“Err, no. That is, I do not know. But my butler will know, so if you simply deliver the message to him, all will be well.” He smiled.
The flash of even white teeth and blue eyes filled with hope would have given her the fortitude to undertake the journey to London and back twelve times in one day, if necessary.
“But I must ask you,” his smile faded into an earnest expression even more boyish than the grin, “why you would offer to undergo such hardship for a virtual stranger.”
She shrugged, then immediately regretted the unladylike gesture and tried to act as though she had been tossing her hair back from her face. This move succeeded in sending the loose pieces of hair cascading back into her eyes.
“You need to visit a hairdresser?”
“No.” Lucia looked down while she tried to tuck unruly strands back into place. “I suppose I feel a bit guilty about your condition, since my brother was the cause.”
“Nonsense. The action was of my own choosing entirely.”
“You would choose to stab yourself in the leg?”
“What? Oh, the, uh.” He glanced down at his leg. “No, I meant, well, never mind what I meant. You’ve no need to assume any guilt or responsibility.”
“Nevertheless,” she smiled, “I would feel better knowing I have been of some help to your family.”
“Then it is my duty to let you feel better. If you will excuse me, I will write the message straightaway.” He bowed before hurrying over to a small desk along the far wall.
Lucia moved over to join Eugenie by the fire. “I hope you do not object, but I’ve offered to deliver a letter for someone tomorrow.”
“For someone, eh?” Eugenie looked meaningfully at the figure of Lord Rutherford extracting sheets of paper from the desk.
Lucia felt intense heat in her cheeks. “I feel sorry for the poor man, after what Geoffrey did to him. I decided it was the least I could do.”
“Do we take this letter to the village, then?”
“No. To London.”
“London!” Eugenie gaped at her for a moment. “But do you not remember? Since Father kept the carriage in London, we’ve only the pony trap we rented from the inn. You cannot travel all the way to London in that. What if it should snow again? Did you not mark how wet we became during the short trip from the village?”
“What’s this? You went for a drive in the snow? That sounds enchanting.” Geoffrey burst into the room in one of his extraordinarily exuberant moods.
“Enchanting was hardly the word for it, dear,” Eugenie informed him. “It was simply wet.”
Geoffrey stared down his nose at her. “I see you have suffered no ill effects.”
“Well, we are a little better now, after sufficient time before the fire. But the fur trim on my cloak will be all stiff now. And look at your sister’s hair. A disgraceful mess.”
“Thank you for that assessment.” Lucia grinned. “I thought you were going to help me repair it?”
“So I was.”
“I shall go ask Sir Mortimer to join us,” Geoffrey announced as he bounded toward the door.
“Um, yes. That would be splendid.” Lucia watched his exit with no small amount of relief. At every moment, she expected him to notice Lord Rutherford at the desk. Now, however, she and Eugenie were free to make their way to the retiring room on the ground floor where ladies might have undertaken similar repairs to coiffure and dress back during the days when Shady View entertained guests for a less permanent duration.
Soon after they returned to the drawing room, which was really so large that Lucia decided it must have been a ballroom at one time, Geoffrey entered wearing an old greatcoat that appeared to have been made for a man with substantially less height and length to his arms.
“Are we having a fancy dress party, now? Eugenie wrinkled her nose. “Wherever did you get that coat?”
“And why do you wear it indoors?” Lucia added. She noted with discomfiture that Lord Rutherford still remained in the room, though with his back toward them his presence was not obvious.
Geoffrey pointed out the window. “Look at that snow! It is splendid weather for a drive. I heard Eugenie say you came in a trap—just the thing to enjoy the open air.”
Lucia rested her hand on his arm lightly. “I really do not think we should go for a drive at the moment.”
“Who says you have to go, then?” Geoffrey waved toward the door. “Eugenie will come with me, will you not?”
“Heavens, no. I have no wish to go back out until it’s time to leave.”
“Then let me drive you back to the inn.”
