The Return of Lord Conistone by Lucy Ashford

thinking, in anguish,
That night, after he was shot, he kissed me. He told me he cared for me—and I refused to listen. I couldn’t believe in him, because of his grandfather’s insults, and Deb’s lies.…
    Oh, Lucas. Did he really feel something for her after all?
    It was too late. Far too late.
    Pippa put her hand on her shoulder. ‘I have to go now. But come round later, love, and stay for the night. David will call for you’. And Pippa with a nod, left; but then Verena realised that Turley, who’d driven her sisters back from Chichester, was in the room.
    ‘Miss Sheldon. May I have a word?’
    ‘Of course, Turley. What is it?’
    He was looking grave. Her heart sank. ‘Didn’t want to tell her ladyship, or your sisters. But I heard, in Chichester, that the magistrates’ court is sitting today. And the whole town was talking of it, because some of our men—Billy Dixon and the rest—were facin’ a charge of treason, Miss Verena!’
    She went white.
‘Treason?
I should have known. I should have been told…’
    Turley looked embarrassed. ‘Fact is, Miss Verena, I thought you
did
know. You see, I heard Mr Mayhew and his lordship talking about it when I took them in tea yesterday…’
    Talking about it. Behind her back. She bit her lip. ‘Is there any news of the case yet, Turley?’
    ‘No one here’s heard anything yet, Miss Verena’.
    But Turley could be wrong. There was
somebody
who might know. Somebody who seemed to know everything.
    * * *
    When Verena flew into his room, Lucas was dressed and sitting on the edge of the bed while Bentinck adjusted the sling in which his arm rested. Lucas got slowly to his feet, his eyes unreadable. ‘Miss Sheldon. It’s been a couple of days since you last made one of your—impromptu visits’.
    ‘A word, if you please, Lord Conistone!’
    ‘Is it a word,’ he said gravely, ‘that Bentinck is allowed to hear? Or would you prefer him to leave us?’
    ‘No! I mean, yes!’
    Lucas nodded to Bentinck, who plodded out, his face a picture, and closed the door.
    Verena clasped her hands together. Alone with Lucas Conistone—
again
. How she piled the torment upon herself. Yet this was something that could not be stalled for mereetiquette. ‘I have just heard this morning, my lord, that the Wycherley fishermen were up before the magistrates. And I’ve also been informed that you have discussed their case with Mr Mayhew! Those men are our tenants. Why was I not informed?’
    He said quietly, ‘Because Mr Mayhew had the matter in hand and I did not want you troubled’.
    Her heart was thudding. ‘Since when have Wycherley’s villagers been your concern?’
    ‘You
are my concern, Verena,’ he said.
    She stumbled. That look in his eyes. Those dark, hidden, inexplicable depths. She was reminded, all too vividly, of the sweet sensation of his kiss. The heated tenderness of his hands, on her shoulders, her throat, her breasts. And she’d been wrong about Deb. But.
His grandfather. He utterly betrayed you to his grandfather.
    She breathed, ‘This is—impossible. I should have
been
there’.
    ‘They will be all right, believe me,’ he repeated gravely.
    The door opened. Her mother tiptoed in. ‘My dear Lord Conistone—oh, Verena! You are here, my love! Lord Conistone, I was going to ask you if—to relieve the tedium of your convalescence—you might care to join us tonight for one of our musical soirées! Izzy and Deb are home again. They sing, you know, and Verena plays the piano quite wonderfully; but perhaps you are quite happy alone here with my dear Verena—such an
accomplished
girl! And—’
    ‘Mama,’ Verena broke in. ‘Mama, will you go outside, please? I will join you in a minute’.
    ‘Oh, if I have interrupted something—’
    ‘You have,’ declared Verena flatly. ‘One minute, please’.
    Lady Frances, simpering, left the room and closed the door very softly.
    Lucas said to her, ‘The villagers are safe. Bentinck went into Chichester