a
murderer—if Lord Neil has indeed attempted his nephew’s life.” Libbetty heard
the waspish note in her own voice, but Edwina did not seem to notice. If Miss
Bassett had such ambitions all along, it explained her defense of Lord Neil’s
innocence.
“Of course she would not marry him if he is revealed to be
such a villain. She hopes he will be proven innocent.”
Libbetty noticed Edwina had stopped insisting upon Lord
Neil’s villainy, a departure from her previous stand.
“I hope it turns out well, for her sake,” said Libbetty,
mendaciously. Even if Lord Neil could be stopped from harming his nephew,
through whatever means, such an evil person would make a miserable companion.
“Has Lord Cauldreigh indicated he suspects his uncle’s
designs on his life?” She could not investigate on her own, but she could
question those who did have access to the Coltons.
“We have never discussed such things.” Edwina’s tone was
shocked, and Libbetty had to drop that line of inquiry.
Chapter Seven
After Sunday service, Neil and Trevor stopped to speak to
the Hogwoods and Miss Bassett. Forcing an outward patience, Neil suffered
Trevor’s eagerness to further his acquaintance in the neighborhood, now that he
had recovered his strength.
“Oh, Lord Cauldreigh, you are such a tease.” With a simper,
Mrs. Hogwood playfully shook a finger at Trevor.
“I assure you, madam, I am perfectly serious. I would never
have guessed you could be the mother of such grown-up children.” Trevor nodded
at Francis and Edwina.
Mrs. Hogwood issued a girlish giggle. Her fawning manner
irritated Neil, and her compliant offspring took their lead from her. Miss
Hogwood was a pretty mantrap with no conversation, and Francis a dolt. Mr.
Hogwood’s sour expression made Neil suspect the squire found his family’s
company as tedious as he did.
A middle-aged man and a young woman approached them, the
woman hanging shyly back. Miss Bassett said, “Lord Cauldreigh, Lord Neil, I
would like to introduce my father and sister to you.” She smiled and cast a
coquettish, sidelong look at Neil.
Startled, he gave Miss Bassett a narrow glance, realized he
had missed Mr. Bassett’s hearty greeting. An unpolished stone, Mr. Bassett’s
good humor made him appear a pleasant acquaintance. Miss Irene, his younger
daughter, stared at the ground and scuffed her feet. With her, at least, he
felt sure he need not suspect any attempt at matchmaking.
Two middle-aged ladies hurried over to be presented, Misses
Marble, spinsters who could never have been pretty even in their bloom. The
younger one dressed in far too youthful a fashion.
The elder one took advantage of the new acquaintance. “Dear
Lord Cauldreigh and Lord Neil, you simply must call on us. Our mother’s health
is too delicate to permit her to leave her home, but she would be most forlorn
if she does not meet you. You know how welcome can be any little break in the
monotony when you are mewed up in the house all the time.”
Trevor, who had frequently expressed to Neil his intimate
knowledge of such boredom, contrived not to hear Miss Marble’s appeal, and thus
Neil was cornered into promising to call.
He knew most of the villagers feared him, but gave an
appearance of befriending him because of his status and fortune, and especially
for his relationship to Trevor.
He couldn’t blame the villagers when he had fostered their
beliefs to trap Trevor’s assailant. So far, the only ones caught in his trap
had been Miss Bishop and the Hayes boy. Clearly he had not been as clever as
he thought. Now he was caught in that trap as well, unable to disclaim his
evil intentions.
He wished he could quit the company of the sycophantic
crowd. However, the only fault Trevor appeared to find with the group was that
Miss Bishop did not join it. He glanced toward the girl a few times, hurt in
his eyes. He had avowed a tendre for the vivacious girl, and asked with
wearisome regularity why she did not call
murderer—if Lord Neil has indeed attempted his nephew’s life.” Libbetty heard
the waspish note in her own voice, but Edwina did not seem to notice. If Miss
Bassett had such ambitions all along, it explained her defense of Lord Neil’s
innocence.
“Of course she would not marry him if he is revealed to be
such a villain. She hopes he will be proven innocent.”
Libbetty noticed Edwina had stopped insisting upon Lord
Neil’s villainy, a departure from her previous stand.
“I hope it turns out well, for her sake,” said Libbetty,
mendaciously. Even if Lord Neil could be stopped from harming his nephew,
through whatever means, such an evil person would make a miserable companion.
“Has Lord Cauldreigh indicated he suspects his uncle’s
designs on his life?” She could not investigate on her own, but she could
question those who did have access to the Coltons.
“We have never discussed such things.” Edwina’s tone was
shocked, and Libbetty had to drop that line of inquiry.
Chapter Seven
After Sunday service, Neil and Trevor stopped to speak to
the Hogwoods and Miss Bassett. Forcing an outward patience, Neil suffered
Trevor’s eagerness to further his acquaintance in the neighborhood, now that he
had recovered his strength.
“Oh, Lord Cauldreigh, you are such a tease.” With a simper,
Mrs. Hogwood playfully shook a finger at Trevor.
“I assure you, madam, I am perfectly serious. I would never
have guessed you could be the mother of such grown-up children.” Trevor nodded
at Francis and Edwina.
Mrs. Hogwood issued a girlish giggle. Her fawning manner
irritated Neil, and her compliant offspring took their lead from her. Miss
Hogwood was a pretty mantrap with no conversation, and Francis a dolt. Mr.
Hogwood’s sour expression made Neil suspect the squire found his family’s
company as tedious as he did.
A middle-aged man and a young woman approached them, the
woman hanging shyly back. Miss Bassett said, “Lord Cauldreigh, Lord Neil, I
would like to introduce my father and sister to you.” She smiled and cast a
coquettish, sidelong look at Neil.
Startled, he gave Miss Bassett a narrow glance, realized he
had missed Mr. Bassett’s hearty greeting. An unpolished stone, Mr. Bassett’s
good humor made him appear a pleasant acquaintance. Miss Irene, his younger
daughter, stared at the ground and scuffed her feet. With her, at least, he
felt sure he need not suspect any attempt at matchmaking.
Two middle-aged ladies hurried over to be presented, Misses
Marble, spinsters who could never have been pretty even in their bloom. The
younger one dressed in far too youthful a fashion.
The elder one took advantage of the new acquaintance. “Dear
Lord Cauldreigh and Lord Neil, you simply must call on us. Our mother’s health
is too delicate to permit her to leave her home, but she would be most forlorn
if she does not meet you. You know how welcome can be any little break in the
monotony when you are mewed up in the house all the time.”
Trevor, who had frequently expressed to Neil his intimate
knowledge of such boredom, contrived not to hear Miss Marble’s appeal, and thus
Neil was cornered into promising to call.
He knew most of the villagers feared him, but gave an
appearance of befriending him because of his status and fortune, and especially
for his relationship to Trevor.
He couldn’t blame the villagers when he had fostered their
beliefs to trap Trevor’s assailant. So far, the only ones caught in his trap
had been Miss Bishop and the Hayes boy. Clearly he had not been as clever as
he thought. Now he was caught in that trap as well, unable to disclaim his
evil intentions.
He wished he could quit the company of the sycophantic
crowd. However, the only fault Trevor appeared to find with the group was that
Miss Bishop did not join it. He glanced toward the girl a few times, hurt in
his eyes. He had avowed a tendre for the vivacious girl, and asked with
wearisome regularity why she did not call
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