Page 20 of The Hidden Heart

“Well, we are lost, you know.”

“I’ll be happy to set you on the right path.”

“We can hardly travel now. It’s dark.”

“There is an inn in Hedby.”

“Full up.”

“I see.”

“Yes. ’Fraid we’re stuck here.”

“Apparently.” Richard glanced over at Jessica, who was gazing at him in dismay. He gave her a slight shrug.

When the meal was finally over, Cleybourne turned the Veseys over to his butler, smoothly suggesting that they would no doubt like to rest now. Leona, with a significant look at Richard, opined that she doubted she would go to sleep any time soon, and Vesey once again asked about Gabriela. Richard, however, smiled and blankly ignored their hints, directing Baxter to care for them.

“You cannot let them stay here!” Jessica snapped as soon as the Veseys left the room, swinging around to face Cleybourne.

Richard lifted his eyebrows. “I cannot?”

“Oh, I know you’re the lord of all you survey and all that, so you can do whatever you please. But it’s foolish. It’s dangerous. You should not allow that man anywhere around Gabriela.”

“I don’t know what Vesey hopes to accomplish here. But I can assure you that he is not going to go up against me,” Richard said, a faint smile on his lips. “Vesey is a well-known coward. Besides, what could he do? Kidnap her? From under my own roof?”

“I wouldn’t put anything past him. General Streathern didn’t trust him, and he was his own nephew. That is why he had me rush Gabriela here, because he feared what Vesey might do. He is—well, it’s not just Gabriela’s money. He is also…there are other reasons why he should not be around a girl of Gabriela’s age….” Jessica stumbled to a halt, blushing.

“Yes. I am quite aware of Vesey’s predilections, although I must say, it is a trifle odd for you to know about such things.”

“One has only to see the way he looks at her to know that there is something wrong with him,” Jessica retorted. “Besides, the General felt I should know, so I would understand how very dangerous he really is.”

“Vesey is scum,” Richard agreed. “But he would never dare to try anything with a girl under my protection. You, my dear Miss Maitland, obviously have no qualms about crossing me, but as a rule, other people do. They are a nuisance, but that is all. There is no need to worry, I assure you. Now, if you will excuse me, having just had to spend the evening with Lord and Lady Vesey, I would very much like to lock myself in my study. Alone.”

As if she had forced him to put up with the Veseys all evening! Jessica watched him stride out of the room. Well, however much the Duke of Cleybourne prided himself on Vesey not daring to cross him, Jessica was not about to let Gabriela’s life depend entirely on Cleybourne’s inflated opinion of himself. Turning, she started for the nursery, where she intended to lock herself and Gabriela in tonight.

CHAPTER 5

Richard spent the rest of the evening in his study, looking over the estate’s accounts. His manager had brought him the books as soon as he returned to the castle, but Richard had not bothered to look at them. They had scarcely seemed to matter, given his plans. But today, riding over the land and talking to his tenants, he had grown a little curious about the farms. Since he meant to spend the rest of the evening alone in his study, he supposed he might as well look at the accounts.

After an hour or so, there was a tap on the door, and before Richard could answer, it opened and Lord Vesey stuck his head inside the room. “Ah, there you are, old chap. Knew you must be hiding yourself away somewhere.”

Looking pleased with himself for that deduction, Vesey sauntered into the room and closed the door behind him. Richard let out a groan. “Did it not occur to you that I might be hiding myself away for a reason?”

“Are you? What reason?”

“I was looking for a little solitude.”

“Really?” Vesey replied indifferently as he plopped down in a leather wing chair on the other side of the desk from Richard. “Never cared much for that myself.”

“Only one of the many ways in which we differ.” He sat, looking at Vesey, who was glancing about the room. Finally, after a long silence, he prompted, “Well?”

“Well, what?”

“What are you doing here? I know you are not here for the pleasure of my company, and since I have none in yours, it would seem more efficient for you just to say why you are here and then leave. Why are you at the castle? Why are you sitting here right now?” He was sure of the answer, of course, but he reasoned that the most expedient course of action would be just to face it head-on and get it over with.

“That’s what I like,” Vesey said with an attempt at a jovial smile. On his pale, thin-lipped face, it was a bizarre expression. “A man who goes straight to the heart of the matter. The reason I’m here is to offer to take the girl off your hands.”

“Who?”