“Perhaps I had best ride Domino home and return for you and Mrs. Nielsen in a half-hour.”
Kate nodded. “I’d like to question Miss Annie as well and perhaps even your brother. If there was another person on that mountain besides our party, then it stands to reason in a group as large as ours that someone would have seen them.”
“Potentially,” Peter said, his voice businesslike. “But not if the criminal is trained in the art of stealth. It is reasonable that they slipped in and out without being seen.”
Kate leaned down and picked up the embroidery from the floor. She placed it on her lap and smoothed the edges, considering the gravity of what Peter said. “But who could ever have such heinous motives? Miss Smithson cannot possibly have any enemies. And I believe we would know if there were any terrible men in our vicinity, would we not? It would be hard to hide such a vile character.”
A shrug lifted Peter’s massive shoulders. “How can we know?” He stood abruptly and glanced at his pocket watch. “I will return for you at one o’clock. We will get to the bottom of this.”
The determination in his gaze sent a chill through Kate, and she found herself unable to stand. Peter left soon after, and she considered what had tipped him off. It must have some relation to his military training, and she was once again grateful to have found such a friend.
25
Kate
“It is kind of you to ask after my sister, but I’m afraid she has been quite overset since her wretched fall yesterday,” Miss Annie said, sipping her tea in the over-decorated drawing room of the Smithsons’ home. Her black hair was swept high and her porcelain neck glowed in contrast. She was certainly going to break hearts one day.
“Of course,” Kate said, taking refuge in her own teacup. Emily came to the rescue by asking after Miss Annie, and Kate took the opportunity to glance over Emily’s head at the gentlemen. Seated on the sofa opposite them, Peter listened intently while Mr. Evans idly swung his pocket watch, lazily tracing its movement with his gaze.
“Perhaps we can visit again once she is feeling more herself,” Peter said as he stood. Kate glanced at the mantel clock and noticed that the correct thirty minutes had been achieved just barely, but she shot Peter a look of confusion anyway. Where was the rush coming from?
“I’ll go see that our carriage is brought around,” Peter continued, bowing once and then leaving the room.
Mr. Evans chuckled awkwardly and lifted his shoulders in a slight shrug. “Forgive my brother, Miss Annie. I am afraid too many years in the military has stunted his social graces.”
The room offered a polite chuckle in return, but Kate felt uncomfortable. Peter did not lack any social graces—most of the time. Although, given the circumstances, the words were slightly true. Surely he had a reason for his actions. He was anything but foolish.
Ten minutes later, Peter returned to announce that the carriage was waiting and escorted Emily outside while Mr. Evans took Kate’s arm. They sat in silence for the majority of the ride home, and Kate waited until she had exited the vehicle and watched the Evans men drive away to turn to Emily. “Something is going on.”
“Not this again.” Emily sighed, casting her gaze to the sky before turning for the house.
“Miss Smithson might be small, but she is not delicate. The abrasion on her arm would not keep her from two eligible bachelors in her own house.”
“Unless she was napping, and the household decided not to inform her just who was calling. She likely needs a good deal of rest to heal.”
“I had considered that, but Miss Annie looked right to Mr. Evans when she told us that Miss Smithson was very sad to miss us. That was a pointed statement, and you know it.”
Emily scrunched up her little nose, tilting her head in thought. “That could be so, but then perhaps the mystery is why Miss Smithson would single out your Mr. Evans and not whether she was pushed.”
Kate took a deep breath to abate her frustration. “It is not whether she was pushed, Emily, but by whom.”
They stared into one another’s eyes for a moment more before Emily gave her a tight smile. “Shall we agree to not let this come between us? I think you are overreacting, and you can think I am being too relaxed about the situation.”
“Perhaps we should not speak of it any longer.”
“Agreed.”
Emily slipped her arm through Kate’s and dragged her up the stairs and into the house, but Kate stopped in the foyer. “I think I would like to draw.” It was on the tip of her tongue to invite Emily along, but she was out of charity with her friend at the moment and the time spent apart would likely be beneficial for both of them. It was a moment’s work to collect her sketchbook and charcoals and she soon found herself walking down the lane toward the famed split tree.
There was a small boulder off the road, just far enough to see the entire expanse of land behind the tree, but close enough for details. Kate situated herself just there and opened her sketch pad to a fresh page. She slipped from between the pages the crude drawing she had made as a nine-year-old girl on the day she had first met Mr. Evans, the paper crinkled and darkened with age, and smiled at the bond they had forged that day. Placing it to the side, she began to sketch.
