“He said that he would, told us the man was a flash, always dressed to the nines. Said he would only identify him if we were lenient with him and his mother. That was his deal, so for the moment we have nothing, other than this Smith fellow who found him on the outskirts of London some weeks ago and initiated the entire plan.”
“Right then. We shall eventually have to draw this ‘Smith’ out and make him desperate enough to make a move,” Bess said thoughtfully.
“Not we, my girl. My concern now is keeping Thomas safe. I don’t believe he will be safe at Mary Russell’s,” the earl said quietly.
“Not with that Bernard Holland there. I shouldn’t make snap judgments, and yet I don’t trust him,” Bess returned, putting a steadying hand to her side. She was beginning to feel really fatigued from the pain.
“The proprieties require that I send
over some notice that we have Thomas safe and sound, yet I am loathe to do so,” the earl said as he sat back in his wooden chair and pyramided his fingers. “It occurs to me that the doctor feels he must stay in bed and rest. Indeed, my London doctor, who was in the vicinity visiting friends, was kind enough to pay us a visit. He believes the boy’s coughing and sneezing is infectious, and there is no need for Mary to visit and expose herself.”
“Brilliant!” Bess said with admiration. “What a wonderful idea, but this means you are suspicious of Bernard Holland, as I am.” Bess asked worriedly, “What is to be done? We simply can’t allow him to get his hands on the boy again. If Holland is this mysterious Mr. Smith, how do we prove it?”
“Aye, therein lies the trick of it. He is probably the next in line, and if so, that goes a long way to proving it. I canna be certain till I investigate the situation. However, I most definitely suspect Holland is behind it all. I also think we are dealing now with a desperate man. His plan has gone awry, hasn’t it? And we now know his plan wasn’t for ransom. That would have been a temporary solution, and apparently whoever was behind this was after something more permanent.” He chewed his bottom lip.
Bess focused on his mouth and felt a rush of heat travel through her body. It was as though she were hypnotized as she watched him.
Suddenly he sighed heavily and continued, “Aye then, as I said, my job will be to discover who is next in line to inherit the squire’s vast fortune. Therein lies our answer to this problem.”
“I asked Mary, and she said she didn’t know,” Bess offered on a frown.
“Well, I mean to find out. Do ye think, my bonnie lass, that you can keep Thomas safely in tow here tomorrow while I go off and do just that?”
“Yes, oh, yes, but where are you going?” Bess paused and added, “You know what strikes me as odd is as pleasant as Mary Russell is, she doesn’t seem to have much sense. After all, she seems to genuinely like her cousin, and he seems to be forever at her side. Therefore, I can’t trust her judgment or her ability to keep Thomas unharmed.” She shook her head. “No one is taking that boy out of our care until we know he will be safe.”
He eyed her with amusement in his blue eyes, and she responded to it by dimpling. Did it show, she wondered, how much power he held over her? What was she to do? She knew what she wanted: marriage or no, she wanted to be with him, feel his kisses, his touch, to continue what he had started the other night. Did it show? Did everyone see it on her face?
“Will ye promise me to stay here at Searington while I am gone, will ye, lass?” he asked and took up her hand to put it to his lips. “I canna think of ye running aboot the countryside and still have a clear head.”
“Of course I will stay here and entertain Thomas, and besides, the truth is I think I need a day’s rest to recover from that blow that odious old Gypsy woman gave me.”
“What you need is a good hot soaking, as do I,” Donna said as she moved away from her husband, whom she had been nuzzling all the while. “I think I need to go up and splash some hot water on myself and then lie down for a bit.”
“Wait, Donna, what are you saying?” Robby exclaimed worriedly. “I haven’t eaten—not lunch, no tea—and from your empty plates, I see that you have.” He shook his head. “I need some dinner … shall I eat here in the kitchen? You obviously ate here.” He was already up and moving in on Anna, who had just re-entered the kitchen. He put an arm around her large frame and squeezed her shoulders as he nudged her coaxingly. “Have you a plate for me, my comely Anna, for anything you cook up is always spot on.”
The plump older woman smiled fondly, for Robby had already gotten to know her over the last few days and many visits to her in the kitchen. She mumbled something about not knowing where he put all the food he took in as she looked over his tall, well built form and led him to another counter.
“Dinner, yes, I suppose we did just have dinner,” Bess said on a laugh. “We certainly ate enough to last us till noon tomorrow.”
Bess got up at that point to follow Donna out, but she found that she could scarcely stand as pain shot through her and made her wobble.
She attempted a smile and told her friend, who hesitated at the doorway, “Go on up, Donna. I shall follow you up in a few moments.”
Donna frowned. “Shall I help you, Bess? Do you need my arm?”
“Nonsense—go on,” Bess insisted.
Donna frowned again and shook her head. “You are stubborn. I think I will just give you my arm …”
Bess smiled feebly and waved her off. “I shan’t take it. I am not such a weakling that—oh!”
The earl settled the argument by scooping her up and gently lifting her in his arms, cradle-like. He said firmly, though to Bess his voice was a caress, “Just relax, love. Doona move, for I am taking ye and seeing to yer needs, so ye might as well hold yer whist.” He nodded to Donna. “Ye can go on up yerself, Donna, and no worry about her. She’ll do as she is told.” The earl eyed her with lively mischief in his bright blues.
Donna laughed, waved everyone off, and vanished ahead of them as the earl took his time.
Bess was spellbound by him.
She knew it and just held on. She had always been a strong-minded woman with notions of her own. She didn’t take orders well, but she also knew at times she needed someone to pull in her reins.