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.“Now, I must go, but don’t leave the Abbey while your brother is gone, if not for me, for him.”“I would never do anything to hurt my brother, so please don’t feel it necessary to point out what I should or shouldn’t do.I don’t like it,” she answered curtly.He eyed her oddly, “No, I don’t suppose you do.” He bent to brush her lips with his own but she took a step back from him and he stopped and frowned down at her before saying, “Till later, love.”She watched as he strode to the barn and then watched as he mounted his horse and started off.He looked back at her and his blue eyes twinkled even as his lips curved into a warm smile.Against her will, her hand moved to wave.What was wrong with her? She stood like a love-struck simpleton, waving at a man who would forget her the moment she was out of sight.She rebuked herself as soon as she could no longer see him in the distance.She had wanted to experience what it would be like to have the woman in her aroused by such a man.Right.She had and it had been all consuming and now?Now she had gone and done it.In love, desperately in love, but happy? Oh, no.She was in love with a man who wanted to give her a season and be rid of her.Fine.Just fine.Chapter ElevenALFRED SPEENHAM GLANCED down his narrow nose and found that his pewter of ale was nearly empty.He brought his languid gaze up and surveyed the tavern galley of the Cock Pit with a show of ennui.There was no one worth conversing with and no sport to be had, except the wench washing down the oak tables.He’d had her many times and she certainly was a lively one in bed.He smiled as he called out to her.“Come here, sweetheart,” he invited and patted his thigh.“Can’t you see I’m fair stalled? Come sit on my knee and sing me a song.”“Go on wit ye, darlin’ man.He’ll have m’head, he will.We are short a gal tonight and I have got to do double m’work.” She gave him a saucy smile and added, “But there is no telling what will happen later when no one is lookin’.”The tavernkeeper stepped out and pointed at her, “Here now, Dee…cook needs ye.” He glanced between her and Alfred but said nothing more as he turned away.Speenham called Bailey, the innkeeper back, “Eh, my man.I hear tell there is a runner putting up here.”Bailey eyed Speenham speculatively for a moment before he answered, “Do they say so? Don’t know of any runner.Have but the one guest this week, a Mr.Fowler and he don’t call ‘imself a runner.”Alfred shrugged.He knew the tavernkeeper liked Ned and didn’t like him.He had always known that.Fact was that most of the locals had always liked the Sherborne twins.There was no understanding that, but he pursued.“So then, you don’t think this Fowler person has come to Harrowgate to search out my cousins?”“I don’t know naught about it.‘Ceptin the young lord did no more kill that poor girl than he would his own sister!” snapped the tavernkeeper.“There are those who think he did,” returned Alfred carefully, playing with his fork and not meeting the tavernkeeper’s eyes.“And there’s more that know otherwise,” retorted the man sharply.This conversation was doomed to failure.It was at that moment interrupted as a shadow filled the tavern entrance and Speenham looked up to find an imposing figure standing in its large opening.* * *“Your Grace,” Alfred hailed with a welcoming smile and an overdone flourish, as though pleased to exhibit a friendship with such an imposing figure.“Ah,” returned the duke, going toward him leisurely, “Mr.Speenham.”“May I invite you to join me in a bumper of ale?” Speenham asked.The duke didn’t hesitate, but nodded and took up a chair.Speenham put up two fingers and motioned to the waitress.“May I ask what news you have regarding my cousins?” Speenham inquired lightly, before taking a long pull on his tankard.“I am afraid I have nothing to report.They have hidden themselves well.In fact, I have reason to believe they are being put up by some loyal friends of young Sherborne’s, some distance from Harrowgate.”“I would have thought the viscount would have housed them…as he has been their friend a lifetime,” Speenham remarked
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