Tanner departed, leaving Simon alone with his thoughts. Lambert just didn’t seem the type to hold a grudge for so long. Besides, he got what he wanted—Daphne. The only part of this that made sense was Lambert needed money and somehow he’d discovered what Mia had found. Simon rubbed his eyes. Even that was bordering on the absurd. Why would the son of a viscount be looking for buried treasure?
Simon swore softly. If he hadn’t seen Davies that day, he might wonder if this story was just Mia’s imagination. The more he thought about things, the more his frustration grew. Mia had agreed to marry him before she’d seen the books and realized just how little money he had. Today when he mentioned getting the license, her response had been lukewarm. He could tell Tanner still didn’t believe Mia wasn’t involved in some manner.
And as much as he didn’t want to admit it, Simon had a tingling of doubt too.
Chapter 15
Mia and her mother walked back to the house after a long afternoon chat. While she had never felt particularly close to her mother, she did give sound counsel. She had told Mia to speak with Simon about her concerns. Unfortunately, she had many.
She and Simon had not been honest with each other about many things. That was no way to start a marriage. They needed to talk about what they had been keeping from each other. Mia had no idea what secrets he held, but she was certain he did. She had told him everything but he held back his thoughts.
The gravel crunched under their feet as they walked up the drive. Mia looked up at the cloudy sky. “It looks like rain. Would you like a carriage to take you back? I’m sure Hart wouldn’t mind.”
“No, Mia. I don’t believe it will rain but even if it does, I can manage. Now remember what I said,” her mother commented as they reached the door of the house.
“I will.”
“I meant about the bedroom.”
Mia felt heat cross her cheeks as she nodded. Her mother’s conversation regarding the marriage bed had been blunt. Mia supposed twenty-five years of marriage gave her a bit more knowledge than Mia had. And her parents’ marriage had always seemed quite happy.
“And about your ribs. You may have the earl teach you some basic safety measures but nothing too extreme.”
“Yes, Mother.” She would not be up to that for a few days. Mia kissed her mother’s cheek. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you to Mrs. Lanston’s cottage? I haven’t visited with any of the tenants in nearly a fortnight.”
“I want you to stay here and be safe.”
“Of course.” Mia nodded but her frustration was growing. The lack of freedom and inability to speak with anyone but her mother, Simon, and the servants frustrated her. She missed her conversations with the tenants when she visited them.
She entered the house and Harris breathed a sigh of relief. “What is wrong?”
“I thought the earl was going to let Robert go for allowing you to stay with your mother unguarded.”
“I will speak with him. Is he in his study?”
Harris nodded. “He was just getting ready to go out and look for you. And he is in a foul mood.”
“Thank you for the warning,” she said as she walked down the marble hall. The heels of her boots echoed through the corridor.
Heavy footsteps sounded from the room ahead of her. Simon strode into the hall and stared at her. Mia stopped and stared at him. His short brown hair appeared disheveled as if he’d been raking his hands through it. The worried look in his eyes said it all. “Where have you been?”
“I was with my mother.”
He clasped her arm and forcibly led her into
the study before slamming the door. “Why didn’t you tell me where you were going?” he all but shouted at her.
“You were waiting for Mr. Tanner. I saw no need. Robert accompanied me and then my mother told him to go back to Hartsfield Park. I was perfectly safe with my mother. She accompanied me back to the house.”
“You are not safe anywhere, except in the house.” He paced the room with heavy footfalls.
“Simon, sit down and talk to me,” she demanded.
He paced the room. “I cannot sit. This situation is driving me mad.”
“What did Mr. Tanner say?”
After a few more paces, he stopped and sank into a chair across from her. He told her about Lambert possibly being involved for vengeance.