Martin
The candlelight bounced off of the sapphire in the center of the ring and made the small diamonds surrounding it glitter. Martin’s lips pulled up in a self-congratulatory smile and tucked the ring back into the pouch, slipping it into his waistcoat pocket. He’d had the perfect plan for the picnic, but then it was ruined. Of course, that wasn’t the end of the world—he would just have to come up with something different.
It was obvious that Kate was growing closer to Peter, but that didn’t bother him. All he would have to do is let it slip that Peter was the brother who had held her down in the forest that day, and she would see him for the bully he really was. How she hadn’t seen it up until now was a complete mystery, but Peter’s blond hair had darkened to a golden-brown and his monstrous figure likely made it difficult to relate him to the boy he had been ten years prior.
That Peter was growing inordinately fond of Miss Kingston was apparent as well, and only made Martin’s relationship with her all the more enjoyable. His brother had made him suffer countless times during his younger years, and it was time to return the favor. Of course, he would never go as far as Peter and Charles had gone, but he would let Peter fall for Miss Kingston. It would make Martin’s success that much sweeter.
He sat himself in the chair behind the desk of the study and sorted through his options. He had to come up with a new plan—preferably something that took care of his impediment swiftly, and quietly. If only he had not been so reckless. But, how was he supposed to know Kate would be returning to Split Tree one day? Had he known before Bartholomew Kingston had revealed the news that Kate was returning, Martin never would have trifled with anyone else.
As it was, he’d made quick work of disposing of Bartholomew Kingston once the idiot man had told Martin of his sponging off Kate’s inheritance. He wished he’d discovered it sooner.
But he could not change the past. He could only control the future. And with a well-orchestrated plan, it was sure to all work out for his benefit.
Peter
Peter urged Domino forward. He was nearly to the stables of Split Tree Manor, and he would get in, ask questions, and get out before Kate found him. It was imperative or the lady would think he had just used this as an excuse to see her. Naturally, he wouldn’t mind seeing her, but he was beginning to fear that he was pushing his company on her too frequently. He enjoyed being around her, of course, but if she was going to marry Martin then he needed to rein in his quickly growing attractions. He’d promised Martin he would respect the man’s suit—and he wouldn’t go back on his word now.
“Come on, boy,” he muttered under his breath. His eye caught a figure perched on a rock beside the road and he didn’t know whether to smile or frown. The natural reaction won out and he
grinned at Kate as he swung down from his horse. “This is a nice place for a rest,” he said, cocking his eyebrow at her. She squinted up to him and her answering smile made his breath catch. Could the woman love his brother when she smiled at him in such a warm manner?
“I did have a purpose in sitting here,” she gestured to the book in her lap and then to the split tree. He indicated for her to hand him the book and she passed it over before stretching her hands high above her and rolling her shoulders. Peter took in every detail of the sketch, impressed by her skill. He smiled at the bird perched in the top of the tree feeding her babies a worm, and then glanced up to the real tree to see if they were still there.
“There are no birds,” Kate said, as if reading his mind. “Call it artistic liberty.”
“They add a touch of life. I think it is a wonderful notion.” He handed back the sketchbook. He felt uneasy, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint why.
“There were birds such as these,” Kate said, putting away her charcoals and rising to her feet, “that I saw years ago. It was the day I met your brother for the first time, actually, and not a pleasant one at that.” She visibly shuddered, and Peter felt the knot in his stomach grow. Kate’s eyes were unfocused, as if she herself was far away. He wanted to reach over and pull her into his embrace, to tell her that he would protect her always, that he was not the same boy that had shot at those birds all those years ago, that he had changed. But he stayed rooted to the spot, his mouth glued shut with fear and apprehension.
“But let us speak of pleasanter things,” Kate finally said, back to the present. She gave Peter a smile that he was sure would not be directed at him if she knew the truth. The notion made him sick. Still, he geared himself up to speak. It was the perfect opportunity—practically heaven sent. They were alone, she seemed in a good mood. Perhaps if he told her now, they could come to terms with the situation together.
“What brings you this way?” she said, ending the moment with a quick slice. It was over now.
He let out a long breath, his shoulders relaxing. It had to be the right moment, and this was no longer it. He felt a certain measure of relief at postponing the inevitable. He was intelligent enough to understand that it was, in fact, inevitable. “I was planning to question your stablemen about the accident, to ask if any of them had seen anyone who was not supposed to be there, or someone who had arrived separately from our party.”
Kate nodded, her expression turning determined. “I know something is not quite right, but Emily doesn’t believe me.” She tilted her face up to him and gave him a heart melting smile. “I am glad you do.”
