The Toplofty Lord Thorpe by Kasey Michaels Page A

their shoulders as if someone were about to plant a knife between their shoulder blades, and the villagers—according to Dex, who scouted out the locals to look for clues—are positively terrified! I should be too, if I thought Julian’s fine management might be replaced by Dex’s selfish style of living. Oh no, the locals do not wish evil on Julian—but it is depressing to see that they have no real affection for him. They only are looking out for themselves.
    Tomorrow, our second full day here, we are all going to ride out to reconnoiter. Someone must know something they are not telling, and I Shall Not Rest until I have cleared Julian’s name. Poor darling, he has put a brave face on it so far (well, he has had one or two lapses, but that is to be expected in such a proud man), and I know he must be torn between needing our help and wishing us all at the other side of the world so that he can give vent to his frustration without fear of any of us seeing.
    I shall try to come to see you, for I wish to see Christopher before much more time has passed, but I shall not be leaving Hillcrest until the Mystery Is Solved!
    Julian will be Ever So Grateful—don’t you think?
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    Your most devoted,
Lucy
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    P.S. Julian has allowed me to keep the most adorable monkey we stumbled upon as wetoured a traveling circus on our way to Hillcrest. Isn’t he a dear?
    W HEN J ENNIE FINISHED reading, she looked over to where her husband sat, smiling in bemusement as he shook his head. “Who’s a ‘dear’ do you think, love—Thorpe or the monkey!”
    But Jennie wasn’t laughing. “This is serious, Kit. You read the stories in the newspapers. Lucy’s reputation will be completely destroyed, if it hasn’t been already. We have to get her away from him—today if possible!”
    â€œI don’t think Wellington can spare a regiment, kitten, and that’s what it would take to prize her loose. Relax, Rachel is with her.” Kit could see one of Jennie’s attacks of protectiveness coming on, and he wished to avoid it at all costs.
    â€œBut Lucy says something about murder,” Jennie protested, rereading part of the letter. “Do you think she may be right?”
    The Earl of Bourne drew his wife down onto his knees and kissed away the worry lines that creased her pale brow. “Lucy has never got the straight of anything in her life,” he stated with gentle conviction. “Besides, like she says, Lord Thorpe is ‘such a dear.’ Surely she can’t be in any danger. Now, give me a kiss, kitten—your wriggling about has quite taken my mind off any other subject.”
    â€œWhat? Here in the morning room where anyone might discover us!” Jennie teased, nibbling his earlobe.
    Kit leaned her back so that he could leer good-naturedly into her smiling face. “Did you think Lord Thorpe was the only one capable of stirring up a bit of scandal? Ah, woman, how little you know me.”
    Lucy’s letter slipped from Jennie’s lap, to float unnoticed to the floor.
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    L UCY WAS TOTALLY enthralled by Hillcrest. Expecting an ancient, moldering pile dating from the thirteenth century and added onto willy-nilly over the years until it sprawled inelegantly in all directions, she was mightily surprised to find that the residence was no more than twenty years old and, if not modest in size, comfortably large without being intimidating.
    Raleigh, Julian’s majordomo, had told her that the old residence, situated a scant mile away on the other side of the park, had succumbed to fire, with only some carefully landscaped stone ruins remaining to mark the spot. The new Hillcrest, built by Julian’s father, had been planned to sit closer to the large pond that lay to the left of it, the late earl having thought it prudent to be closer to an ample supply of water if ever fire dared to strike again.
    The fire had destroyed more