Clandestine by Nichole van Page B

Kit, but who cared? It was an entertaining story . . . ), when the butler, Finley, interrupted and called a meeting in the staff dining hall to set them all straight.
    Though the facts themselves were not uninteresting, despite Finley’s dry, monotone recitation.
    The stranger was actually Lord Vader, a longtime school friend of Mr. James Knight, who had recently returned from a lengthy stay in India.
    Marcus, Lord Vader . . . which was just an unexpected surname, really.
    Was it a British name? It sounded more German, truth be told. She had even asked Gilbert and Fanny about it. Gilbert had simply shrugged, but Fanny insisted her father’s cousin knew a family of Vaders who lived near Hereford. So perhaps it wasn’t as odd as it seemed.
    In any case, Marcus, Lord Vader, had been robbed while en route to Haldon Manor to visit his former friend and had been left to find his way on foot. Lord Vader had been devastated to learn that his friend, James, was now deceased. But Mr. Arthur Knight had seen fit, in his goodness, to provide Lord Vader with clothing and allow him to stay as long as he wished.
    Furthermore, Finley did not want to hear any more speculation about Lord Vader killing anyone or being wounded.
    Additionally, in response to Fanny’s question, Finley did not wish to speculate on Lord Vader’s marital status, or as Gilbert put it, his ‘history with the ladies.’
    And, no, Lord Vader had not provided a description of the robbers, and Finley hardly felt it relevant to his position to ask. Miss Ashton would be wise to remember that and keep her curiosity to herself.
    Which effectively shut off the string of follow-up questions Kit had poised on her tongue.
    Everyone was summarily dismissed.
    Kit really needed more details about the robbery.
    Had Daniel been involved with it? It seemed unlikely . . .
    Well, actually, it didn’t seem unlikely at all. That was the problem. Daniel was probably desperate for cash, and highway robbery would be just the romantic thing to appeal to him.
    She hoped Lady Ruby would send her back into Marfield once she woke up. Kit was desperate to find and, this time, actually talk with her brother . . .
    The door to the library creaked open, followed by muffled footsteps on the wood floor. Kit instantly stilled, practically holding her breath.
    Drat. Had Jedediah found her at last? The curtain was excellent at hiding her, but it also had the disadvantage of hiding the room from her view.
    The footsteps drifted toward the bookshelves away from the window. A cabinet opened and Kit heard the shush of books being pulled from the shelves and then snicked back into place.
    Was it Jedediah?
    The steps started again, this time drawing closer and closer. A hand appeared on the edge of the curtain and began to pull it back.
    Lord Vader— Marcus , Kit reminded herself— poked his dark head around the edge of the fabric, eyebrows hiking up at finding the window seat occupied. Kit locked eyes with him just as a voice sounded from the doorway.
    “I say, there you are, Lord Vader.” Jedediah’s nasal wheeze unmistakable.
    Marcus turned back toward the room, leaving Kit with a view of his tailored broad shoulders and tight buckskins. His body and the window curtain hiding her from the rest of the room.
    “Uh, yes. Here I am.” Marcus clasped his hands behind his back but did not move away from the window, protecting her from Jedediah’s view.
    Jedediah grunted.
    “May I help you?” Marcus gave a polite nod.
    “Don’t suppose you have seen Miss Ashton skulking about, have you?” Jedediah gave one of his signature sniveling sniffs.
    Oh dear . . . would Marcus betray her?
    “Skulking?” Was that humor in Marcus’ voice? “I can’t say that I have seen Miss Ashton display any tendency toward skulkery.”
    Marcus crossed his fingers behind his back, causing Kit to smile and relax slightly.
    Jedediah humphed. “Dashed hard to keep track of that chit. Always snooping about where she