his arms in the air. “You shan’t convince me that anything supernatural is afoot, Barrington. And do not presume to spout that Gypsy horse shite about time tunnels to me! Save that for jingle-brained birdwits like your sister, who doubtless believes in faeries and ogres and . . . what is it you Cornish call the trolls that live in your mines? Knockers? ”
“Now, see here. There’s no call to snipe at Thea. I’m hardly suggesting—”
“You’d best not.”
“I shall leave no stone unturned until I find her,” James said. The insufferable gudgeon was in danger of coming up with a blackened good eye. It was beyond the beyond. How dared Thea go traipsing off and leave him with this impossible coil to unwind.
“That wretched old Gypsy crone is not exempted from this, you can bet your blunt upon it. Whatever possessedTheodosia to champion her so? I never should have allowed the woman to set foot in the house. There’s been nothing but misfortune come upon us since I let her in. They do that, you know—bring misfortune. Deuced Gypsies—Tinkers—Travelers—the whole bloody lot can go to the devil and good riddance, the heathens!”
Now who’s spouting gammon over the supernatural , James wanted to say. He bit back the temptation, with hard-set lips and ticking jaw muscles.
“What did that odious woman say to her?” Nigel asked. “Did she confide in you?”
“No, she did not,” said James. “I asked, but she skirted the issue and I did not pursue it.”
“They’ve probably carried her off!” Nigel went on. “Well? What are you sitting here for? Go back out and run them to ground. Go round to Drogheda and bring the guards from the Watch. Do something , man!”
“I’ve only just come in, and I’m exhausted, Cosgrove,” James said, his voice strained. Another minute and he’d tell the jackanapes exactly what he thought of him, by God! “No one wants to find Thea more than I do, I assure you.” Should he speak his mind? The devil take it—yes! “Look here,” he went on, “I know my sister well by half—far better than you, sir, and I’m beginning to believe that Thea does not want to be found. I wasn’t going to do this, but I see now that I must. When you get up out of that bed, there are issues that needs must be addressed. I saw the mark you left upon Thea’s lips, and I know what transpired between you up on those battlements—none of which befits the conduct of a gentleman, sir.”
Nigel gave a dry guffaw. “Are you calling me out, Barrington?”
“I am putting you on notice, sir . . . for the present.”
“What occurs between Theodosia and myself is none of your concern.”
“I beg to differ,” said James. “My sister’s welfare and well-being are very much my concern, Cosgrove. I haven’t liked your attitude toward Thea from the start. I would be remiss as her brother and her protector if I were not to speak my mind in the matter.”
“Now is not exactly the hour to give me the benefit of your ‘mind,’ ” Nigel said.
“I thoroughly agree,” James returned. “Which is why I shall take my leave and be about the business of fetching the guards from Drogheda. There will be plenty of time for settling grievances once Thea is had back safely, please God.” And he turned with a heel-clicking bow to quit the room without a backward glance.
Streaking past two housemaids in the corridor who had obviously been eavesdropping, he collected his multi-caped greatcoat, beaver hat, gloves, and a flask of whiskey to ward off the chill. Then, without a word to anyone, he jogged down the stairs and stalked off toward the stables.
It was scarcely midday, but the sky had darkened considerably since he had returned. He would have to hurry if he wanted to reach Drogheda and bring the guards before the threatening snowstorm. Haste was of the essence. A new snowfall would cover any tracks he might have overlooked, though he couldn’t imagine where they might be. He’d combed
“Now, see here. There’s no call to snipe at Thea. I’m hardly suggesting—”
“You’d best not.”
“I shall leave no stone unturned until I find her,” James said. The insufferable gudgeon was in danger of coming up with a blackened good eye. It was beyond the beyond. How dared Thea go traipsing off and leave him with this impossible coil to unwind.
“That wretched old Gypsy crone is not exempted from this, you can bet your blunt upon it. Whatever possessedTheodosia to champion her so? I never should have allowed the woman to set foot in the house. There’s been nothing but misfortune come upon us since I let her in. They do that, you know—bring misfortune. Deuced Gypsies—Tinkers—Travelers—the whole bloody lot can go to the devil and good riddance, the heathens!”
Now who’s spouting gammon over the supernatural , James wanted to say. He bit back the temptation, with hard-set lips and ticking jaw muscles.
“What did that odious woman say to her?” Nigel asked. “Did she confide in you?”
“No, she did not,” said James. “I asked, but she skirted the issue and I did not pursue it.”
“They’ve probably carried her off!” Nigel went on. “Well? What are you sitting here for? Go back out and run them to ground. Go round to Drogheda and bring the guards from the Watch. Do something , man!”
“I’ve only just come in, and I’m exhausted, Cosgrove,” James said, his voice strained. Another minute and he’d tell the jackanapes exactly what he thought of him, by God! “No one wants to find Thea more than I do, I assure you.” Should he speak his mind? The devil take it—yes! “Look here,” he went on, “I know my sister well by half—far better than you, sir, and I’m beginning to believe that Thea does not want to be found. I wasn’t going to do this, but I see now that I must. When you get up out of that bed, there are issues that needs must be addressed. I saw the mark you left upon Thea’s lips, and I know what transpired between you up on those battlements—none of which befits the conduct of a gentleman, sir.”
Nigel gave a dry guffaw. “Are you calling me out, Barrington?”
“I am putting you on notice, sir . . . for the present.”
“What occurs between Theodosia and myself is none of your concern.”
“I beg to differ,” said James. “My sister’s welfare and well-being are very much my concern, Cosgrove. I haven’t liked your attitude toward Thea from the start. I would be remiss as her brother and her protector if I were not to speak my mind in the matter.”
“Now is not exactly the hour to give me the benefit of your ‘mind,’ ” Nigel said.
“I thoroughly agree,” James returned. “Which is why I shall take my leave and be about the business of fetching the guards from Drogheda. There will be plenty of time for settling grievances once Thea is had back safely, please God.” And he turned with a heel-clicking bow to quit the room without a backward glance.
Streaking past two housemaids in the corridor who had obviously been eavesdropping, he collected his multi-caped greatcoat, beaver hat, gloves, and a flask of whiskey to ward off the chill. Then, without a word to anyone, he jogged down the stairs and stalked off toward the stables.
It was scarcely midday, but the sky had darkened considerably since he had returned. He would have to hurry if he wanted to reach Drogheda and bring the guards before the threatening snowstorm. Haste was of the essence. A new snowfall would cover any tracks he might have overlooked, though he couldn’t imagine where they might be. He’d combed
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