,
silhouetted by the firelight behind him.
She couldn t read his expression.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING up so early? Violet stared at her sister, already dressed and hurrying
down the stairs at she stepped backward into her room to check the clock eight in the morning.
Oh, hullo, dear. George did a little half-whirl on the stairs, peering up at her. I m just, uh, going for a
drive.
Going for a drive, Violet repeated. By yourself? At eight in the morning?
George tilted her chin, but her cheeks were turning pink. Mr. Pye will accompany me. He wishes to
show me some things around the estate. Tenants and walls and crops and such, I suppose. Terribly
boring, but necessary.
Mr. Pye! But, George, you can t go out alone with him.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Why not? He is my land steward, after all. It s his job to keep me informed about estate matters.
But
I really must go, dear. The man is apt to take off without me if I m late. And with that, George all but
ran down the stairs.
Violet followed more slowly, her brow knit in thought. What was George about? She couldn t still trust
the land steward, could she? Not after the accusations she d heard, not after Lord Granville had stormed
the manor yesterday? Perhaps her sister was trying to find out more about Mr. Pye on her own. But in
that case, why had she blushed?
Violet nodded to the footmen as she entered the morning room where breakfast was served. She had the
gold and pale blue room to herself Euphie never rose before nine in the morning, even in the country.
She went to the sideboard and helped herself to a bun and a slice of gammon, and then sat down at the
pretty gilt table. Only then did she notice the letter by her plate. The handwriting was distinctively slanted
backward.
When did this arrive? She took a too-quick sip of tea and burned her mouth.
This morning, my lady, one of the footmen murmured.
It was a silly question, and she wouldn t have asked it, but she d been stalling before opening the letter.
She picked it up and turned it over to pry up the seal with a butter knife. She took a deep breath before
unfolding the paper and then had trouble releasing it. It was important she not show her emotions before
the servants, but it was difficult. Her worst fears had been realized. She d had two months of respite, but
now that was over.
He d found her.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH WOMEN and there are many is they think nothing of messing
about in a man s business. Harry Pye remembered Da s words when he saw Lady Georgina s carriage
the next morning at eight-thirty.
She wasn t taking any chances, his lady. She d driven the old gig to the part of Woldsly drive that
intersected the cutoff to his cottage. There was no way he could escape the estate without her seeing him.
And she was a half hour earlier than their agreed-upon meeting time of nine o clock. It was almost as if
she d feared he would try to leave without her. And since he d planned exactly that, her appearance was
all the more annoying.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]