“Geoffrey, we cannot do that.” Lucia tried to keep the tone of her objection light, fearing possible rebellion if she came across as overbearing. “For one thing, the trap was hired under the Bayles name and—”
“Are you saying I am not a good enough driver to be trusted—”
“No, no, just simply that the vehicle should remain with Miss Bayles.”
“Then I shall stay at the inn tonight.” Geoffrey crossed his arms against his chest. “I begin to tire of this place in any event. Perhaps it is time for us to return to London.”
“Well,” Lucia glanced nervously at Eugenie, “not today, surely. We’ve not made any preparations, and the weather is so—”
“The weather is splendid for a journey. It will be quite bracing.”
“Do you not have further inspection work to undertake here, Geoffrey?” Eugenie put in hopefully.
He pursed his lips and shook his head. “I believe they can carry on here without me. I’ve done the difficult bit, you know. All that is left are a few details.”
“Ah, so you’ve found Redcloak, then?” Eugenie asked.
Lucia shook her head in alarm, forcing herself not to look in Lord Rutherford’s direction.
“He has escaped to the continent.” Geoffrey sighed. “I am certain of it. So, you see, I can do nothing more here. Perhaps from London I might put together an expedition for France.”
“Eugenie, do you think you could ask Mr. Groves to join us?” Lucia beckoned her friend to lean in closer. “I have a question for him.” In a lower voice, she added, “I do not like the way this conversation turns. Let us see if Mr. Groves can find the means to make Geoffrey want to stay.”
“He does seem to have a way with them, doesn’t he?” she whispered back. “I shall fetch him quick as a hare.” She smiled at Geoffrey and exited with all due haste.
“I really do not understand why you seem so intent on discouraging me from taking a drive in the snow. Back at home, you always encouraged me to take a drive with Nicholas in the afternoon.”
“That’s just it. Nicholas is not yet here with us, and it might be dangerous for you to drive alone. Perhaps when Nicholas arrives…”
Geoffrey frowned. “In any case, I am not some weak, fainting young lady who must be nursed and accompanied at all times. I am a grown man, Lucia, and I do wish you would treat me as such.”
Lucia reached out to squeeze his hand. “I am sorry. I suppose I shall always think of you as my little brother.” She smiled.
“Yes, well, you can stop that now, as I am a good deal stronger and heavier than you,” he announced matter-of-factly. “And I am going for a drive
now
.”
Lucia moved in front of him to block his path toward the door. “No, please don’t.”
“You cannot stop me, Lu.” He pushed her aside.
“Why don’t you wait for Mr. Groves? He-he might want to join you.”
Geoffrey stopped to consider that for a moment, then shook his head. “No, I am done with his company for the moment. I really wish to be by myself for a time.” In a few paces, he had made his way to the drawing room door.
“You could return to your chamber upstairs.” Lucia hurried after him. “No one will interrupt your privacy there if you so choose.”
“I am sick to death of that chamber and never wish to see it again.” Geoffrey marched into the hall on a path straight for the front door. “I am leaving it and all of this place behind now. You may have my things sent along whenever it is convenient.”
Lucia quickened her pace to a run, finally catching up with Geoffrey at the door. “You cannot simply leave like this.”
“Yes, I can. I am a gentleman. A gentleman may do what he pleases, within reason. And when one has come to visit in the country, it is certainly within reason to leave when the visit is over.” He opened the front door.
“Your visit tain’t over, sir.” A dark, heavyset man appeared from out of nowhere. He closed the door and favored them both with an unpleasant grin.
“What? How dare you, you unmannered rogue.” Geoffrey wrenched the door open again. “It is not for you to tell
me
when my visit is over.”
Still grinning, the man shut the door, more firmly this time, nearly slamming Geoffrey’s fingers in the process. “Mr. Groves don’t like his guests to leave early.”
“How rude! My sister will make my farewells for me. I am leaving
now
.” Geoffrey took a deep breath and heaved the door open with all his might, in the same motion hurling himself out into the snowy afternoon.
