trees. There was no sign of watchers, yet she couldn’t be certain. The earl would not accept her defection with grace.
Mister Harrington helped her into the saddle. She darted another glance around her. Though there was no sign anyone had been there, Laura suspected that the earl had sent someone to check the cottage.
“It has been weeks since your escape,” Mister Harrington said as if reading her mind. “If someone was sent after you, he has long given up looking here.”
A cold chill dusted over her. Whether it was from fear or from the wind in a threatening sky, gooseflesh dotted her skin.
“The danger he poses is real, no matter how many weeks have passed. I cannot fall into his clutches again.”
Simon reached up to touch her hand. “You have friends to help watch over you: Eva, Noelle, Sophie, and me. We will fight to keep you safe. You are no longer alone, Laura.”
The words went right to her heart. Tears welled and she blinked to keep them at bay. Unable to trust her voice, she instead turned her wrist and clasped his hand in hers.
Their eyes locked. They stayed that way for a moment until Laura flushed and looked away.
Mister Harrington released her hand and handed her the reins. “Let’s see to the house, shall we?”
He mounted Horse and turned back toward the manor. Laura nudged the mare into a trot and followed at a reasonable pace, back up the trail.
“You must be familiar with this house,” Simon asked after they’d arrived and she’d slid down unaided from the mare. “The cottage is part of the property.”
Untying the bonnet and removing it, Laura looked up at the four-story structure. “The owner was distantly related to my father. Some sort of cousin by marriage.” She brushed loose hair from her eyes. “He had little use for his poor relations, though he did send over food when it amused him, and allowed us to live in the cottage. I visited only a half dozen times to return picnic baskets and never ventured beyond the kitchen.”
The manor was lovely. She remembered occasionally dawdling in the kitchen as a child, wondering what it was like to live there. “The grounds were never cared for properly, as my cousin was unable to hire a decent groundskeeper. Edgar was reputed to expect much from his servants and paid them very little. No one stayed long.”
She paused and scanned the weed-choked lawn. “It was one of those times that I drew the attention of my husband.” She grimaced. “He was a visiting friend from Eton. They’d gone to school together. My cousin and he were quite alike, both the worst sort of bounders. Edgar died without heirs several months after my father died, from a fall off his horse.” She paused. “Or so I’ve been told.”
“You think it wasn’t an accident?”
Laura scrunched up her face. “He was the sort of man who had enemies. One of them could have easily broken his neck.”
Chapter Nine
F rom all he’d learned about Laura today, Simon was surprised she’d not been broken. The life of poverty, a sham marriage, abuse, all cobbled together to kill a spirit. And yet here she was, continuing onward in spite of the burdens she carried on her trim shoulders.
“Was there an investigation into his death?” Simon asked.
Laura shrugged. “I do not know. I was told of his accident and nothing more.” The wind ruffled her hair. “He callously seduced young women all over Surrey and beyond, leaving outraged fathers in his wake. If there was an investigation, I suspected it warranted only a cursory glance.”
It was difficult to prove murder under the best circumstances. In this case, the clues would be minimal.
“Then we shall accept it was an accident and move forward with our exploration.” Simon led Laura to the front door. A thought crossed his mind. He stopped. “I’ve not asked if this manor holds painful memories for you.”
Laura looked up at the stone façade. “Not painful. I do have some misgivings, though not enough
Mister Harrington helped her into the saddle. She darted another glance around her. Though there was no sign anyone had been there, Laura suspected that the earl had sent someone to check the cottage.
“It has been weeks since your escape,” Mister Harrington said as if reading her mind. “If someone was sent after you, he has long given up looking here.”
A cold chill dusted over her. Whether it was from fear or from the wind in a threatening sky, gooseflesh dotted her skin.
“The danger he poses is real, no matter how many weeks have passed. I cannot fall into his clutches again.”
Simon reached up to touch her hand. “You have friends to help watch over you: Eva, Noelle, Sophie, and me. We will fight to keep you safe. You are no longer alone, Laura.”
The words went right to her heart. Tears welled and she blinked to keep them at bay. Unable to trust her voice, she instead turned her wrist and clasped his hand in hers.
Their eyes locked. They stayed that way for a moment until Laura flushed and looked away.
Mister Harrington released her hand and handed her the reins. “Let’s see to the house, shall we?”
He mounted Horse and turned back toward the manor. Laura nudged the mare into a trot and followed at a reasonable pace, back up the trail.
“You must be familiar with this house,” Simon asked after they’d arrived and she’d slid down unaided from the mare. “The cottage is part of the property.”
Untying the bonnet and removing it, Laura looked up at the four-story structure. “The owner was distantly related to my father. Some sort of cousin by marriage.” She brushed loose hair from her eyes. “He had little use for his poor relations, though he did send over food when it amused him, and allowed us to live in the cottage. I visited only a half dozen times to return picnic baskets and never ventured beyond the kitchen.”
The manor was lovely. She remembered occasionally dawdling in the kitchen as a child, wondering what it was like to live there. “The grounds were never cared for properly, as my cousin was unable to hire a decent groundskeeper. Edgar was reputed to expect much from his servants and paid them very little. No one stayed long.”
She paused and scanned the weed-choked lawn. “It was one of those times that I drew the attention of my husband.” She grimaced. “He was a visiting friend from Eton. They’d gone to school together. My cousin and he were quite alike, both the worst sort of bounders. Edgar died without heirs several months after my father died, from a fall off his horse.” She paused. “Or so I’ve been told.”
“You think it wasn’t an accident?”
Laura scrunched up her face. “He was the sort of man who had enemies. One of them could have easily broken his neck.”
Chapter Nine
F rom all he’d learned about Laura today, Simon was surprised she’d not been broken. The life of poverty, a sham marriage, abuse, all cobbled together to kill a spirit. And yet here she was, continuing onward in spite of the burdens she carried on her trim shoulders.
“Was there an investigation into his death?” Simon asked.
Laura shrugged. “I do not know. I was told of his accident and nothing more.” The wind ruffled her hair. “He callously seduced young women all over Surrey and beyond, leaving outraged fathers in his wake. If there was an investigation, I suspected it warranted only a cursory glance.”
It was difficult to prove murder under the best circumstances. In this case, the clues would be minimal.
“Then we shall accept it was an accident and move forward with our exploration.” Simon led Laura to the front door. A thought crossed his mind. He stopped. “I’ve not asked if this manor holds painful memories for you.”
Laura looked up at the stone façade. “Not painful. I do have some misgivings, though not enough
Similar Books
