Prepared for the recoil, Liam fired his weapon and struck the trunk slightly above Thea’s. She offered him a flashing smile in lieu of spoken praise while the other footmen slapped him on the back. Only Luke’s shot went wild, but after a few more shots, he, too, was able to hit the tree.
“I believe that will be all for today,” Mr. Noonan said. “Now per Lord Willowdale’s order, you are all to keep these weapons. Clean them, and maintain them as you would a good horse. Load them, and conceal them under your clothing. Miss Miller, I have no idea how to tell you to conceal yours.”
“Do not worry, Mr. Noonan,” she replied in a jaunty voice. “I will think of something.”
“Mr. Carter and Mr. Smith will guard Miss Miller,” Mr. Noonan went on. “Mr. Jonesboro and Mr. Reginald will alternate in standing outside Lord Willowdale’s room, then after he is healed, he will then be attended by you two at all times. Mr. Blackstone will continue his duties as he usually does, but will be prepared to fill in as a guard as necessary. I will inform Mr. O’Bannon immediately as to your new duties, thus removing you from other tasks. Am I clear?”
Murmurs of “Yes, sir,” emerged from Liam and the others as Mr. Noonan led the way back toward the house, Thea strolling beside him. Feeling pleased that he now had an excuse to stay with her and protect her, Liam followed behind her, watching the way her black hair fell to her waist, her trim hips moving under her skirts. He loved her so much, and wished so hard that he could have been born of noble blood so he could marry her.
By tacit consent, he and Luke glanced at each other, understanding that Liam would watch over her now, Luke later. As Luke went toward the servants’ quarters to rest until late that night, Mr. Noonan went to find Mr. O’Bannon and Harold went up the stairs to stand his watch outside Lord Willowdale’s chamber door. Thea glanced over her shoulder to make sure he was following, then walked through the house and out the main door.
As Liam expected, she headed toward the lake and the new dock. As they were in full sight of anyone who might see from the house windows or passing by, Liam maintained a distance from her. She turned halfway toward him, by all appearances she gazed out over the lake as they talked. “I am so sorry you got hurt, Liam,” she said. “I have not had a chance to tell you since it happened.”
“I am hardly hurt, Thea,” he replied, “a few scrapes and a bump on the head.”
“But had that well not fallen in…”
Her voice trailed off, filled with what Liam could only think was fear. The light breeze off the lake whipped her hair across her face, making her drag it away from her eyes. He wanted to take her in his arms and hold her, to tell her it would all be right in the end. He could not and stared out over the lake with a few birds flying over its surface.
“If you had fallen all the way down, you would have perished slowly, if the fall had not killed you,” she went on, her voice hoarse. “I barely slept last night, both of you hurt, both of you nearly getting killed by this villain.”
“We will find him, Thea.”
She glanced at him sidelong, her pale brown eyes unreadable. “I know. But what if it costs you your life?”
Then I will die happy, knowing I protected you.He did not speak that thought aloud, knowing full well it would not just tell her how much he loved her, but would also cause her distress. That he could not do. Instead, he replied, “It will not come to that.”
Thea merely nodded as though she accepted it, which Liam knew she did not. “I am glad you are protecting me, Liam,” she said.
“So am I.”
“I want us to meet here again tonight, after dark. Freddie has not yet forbidden it, but he may. The party is next week, and the guests will begin arriving in a few days.”
That brought the memory of the Baron of Ampleforth departing Lord Willowdale’s rooms that morning. “Why was the Baron so angry this morning?”
Thea waved her hand in disgust. “Just having a tantrum that I refused to let him talk to Freddie about marrying me.”
“He is taking advantage of Lord Willowdale’s current weakness.”
He received a sidelong glance again. “That is exactly what he is doing. So, he left in a huff, but he will return soon, I fear.”
Movement caught Liam’s eye, and he turned toward the house. A footman, not in the Willowdale’s livery, but in black and silver, ran toward the house. He found Thea staring, as well. “Where might that footman be from?” he asked.
“I do not know,” she replied, walking off the dock and onto the gravel path. “But I am going to find out.”
Chapter 17
With Liam the correct distance behind her, Thea strode quickly to the main door of the house just as the strange footman bowed to Mr. O’Bannon. He then spun on his heel, and ran down the road, returning in the direction from which he had come. “Where did he come from?” Thea asked the butler as he bowed to her.
“From His Grace, the Duke of Bradford,” Mr. O’Bannon intoned, handing her the sealed envelope with another bow.
Thea quickly broke the seal, and read its contents, deciphering the intricate handwriting.
To the Viscount of Willowdale, felicitations. I would be pleased to have you and your sister, Miss Thea Miller, arrive on our estate as our guests this coming Friday, if that is at your convenience. I look forward to seeing you both at supper, and you are welcome to stay the night, should you so wish it. Yours, Bradford.
Taking the letter, Thea headed for the stairs, needing to show this to Freddie. If the Duke of Bradford was cordial in his invitation for them to visit, did it mean he was innocent of planting the spy in the house and trying to kill him? With Liam at her shoulder, she climbed them as quickly as her skirts allowed, and knocked on Freddie’s door.
Michael showed her in, leaving Liam to stand outside, and she found Freddie sitting in a chair by his window, staring out. Still wearing his dressing gown, he appeared wan but stronger than he had that morning. He smiled as she approached, his glance falling to the letter in her hand. “What is it?” he asked.
