“Yes. Like we did.” She reached over to seize his hands. “Honestly, there’s no real evidence to imply that you killed him, is there?”
“No. I did dispose of the other empty laudanum bottle in the Tyne. But if it ever did turn up in the river, no one would connect it to me.”
“Perhaps it’s also time you consult a solicitor or even a discreet investigator, who can find out if anyone is even taking seriously the rumors of your murdering your father. Or perhaps ask a friend in Newcastle. Surely you have some there.”
He smiled. “A few. I would hope none of them would believe me capable of murder.”
“And you did say that the dukedom came to you long after he died.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t prove anything. They’ll say that anyone paying attention to the title would know Father was next in line.” He squeezed her hands. “That’s what I get for not paying attention, I suppose. But don’t worry about it.”
“I won’t. Because you and I are going to face whatever happens together. That’s the most important thing.”
“You’re right.”
The carriage abruptly halted.
She looked out the window. “We’re not at an inn. What’s wrong?”
He climbed out of the carriage, then came back all smiles. “We’ve found them.”
* * *
“I’m not coming home with you, Geoffrey, and that’s final!” Rosy cried.
Why she’d had to choose now to assert her independence was anyone’s guess, but much as Geoffrey wanted to take her over his shoulder and treat her like the child she was behaving as, he knew that wouldn’t work. For one thing, Winston looked fiercer even than Geoffrey felt at present.
Perhaps it was time to compromise. “Well, you’re not going on to Gretna Green either,” he said. “Because if I leave you with a broken-down post chaise, what are you going to do about it? The post boy over there doesn’t seem to be having any luck with repairs.”
“We’ll walk to the next inn on the route,” Winston said, taking Rosy’s hand.
“I can assure you, sir, that my sister cannot walk five miles in that gown. And if you carry on toward Gretna Green, I won’t give her a penny of her dowry. Which will no doubt make your father cut you off.” Before Rosy started to protest, he held up his hand. “But I do have a proposal that you might both find amenable. A perfectly fair one that will allow the two of you to be married the proper way, in a church with both families present.”
“Let’s at least get back into our more comfortable carriage to discuss it,” Diana said. “We’ve got a picnic basket with plenty of food and drink.”
Winston looked at Rosy. “What do you think, love?”
“I suppose we should hear them out. Papa’s family cut him off, and it hurt him deeply.” Rosy edged closer to Winston and glared at Geoffrey. “But no sneaky business, like trying to rush us back to London in your carriage before we can get out.”
“That would be impossible,” Geoffrey said. “We’d have to turn the carriage around, and given how slow that process is, you could leap out quite easily.”
Even Rosy had to concede the soundness of his logic.
Once they were all situated in the carriage and foraging in a picnic basket for food, Geoffrey presented his idea. “I will approve your marriage if Winston first spends a year working for me.”
“Working at what?” Winston asked.
“Whatever you wish. Stockdon and Sons has projects all over the country. Or, if you prefer, you can work at my estate, learning to be the estate manager.”
To Geoffrey’s surprise, Winston seemed intrigued. “I’ve some ideas about crop rotation I’d like to try out. My father won’t even consider them.”
“I will. I’ve never had an estate. So, if anything, you could show me how to run one.”
“It’s Castle Grenwood in Yorkshire, isn’t it?” Winston asked.
“That’s the one. I have a project in Manchester I wish to finish first. That’s why I said a year. Because that’s what’s left on the project, and I was thinking you could help me finish it. But if you’d rather play lord of the manor, I’m fine with that..”
“Then we could see each other,” Rosy said, squeezing Winston’s hand.