she haranguing her niece about? Perhaps I may catch a hint of her activities, possibly even something to clear her name.
“My private papers have nothing to do with the estate, and I shall tell him so. There is nothing here for him. In the meanwhile, you keep your inquisitive eyes off of my personal letters. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Aunt.” Betha’s voice didn’t quiver, but still sounded distressed. That’s bound to be Eleanor’s awkward cousin and companion. He shrugged. She sounds rather downtrodden. Definitely not for Perry.
“Before Littleton makes his dash to town, I have a few errands for you. I have some serviceable items to donate to the parish church. You may take my package by the vicarage this afternoon. One must do what one can for the less fortunate.” She continued in a scalding tone, “And include that dreadful gown you are wearing in the bundle.”
“But Aunt . . .”
“Don’t interrupt.” Lady Littleton sniffed. “I have a perfectly good garment wasting away for want of wearing. Make it down for yourself. I shan’t allow the neighbors to think we can’t afford to dress you.”
A tingle, a hint of something, stirred in Royce’s mind. Perhaps the Littletons weren’t as prosperous as they appeared. A threat of debt was certainly a lure, even to the point of treason, for a proud name. Not that he believed Eleanor’s parents were in any way connected with such treachery, but something suspicious had alerted the Foreign Office. Still, if not Lady Littleton, perhaps the niece had succumbed to selling secrets, seeking to better her position. To date, he’d heard nothing to her credit, so it remained a possibility in his mind.
Lady Littleton’s voice shrilled. “I shan’t argue with you about it. It’s to my credit to have you properly gowned. You may go, but finish your chores before you leave.”
Royce moved to the doorway and observed the panel across the hall open. When Betha emerged, Royce had the sensation of being struck right between the eyes. Egad. It was the lady who nearly ran him off the road. He sucked in a deep breath at the lovely picture she presented, even in an old, faded gown with her dark hair caught up in a knot on top of her head. No bonnet obscured his view of her high cheekbones, her lovely complexion, her soft mouth, or her eyes, filled with dismay. Her sharp intake of breath reached his ears while a sizzling awareness leaped from her captivating eyes to collide with his.
A tide of crimson slowly mounted her cheeks when his gaze locked with hers, and her mouth opened to reveal pearly teeth. He forced back a swallow. Her appeal to his senses hadn’t abated, and he uttered an oath under his breath.
He had tried to dismiss the memory of her, but she continued to intrude on his thoughts with unwelcome frequency. Of all places for her to appear, this was possibly the worst—in Eleanor’s home and under suspicion of treason. He swallowed down a bitter taste in his mouth. Linking such a browbeaten creature with treachery made him sick to his stomach, and her beauty mattered not at all. Come to that, anyone connected to Eleanor and treason in the same breath was unthinkable. Still, desperate people seek solutions, even drastic ones. He must discover the truth of the matter.
He wished he could mentally shrug Betha away, but it would be an impossible task. Until he could determine her involvement with the traitor business, he had to remain vigilant and consider everyone. If anyone in the family might be guilty, she appeared the most likely candidate, a woman looking to better her position through ill-gotten gains.
She seemed on the verge of speaking to him, but he chose to discourage her attempt. He would never allow her spell of enchantment to tighten round him. Better to avoid trouble at the start. A cut direct should do the trick. Royce flung his head back and stared down his nose at her with haughty disdain.
After one agonizing look, she turned and fled
“My private papers have nothing to do with the estate, and I shall tell him so. There is nothing here for him. In the meanwhile, you keep your inquisitive eyes off of my personal letters. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Aunt.” Betha’s voice didn’t quiver, but still sounded distressed. That’s bound to be Eleanor’s awkward cousin and companion. He shrugged. She sounds rather downtrodden. Definitely not for Perry.
“Before Littleton makes his dash to town, I have a few errands for you. I have some serviceable items to donate to the parish church. You may take my package by the vicarage this afternoon. One must do what one can for the less fortunate.” She continued in a scalding tone, “And include that dreadful gown you are wearing in the bundle.”
“But Aunt . . .”
“Don’t interrupt.” Lady Littleton sniffed. “I have a perfectly good garment wasting away for want of wearing. Make it down for yourself. I shan’t allow the neighbors to think we can’t afford to dress you.”
A tingle, a hint of something, stirred in Royce’s mind. Perhaps the Littletons weren’t as prosperous as they appeared. A threat of debt was certainly a lure, even to the point of treason, for a proud name. Not that he believed Eleanor’s parents were in any way connected with such treachery, but something suspicious had alerted the Foreign Office. Still, if not Lady Littleton, perhaps the niece had succumbed to selling secrets, seeking to better her position. To date, he’d heard nothing to her credit, so it remained a possibility in his mind.
Lady Littleton’s voice shrilled. “I shan’t argue with you about it. It’s to my credit to have you properly gowned. You may go, but finish your chores before you leave.”
Royce moved to the doorway and observed the panel across the hall open. When Betha emerged, Royce had the sensation of being struck right between the eyes. Egad. It was the lady who nearly ran him off the road. He sucked in a deep breath at the lovely picture she presented, even in an old, faded gown with her dark hair caught up in a knot on top of her head. No bonnet obscured his view of her high cheekbones, her lovely complexion, her soft mouth, or her eyes, filled with dismay. Her sharp intake of breath reached his ears while a sizzling awareness leaped from her captivating eyes to collide with his.
A tide of crimson slowly mounted her cheeks when his gaze locked with hers, and her mouth opened to reveal pearly teeth. He forced back a swallow. Her appeal to his senses hadn’t abated, and he uttered an oath under his breath.
He had tried to dismiss the memory of her, but she continued to intrude on his thoughts with unwelcome frequency. Of all places for her to appear, this was possibly the worst—in Eleanor’s home and under suspicion of treason. He swallowed down a bitter taste in his mouth. Linking such a browbeaten creature with treachery made him sick to his stomach, and her beauty mattered not at all. Come to that, anyone connected to Eleanor and treason in the same breath was unthinkable. Still, desperate people seek solutions, even drastic ones. He must discover the truth of the matter.
He wished he could mentally shrug Betha away, but it would be an impossible task. Until he could determine her involvement with the traitor business, he had to remain vigilant and consider everyone. If anyone in the family might be guilty, she appeared the most likely candidate, a woman looking to better her position through ill-gotten gains.
She seemed on the verge of speaking to him, but he chose to discourage her attempt. He would never allow her spell of enchantment to tighten round him. Better to avoid trouble at the start. A cut direct should do the trick. Royce flung his head back and stared down his nose at her with haughty disdain.
After one agonizing look, she turned and fled
Similar Books
