mistress. Us here
at the castle, we don’t like the way she’s treated.”
“ Go on.”
“ It’s not just the baron.
That smarmy little servant of his is just as bad.”
“ He is unpleasant,” the earl
agreed.
“ And the baron’s always
bringing these men to visit. For what purpose, I don’t know ‘cause
he don’t spend time with his company. Instead, he makes my poor
lady dance attendance on them. I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen
the baroness purely mortified by some witless clod what thinks he’s
got the right to insult her. Worst of all,” the groom said
indignantly, “my master seems to encourage the whole
thing.”
“ You amaze me, Brown.” Adam
grinned. “You’re a veritable conversationalist when you are moved
to speak.” He sobered as he continued. “It’s my understanding then
that you feel Lady Bourgeault is not treated with the respect which
is her due.”
“ That’s part of it,” the
groom admitted.
“ And you fear I am of the
same cut of cloth as those other ‘gentleman’ of whom you have good
reason to disprove.”
The man didn’t waver as he nodded his
agreement.
“ Would it come as a surprise
to you, Brown, to know I’ve become aware of the very things you
have mentioned?” When the groom watched him without answering, Adam
pressed on. “I am also concerned for your lady. The goings on here
are odd, to say the least. Frankly, I don’t know why the baron
invited me, but you can be damned certain it wasn’t to sell his
horses.”
The groom nodded again.
“ Brown, I would consider it
a personal favor if you would look after Lady Bourgeault for me.
I’m not in a position to make any demands, but if you ever feel she
is in trouble I would like to be informed. I’m not without
influence and I could help if it came to that.” Adam reached into
his coat pocket and handed the groom his card.
The old man hesitated, searching Adam’s face
as though looking for a hidden motive. The earl tolerated the
scrutiny and heaved a sigh of relief when it appeared he had passed
the unspoken test.
Brown’s features relaxed. He took the card
and placed it very carefully in his shirt pocket. “It’s a comfort
to know there is someone powerful who cares about my lady.”
“ That I do. We have a
bargain then.” The earl took the groom’s gnarled mitt in a firm
handshake to seal the pact.
Moments later as Adam trotted his horse to
the overgrown drive, he felt a sudden unseen pull that caused him
to halt and turn in his saddle. He surveyed the facade of the
crumbling castle, his eyes seeking out the invisible communication.
Was she there and was her pain as profound as his? There was no
future for them, and he had to come to terms with that knowledge.
But for now he simply must find the strength to leave her
behind.
*****
Catherine stood at the tiny window and
watched as the earl’s horse appeared around the corner of the
house. He urged the animal toward the drive but came to a stop and
glanced back at the castle. He appeared to be looking for
something, and she wondered if he could hear the thrumming of her
lacerated heart as it called out to him. She again committed his
handsome features to memory as he straightened in the saddle and
continued his journey down the lane and out of her life.
*****
CHAPTER 5
“ Enter,” the baron
called.
The knob turned and a little maid slipped
into the library. Once inside she edged back until she was pressed
tight against the door, staring wide-eyed at the man behind the
desk.
Edgar surveyed the tiny person attached to
the entry like a hungry leech, and his lip curled in disgust.
“What’s your name?”
“ Wilma,” she answered
meekly, her voice shaking.
“ Come closer, Wilma,” he
barked. “I can hardly hear you.”
Wilma advanced several reluctant steps
forward.
“ Now tell me. I’m assuming
you have some news regarding our talk of several days
ago.”
“ Aye, milord. My
at the castle, we don’t like the way she’s treated.”
“ Go on.”
“ It’s not just the baron.
That smarmy little servant of his is just as bad.”
“ He is unpleasant,” the earl
agreed.
“ And the baron’s always
bringing these men to visit. For what purpose, I don’t know ‘cause
he don’t spend time with his company. Instead, he makes my poor
lady dance attendance on them. I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen
the baroness purely mortified by some witless clod what thinks he’s
got the right to insult her. Worst of all,” the groom said
indignantly, “my master seems to encourage the whole
thing.”
“ You amaze me, Brown.” Adam
grinned. “You’re a veritable conversationalist when you are moved
to speak.” He sobered as he continued. “It’s my understanding then
that you feel Lady Bourgeault is not treated with the respect which
is her due.”
“ That’s part of it,” the
groom admitted.
“ And you fear I am of the
same cut of cloth as those other ‘gentleman’ of whom you have good
reason to disprove.”
The man didn’t waver as he nodded his
agreement.
“ Would it come as a surprise
to you, Brown, to know I’ve become aware of the very things you
have mentioned?” When the groom watched him without answering, Adam
pressed on. “I am also concerned for your lady. The goings on here
are odd, to say the least. Frankly, I don’t know why the baron
invited me, but you can be damned certain it wasn’t to sell his
horses.”
The groom nodded again.
“ Brown, I would consider it
a personal favor if you would look after Lady Bourgeault for me.
I’m not in a position to make any demands, but if you ever feel she
is in trouble I would like to be informed. I’m not without
influence and I could help if it came to that.” Adam reached into
his coat pocket and handed the groom his card.
The old man hesitated, searching Adam’s face
as though looking for a hidden motive. The earl tolerated the
scrutiny and heaved a sigh of relief when it appeared he had passed
the unspoken test.
Brown’s features relaxed. He took the card
and placed it very carefully in his shirt pocket. “It’s a comfort
to know there is someone powerful who cares about my lady.”
“ That I do. We have a
bargain then.” The earl took the groom’s gnarled mitt in a firm
handshake to seal the pact.
Moments later as Adam trotted his horse to
the overgrown drive, he felt a sudden unseen pull that caused him
to halt and turn in his saddle. He surveyed the facade of the
crumbling castle, his eyes seeking out the invisible communication.
Was she there and was her pain as profound as his? There was no
future for them, and he had to come to terms with that knowledge.
But for now he simply must find the strength to leave her
behind.
*****
Catherine stood at the tiny window and
watched as the earl’s horse appeared around the corner of the
house. He urged the animal toward the drive but came to a stop and
glanced back at the castle. He appeared to be looking for
something, and she wondered if he could hear the thrumming of her
lacerated heart as it called out to him. She again committed his
handsome features to memory as he straightened in the saddle and
continued his journey down the lane and out of her life.
*****
CHAPTER 5
“ Enter,” the baron
called.
The knob turned and a little maid slipped
into the library. Once inside she edged back until she was pressed
tight against the door, staring wide-eyed at the man behind the
desk.
Edgar surveyed the tiny person attached to
the entry like a hungry leech, and his lip curled in disgust.
“What’s your name?”
“ Wilma,” she answered
meekly, her voice shaking.
“ Come closer, Wilma,” he
barked. “I can hardly hear you.”
Wilma advanced several reluctant steps
forward.
“ Now tell me. I’m assuming
you have some news regarding our talk of several days
ago.”
“ Aye, milord. My
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