Mercy shook her head. “That wasn’t how his invitation came about, Blythe, but I do need him here. There’s been another letter since I saw you last. I’ve confided in Leopold and he believes trouble is coming for Edwin. I must protect him and Leopold is willing to help me do that.”
Blythe scowled.
Mercy clasped her sister’s hands and squeezed. She wanted peace between Blythe and Leopold more than anything. “You saw them together. Leopold is no danger to my son. There have been many instances where he could have harmed the boy and he’s done nothing more than play a harmless game with him. Now that Leopold is aware of the threat, he has promised to do everything he can to protect Edwin. He is part of Edwin’s family, after all.”
“That may be so but who will protect you from him.”
“Oh, Blythe, you worry too much. I don’t require protection, only Edwin does. I cannot do this alone anymore. You have no idea how often I have lain awake at night fretting over it all. Constantine scoffed at the first letters and will not come. I need a man I can trust. Leopold remains at Romsey Abbey.”
Blythe rocked back a little. “Sister, I can see a disaster coming. You know your own character. You will become besotted with him within a week and then what will you do?”
Too late for that warning. Too late by five years. It had only taken one night for Mercy to crave Leopold Randall. Five years to know who he really is. She would have
to hide how she felt from Blythe better. She would have to make sure no one ever suspected Edwin was not her husband’s true offspring. She would have to keep the secret of his conception forever locked away, even if it broke her heart to do so.
Chapter Nineteen
Leopold pushed off the low stone wall as Allen’s two sons disappeared into the stables on an errand. The Romsey stables, a mammoth domed building of brick and glass, were quiet at this time of day. Only Allen labored at chores in the yard, rubbing down a gelding that had recently been exercised. His cousin worked with single-minded intensity, barely glancing up when Leopold joined him.
He had thought to wait until Allen was done with the task, but he seemed in no hurry to engage in conversation. The old duke had done that in his day, too. Pretending not to see someone and then making them wait or interrupt him so he had good reason to be annoyed. Just how much like the old duke was Allen? Although he searched his memory, Leopold couldn’t remember what Allen had been like as a younger man.
He crossed the yard and approached Allen as he changed sides. The gelding fidgeted a bit, but Allen soothed the beast with firm strokes and soft words. “The building is still grand, isn’t it?” Allen said without preamble.
Leopold looked up at the fanciful turrets that no one could enter and grimaced at the extravagance. “The old duke did love to house his horses in luxury.”
Allen straightened, patting the horse. “Not that they care or notice. Like this fellow here, all he wants is a rub, food and water, and to gallop as often as he can. The stables need a bit of work done around the back. I hear you’re the man to go to if something needs fixing.”
“I am for the moment. The duchess will be hiring a new steward soon, but I will make a note of your concerns and see they are attended to.”
“The walls could do with a lick of paint and a couple of panes of glass cracked last winter.”
Leopold nodded. That wasn’t too bad in the scheme of things. Some of the other outbuildings were in a sorrier state. “I’ll see that it’s taken care of.”
“Much obliged. The horses don’t care for the draft.” Allen glanced at him sideways. “But that’s not why you’re here. What brings you to me, Mr. Randall?”
“Trouble.”
Allen shrugged. “Nothing unusual there for a Randall.”
“No,” Leopold said quietly. “We were an unruly bunch in the past. However, in this instance, I have good reason to be concerned.”
“Concerns your boy then?”
Leopold ground his teeth and then forced his jaw to work again. “It concerns the duke, yes.”
Allen chuckled. “Don’t get on the high ropes with me. You sounded just like your father when he was in a snit. Anyone with eyes and a good memory can tell that boy wasn’t of the fifth Duke of Romsey’s making. He’s not a sickly child, is he? He looks like you.”
Damnation! Was the resemblance that obvious?
Allen looked around, spotted his eldest child waiting in the stable’s shadows, and then led the horse toward him. Once the beast had been passed over, and the youth had disappeared, Allen came back.
Leopold crossed his arms over his chest, determined to ignore the comment about Edwin’s parentage. “Do you know what’s been going on around here?”
Allen smacked his hands over his trousers. “Not much. Wilcox is watching everyone like a hawk which does seem out of the ordinary. Usually, he’s not such a stick in the mud. And he’s become secretive when he comes out of the abbey. I don’t know where he’s going, but he looks like he’s swallowed a turnip whole.”
“He’s had good reason for the secrecy.”
“Such as?” Allen asked.