“Mrs. Warton,” Audrey began, “I mentioned to your husband that I would enjoy becoming involved in philanthropicendeavors in the village. Can you tell me what programs the church hosts?”
Mrs. Warton enlightened them for long minutes about the Female Aid Society and the Soup Distribution Society. Audrey wondered if Robert was nodding off, although he asked polite questions about the scope of their charities, and Mrs. Warton’s opinion on how best to expand their coverage through other villages near his estate. There was even a group who knitted for newborn babies, something Audrey could do to give her a purpose in the evenings after she’d ended things with Robert, and she was alone.
As Mrs. Warton departed, she promised to invite Audrey to her next women’s society meeting.
Audrey sat back down, satisfied.
“You will soon be behaving like an old married woman,” Blythe commented dourly.
“Doing works of charity?” Audrey said in surprise. “I’ll enjoy helping my new parish. I wish I could have done more when I still lived at home.”
Blythe ignored that. “I have letters to write before dinner. If you’ll excuse me, Audrey, Lord Knightsbridge.”
And then she was alone with Robert, and that morning’s scandalous suggestion about an affair might as well have been shouted in the room again, for how much it had dwelt on and off in her mind through the day. She felt the sofa sag as he sat down beside her.
“Now don’t get all stiff with me, Audrey,” he said, his tone full of amusement. “Idon’t think you’re behaving like an old married woman.”
She sighed. “I do not care what my sister thinks. She does not have to live here and get to know people. This is the best way.”
“She’s used to Society and balls and dinners.”
“Exactly.”
“Which she left behind to come here.”
“Itiscurious,” Audrey murmured, then added even more softly, “She might hear us.”
“Then I’ll close the door.”
He left her side so quickly, all she could say was, “But Robert?—”
“Engaged, remember?”
She heard the lock click and regretted the sharp little thrill that danced its way right up through her body. He was going to try to convince her to be his lover again—how would he do it?
But instead of romantic persuasion, he said, “Mr. Drayton stopped by while you were in the garden. I asked him about the missing ledgers, and he swore they were always in your study, and that he hadn’t accidentally taken them.”
“That doesn’t help us,” she said glumly.
“He seemed … reluctant to discuss all of this, which I found unusual.”
“Perhaps because Rose Cottage isn’t yours?”
He chuckled. “I am an earl, Audrey, and engaged to you. Of course he would discuss it with me.”
“Of course,” she answered dryly.
“He went on about several new tenant openings, and the autumn activity on the farms, but … I felt like he was distracting me.”
“How strange,” she said, now thoroughly distracted by the mystery herself.
“I admit, he might have felt defensive, as if I were questioning him, when really, I was simply trying to get to the bottom of this mystery. He showed no hesitation about letting me peruse his copy of the most recent ledger, and I saw nothing to make me suspicious about the last few months. But of course, maybe the real ledger and the copy are a little different.”
“Did he know you suspected that?” she asked.
“No. I have no cause to believe foul of him, and he’s done excellent work these last few years with the estate.”
“I imagine you let him know you quite admired his dedication and service,” she said, hiding a smile.