He was yanked back inside just as quickly as he had left.
“Perhaps the gennelman misunderstood me.” The heavyset man grasped Geoffrey by the collar and pulled his face down toward his own. “Mr. Groves likes having you here. He’s not ready for you to leave.” He pushed Geoffrey back into the center of the hall.
“You won’t let me leave? You won’t let me leave!” Geoffrey waved his arms with the frantic energy of a caged animal. “I insist. I will leave.”
The heavyset man planted himself firmly in front of the door, arms crossed in a pose of mute defiance.
“Geoffrey, please,” Lucia begged, “let us go find Mr. Groves. I’m sure he can—”
“I will leave, I tell you!” Geoffrey looked at Lucia only for a moment. “I will.” He turned and bolted back into the drawing room.
As Lucia followed, she heard heavy footsteps behind her, indicating that the man who had previously blocked the door now trailed behind them at a slow, steady pace.
In the drawing room, Geoffrey headed for the windows at the far end of the room. He fumbled with the latch, his breath coming in frantic gasps. “Help me, please, someone. I am being held here against my will.” He tried the latch again, to no avail. “You, sir.” He turned toward the writing desk. “I beg you…” The words died away as he recognized the figure of the man seated there. “You! It is you who have kept me prisoner all this time.” He began to advance toward him.
Lord Rutherford looked up from his work in surprise, then pulled himself up to a standing position.
Lucia screamed, “Geoffrey, no! You mustn’t!” Her feet moved so slowly she could never reach him in time. Lord Rutherford would come to grievous harm again and once more she would fail to help him.
Geoffrey looked around as if for a weapon, then simply flung himself headlong at Lord Rutherford, sending the chair over with a resounding crash. He reached to grasp him by the neck. “You planned this! All of this! Made me look the fool!”
Lord Rutherford brought his arms up to break Geoffrey’s grip. He rolled away from him and stood, grimacing horribly when he placed weight on his left leg.
Geoffrey kicked him in the leg, causing it to collapse. As Lord Rutherford went down, he grabbed Geoffrey’s legs and pulled him down as well, knocking the wind out of him. Within seconds, the heavyset man from the entry had reached them, secured Geoffrey’s arms behind him and hauled him to his feet.
“It’s time for a little rest upstairs now, sir.”
“I’m not going back!” Geoffrey screamed. “I’ll not stay in this house of deceit!”
Another man equally rough in appearance joined Geoffrey’s captor. Together the two of them propelled Geoffrey quickly from the room despite his screams of protest.
“Mr. Wright, please do calm yourself.” They heard Mr. Groves’ implacable voice in the hallway.
“Redcloak is here!” Geoffrey’s voice grew hoarse in his frenzy. “You…he is keeping me here.”
“No, no, sir, I shall explain everything to you upstairs,” Mr. Groves soothed. “That man is one of ours. A disguise, you see? We had to test you, and I am pleased to see you passed the test in fine form…”
The protests died out and murmurs of ordinary conversation floated away down the hallway.
“How on earth does he do that?” Lord Rutherford shook his head in disbelief.
“Oh, I am so sorry!” Lucia knelt down to assist him. “Geoffrey thinks you are—”
“No,” he corrected, “I understand your brother, at least as much as I suspect anyone does. But that Mr. Groves, he does have a remarkable way about him, does he not?” He winced only slightly as he regained his footing.
Eugenie brought over his cane.
“Thank you, ladies.” He turned to Lucia. “And thank you especially for your kind offer to deliver the message to my butler tomorrow.”
“When the snow stops,” Eugenie interjected.
“Oh, of course. Please do not undertake the journey until it is safe to do so.”
Eugenie looked out the window, watching snow fall in large, lazy flakes that fluttered from the sky like feathers shaken from an enormous gray pillow in the heavens. “I think we had best return to the inn before the snow collects any deeper.”