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He undressed while Cecey sipped her wine and continued to hug Annie. Having got himself out of his clothes, he picked up his own glass and joined her in the bed. Putting one arm around her while she settled her head into his shoulder he said, “Can I tell you about my day?”

“Yes,” she said, looking up at him. Then she reached up and kissed him. “Thank you for understanding,” she said softly.

He shook his head and kissed her nose.

Chapter 25

Rick had forgotten Reynolds’s forebodings about his safety when something occurred that even he couldn’t ignore. While they were waiting for more supplies to be delivered to continue the work on the tenants’ cottages, he had taken the day to go into Bedford with Reynolds to purchase a few items for his rather dilapidated wardrobe. Country living, he was finding, was harsh on London clothing. So he determined to buy some new boots, a couple of pairs of more hard-wearing breeches, some shirts, and a leather waistcoat that caught his eye. He and Reynolds stopped for lunch at a tavern before heading back, so it was late afternoon when they pulled into the drive up to the house. Handing over the vehicle and horses to Pagette, he left Reynolds with the packages and rounded the house toward the entrance.

He was thinking about the plans he had been discussing for the home farm harvest and not paying attention to his surroundings when a scraping sound above his head made him look up. The house had guttering that was decorated with gargoyles at intervals. What happened next seemed to unfold at half speed.

The corner gargoyle above his head appeared to slide and then topple slowly off the roof, heading directly for him. He stood frozen a moment as a shout that he recognized as Reynolds behind him finally activated him into moving. He dove out of the way, rolling aside as the heavy stone feature hit the ground where he had been standing moments before with a thump that sprayed dirt and gravel everywhere.

Coughing with the dust, he sat up and watched as Reynolds discarded the packages he had been carrying and grabbed the downpipe on the corner of the house and shimmied up it to the first floor, and from there he climbed onto the balcony and, using the ornamental framing around the windows, climbed to the third floor. From there he launched himself at the eaves, hauled himself over the edge and disappeared from Rick’s sight.

Rick scrambled to his feet and stepped back away from the house looking for Reynolds. He spotted him after a moment, straddling the roof pitch, then he disappeared from view altogether.

What the bloody hell?

Rick dusted himself off and went to look at the gargoyle, lying on its side in the dirt. Hendrix appeared on the front steps with James the footman behind him.

“My lord, are you all right?” asked Hendrix coming down the steps toward him.

“Yes, I’m fine. It seems one of our gargoyles had a desire to fly.” He tried to make it sound like a joke, but the reality of the near miss had him more rattled than he wanted to admit.

“They are very old, my lord. Another one came down a few months back,” offered Hendrix.

“Really? Why didn’t anyone mention it? They either need to be re-affixed or removed.”

“Agreed, my lord.”

At that point Reynolds, his clothing somewhat the worse for wear, appeared around the side of the house. He seemed about to say something, but at sight of Hendrix he shut his mouth and bent to pick up the scattered packages. James went to help him and Rick followed the other three men into the house and Reynolds upstairs to his room.

With the door shut, he said bluntly, “That was some feat you pulled off. What did you see?”

“Someone was up there, but by the time I got up to the roof they had gone. Fortunately for me they left the ladder on the rear side, so I was able to get down again. I don’t think I could have done that climb in reverse. Are you all right, my lord?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Reynolds said grimly, “Someone is trying to kill you, my lord.”

“Very inexpertly though, you have to admit,” joked Rick. Reynolds gave him a look, and Rick sighed. “You really think so? Hendrix said that one of the gargoyles came down a few months ago.”

“There was someone on the roof, my lord!”

“Did you see anyone?”

“No. But the ladder is evidence they were there.”

Rick shook his head. “No, that ladder was there a few days ago, I saw it. I think one of the gardeners was cleaning out the gutters.”

Reynolds sighed. “Please be careful, my lord. After Sparrow’s death and with Bidenden lurking around—”

“The man’s a prick, but even he wouldn’t stoop to murder. If he wanted me dead, he’d challenge me to a duel. Which isn’t a bad idea. If he gives me provocation, I might just do it.”

“Is he still in the area?”

“As far as I know, yes. Although I don’t think he is advertising the fact, and I threatened him with violence if he came anywhere near Cecelia.”