Diana suppressed an agonized sigh, her understanding plain on her face. She nodded quietly.
“Then you must go. If the Earl means so much to you—although I know not how, you’ve only known him this short while—then you should go.”
“A short while? I daresay I’ve spent more time in the presence of the Earl of Lanercost than with the man I’m supposed to marry tomorrow,” Marjorie replied angrily. “For what it’s worth, I’ve spent more time with the Duke’s atrocious sister than with him. And yet tomorrow, I must give up my name, my freedom, all that I am to become his wife. Forgive my anger, but come tomorrow I must share a bed with a man whose name I don’t fully know. So yes, if I can flee from here and do something useful, something of my own choosing, then so shall it be!”
Marjorie finished preparing and left through the now-familiar door from the kitchen. Diana had sent word to the stable to hitch a common farm wagon with only one horse so that Marjorie might lead the other horse home from where she’d left it. Soon enough, Marjorie was on her way to the stables once more, intent on uncovering the truth behind the dangerous antics afoot at the Earl’s home.
“Whoa there, Gregg!” the Earl called out when he recognized Marjorie approaching. “I certainly did not expect to see you here today!”
His words were pointed, their intent quite clear:What are you doing here?Marjorie only smiled and returned the greeting.
“Good morning, My Lord. I apologize for being a bit tardy, it was a trouble to get me boots on what with the ankle still smarting from yesterday.”
“Aye, Jonathan!” Jacobs called back. “Are ya sure you should be riding on it today? You don’t want to hurt yerself even more!”
“Tis only a little pain, Jacobs!” Jonathan answered. “Besides, after you winning the race last night, I’ve got plenty of work to be doing if I hope to ever beat you!”
Jacobs laughed good-naturedly, and even Wills joined in. He’d managed to place second, but only because Jonathan had fallen. It hadn’t sat well with the riders from Evan’s stables that they should win that way, and it had taken a fair amount of convincing for them to take their share of the prize money.
Jacobs dug in his pocket and produced a small pouch of coins. “Here, Jonathan, this’ll be yours then. Wills and I split up our two purses for ya.”
“But you should not have!” Jonathan cried, taking the pouch that Jacobs held out. “Twas your prize, you earned it!”
“We would not have, should it not have been for you racing alongside us. Any other rider could have come up on us and gotten around, but not with three of us in the race. You’re the reason we were both in the top, and you’ll just have to share the reward with us!”
Jacobs nudged Wills and the two of them left off to see to their horses, leaving Marjorie alone with Evan near the tack room. They looked at each other awkwardly for a moment before turning away, unable to face each other.
“So I hope you truly are mending,” Evan finally said, risking a glance at Marjorie. “I fretted all evening about how you were getting on.”
“Did you, My Lord?” Marjorie asked in a suggestive tone, her eyes innocent. Evan only scowled, but the blush in his cheeks gave Marjorie no small thrill. At last, she relented in her teasing. “I was in very good hands. Diana—my lady’s maid, you met her—would scarcely leave my side! But I need to tell you something, it’s about my sister.”
Evan looked at Marjorie, concerned. She took a deep breath before adding, “She was taken away last night by someone who’d come to steal our horses.” Seeing the look of rage on Evan’s face, she added, “Oh, she was returned home safely! But only because she managed to escape and seek help. Do you know anything of that? Have you heard any news?”
“No! I cannot imagine what kind of scoundrel would risk a hanging offense over something as common as a horse, even one that needs be extraordinary, but then to actually abduct someone? Your sister, is she all right?” Evan grew anxious at the thought that something had happened to her.
“She came away from it very well, thank you. Harriet managed to jump from this man’s wagon and run to the woods, and from there an innkeeper and his wife comforted her. She’s home now, and quite well.”
“That is wonderful news. But what of the horses the thief took from you?” Evan asked, his mind ever on these creatures.
“I was hoping that you might find out something about that,” Marjorie replied shyly. “Surely someone who would go to the trouble of taking Valiant—that’s my own horse, the one the thief stole—has made plans to sell him, else why would he trouble himself with the risk? Could you perhaps inquire about it somewhere?”
Marjorie waited anxiously, hoping she hadn’t overstepped on the Earl’s good graces. It was one thing to overlook a deception such as the one she’d committed, but something else altogether to ask him to make inquiries on her behalf.
“I’ll find out whatever I can,” Evan promised her, smiling at the hope that brightened her face. “I know of just the right place, too.”
“Then I must accompany you!” Marjorie declared, but Evan was already shaking his head.
“No, it is far too dangerous,” he began, then held up his hand to stop her before she could protest. “No, I do not refer simply to the fact that you are—regardless of your attire—a woman. I mean there would be far too many of those from the ton there, and someone could perhaps recognize you.”
“You did not know me, how would any of the others?” Marjorie asked, looking down at her clothing before feeling for her cap.
“It is too great a chance. Many people come not only to view or purchase horses and other livestock, but simply to be seen and to converse.” Evan frowned, then thought of a better idea. “But you may very well be needed here.”
He spoke quickly of all the terrible things that had transpired over the week beforehand, ending with the intentional cut of her girth strap. Marjorie at times was angered by the events, and other times was frightened.
“I already know, I’m afraid. It’s no secret that someone is playing the part of the villain around here. But what help could I provide? I know not how to detect these things nor who would want to commit them against you,” she reminded him.
“Simply this… to be watchful. Remain here in the stables and discover anything that you can. Who comes and goes, how long do they linger, what other ways could someone possibly wreak havoc. Anything you can learn will be more than I’ve been able to understand.”
