Liam glanced down at her. “Actually, that is not true, Miss Miller. I was already here, in the shadows and you passed me by.”
“Well, then,” Thea said, her amusement rising, “I suppose it might behoove you to, say, enjoy an evening walk by the lake when your duties are finished. And if we happen to meet, given that I sometimes enjoy strolling in this direction myself, from time to time, of course, we might, er, enjoy one another’s company.”
“And if Lord Willowdale were to find out?”
“Then I suppose it will be my turn to protect you, Liam. He cannot dismiss you if I demand you stay.”
“That is very generous of you, Miss Miller.”
“Not really. I need someone to talk to now and again. I have been quite lonely since my parents died. Freddie is wonderful, of course, but it is not the same thing as having a friend to share things with.”
Liam sucked in his breath. “You would consider me a friend, Miss Miller?”
“Of course, Liam,” she replied, eyeing him. “I, too, remember our closeness as children.”
“Then maybe you will answer a question for me.”
“Please do.”
“Did someone truly try to murder Lord Willowdale today?”
Thea stared out at the moon. “I believe so. My brother wishes to think of it as an accident, someone shooting carelessly. Why?”
“Then I would like to inspect that post right there,” Liam said. “Was that an accident also? Or did someone engineer it?”
“Oh, no.” Thea stared down at the spot where the post had been until it broke under her weight when she leaned against it. “I remember hearing it creak, but –”
“Right after dawn,” Liam said, his voice firm, “before I start my duties, I will inspect both ends of the post, then we will know for certain.”
“Thank you, Liam. It never occurred to me that it was anything except a rotten piece of wood.”
“And it may very well be just that, Miss Miller.”
“If we are going to be friends again, Liam,” Thea told him, “then you will cease calling me ‘Miss Miller’ in private. When we are alone, as now, you will call me Thea.”
“If that is your wish – Thea.”
Looking up, Thea found him grinning, his teeth shining in the moonlight. “But to not raise any suspicions in my brother, keep your stone face on and do not look at me.”
“I will not. However, I will be at the bottom of the stairs when you come down, just as I was this morning. If there is nothing save rotten wood, I will give you a tiny shake of my head. If I find evidence of it being cut, I will give you a small nod.”
“Then if you nod at me,” Thea continued, “I will tell my brother that I would like the post investigated, in light of the shooting today, of course.”
“Then, Thea,” Liam said, his tone harsh, “it means someone is trying to kill you both.”
“I know.” Thea turned to wander back toward the house. “But before we worry about that, let us see what tomorrow shows. Right now, I am in dire need of a drink of laudanum and a long night’s sleep.”
“Yes,” Liam said, strolling beside her. “I did notice you limping.”
“When Liam’s horse went down, mine jumped.” She half laughed. “I despise that wretched sidesaddle.”
Nearing the house, Thea turned to him. “We must not go in together.”
He smiled briefly, a quick turning upwards of his lips. “I know, Thea. I was going to suggest it myself. Go in, and I will linger here for a while.”
Giving him a smile good night, Thea returned to the house and climbed the stairs toward her chambers. Turning the corner to stroll down the corridor, thinking of Liam, she all but ran head first into Freddie. He caught her before she stumbled backward, his hands holding her arms.
“Freddie,” she gasped, “you frightened me.”