His whole body warmed, as if her smile sparked the kindling that burned a fire in his soul. “Kate,” he began, guilt eating at him. He couldn’t put it off. He needed to tell her, now, before he wasted any more time and she found out some other way—before Martin himself told her. She needed to know Peter was one of the boys that day so she could see that he only had her best interests in mind now.
“Yes?” she prodded. “Do you care to explain your odd behavior at the Smithson’s home this morning?”
“Yes,” he agreed, all too quickly. Shame nipped at him, but he couldn’t do it; he was a coward. He couldn’t let her down right this moment, not when she needed good news. “I was questioning their driver and groom that came to the picnic, and they all said they did not see anyone arrive separately from our party. I was disappointed at first, but then one groom pulled me aside later and told me to question your servants. He seemed to think they would be able to tell me more.”
“Then let us go!” Kate said eagerly, turning toward Split Tree Manor.
“Just a minute here.” Peter pulled on her arm, chuckling at her eagerness. “We don’t want to run in waving our guns or we’ll give away our hand. We have to do this slowly, thoughtfully.”
She looked up at him, her eyebrows pulling together. “I suppose I should trust the man with military experience. I have no idea what I am doing. But I would beg that you keep me informed every step of the way.”
“Certainly,” Peter agreed. He pulled on Domino and offered his free arm to Kate, escorting her home. She fit beside him perfectly, not so short that he felt he needed to stoop to accompany her, like most women. She fit just right.
“Do you think Miss Smithson is in any further danger in her own home?” she asked. “I would like to think this was a peculiar situation, but my mind will not rest. I had hoped to see her for myself and put my worries at ease, but alas, it was not to be.”
“I thought the same thing. The sooner we understand what sort of danger she is in, the better we can know how best to help her.”
“At least she is not alone; she has her sister.”
“I believe Miss Annie’s sentiments are more in line with Mrs. Nielsen’s,” Peter said wryly. “She was quick to laugh when Miss Smithson told us that she had been pushed. I don’t think Miss Annie believed her.”
Kate looked worried. “That is not good. Perhaps I should invite her to stay with me for a while?”
“Under what guise?”
“I do not know,” Kate said dejectedly.
“I cannot like you bringing the danger to your own home, either,” Peter said, his mind shooting all sorts of uncomfortable directions.
“But if we can bring her here then we can watch her, protect her. No one else is. Especially if her own sister does not believe her.”
“It is a noble thought, Kate, but far too dangerous. If someone was willing to shove her down that slope, they were willing to kill her. In fact—” Peter swallowed, unsure if his words would throw Kate into an even worse fit of anxiety. His gaze bored down into hers, his grip tightening on her arm. “They were probably trying to. It was a miracle she escaped as unscathed as she did.”
“I know,” she answered in a small voice. “This is exactly why I want to protect her. I would not be able to live with myself if something happened and I had done nothing.”
Peter shut his eyes, racking his brain for a solution that would appease both Kate and himself. His mind kept coming back to the same idea and he shoved it away, conscious of all of the insinuations and things that would become bothersome for him should he suggest it.
But there was nothing else, he would have to do it. He sighed, opening his eyes and smiling down at the worried face which was counting on him.
“I have just the thing,” he said.
26
Martin
The moon was bright that evening, making for a smooth journey into Larkfield for Martin. A blessing, since he was a lone rider and the hour had dipped past midnight, at least. He slipped into the Blue Boar and located the table in the corner, half-hidden behind a pillar; he was relieved to find it blessedly empty.
Ordering a pint to give him a reason to sit idly, Martin settled his face into a contemplative, broody expression to ward off unwanted visitors and waited.
Peter had explained his idea of holding a week-long house party with the local gentry to break up the monotony of the early summer days and give Miss Kingston the opportunity to get to know her neighbors. He’d been appalled initially—Peter had no comprehension of the work that went into preparing for a house party. It was not something one simply threw together at the last minute. But then an idea had formed in Martin’s mind and he’d agreed to the scheme, going so far as to assist in the planning of it all.
Little did Peter know, he was presenting Martin with the opportunity he needed to dispose of his final impediment. And he could do so without the slightest chance of exposure.
He’d gotten away with it with Bartholomew Kingston, hadn’t he? It merely required patience and a willing hand. Martin counted himself fortunate for having visited Mr. Kingston that day, well over a year ago, when the man had let slip that he could not authorize the purchase of a horse because the accounts were no longer in his name. His niece, who was the sole owner of both the estate and the fortune tied to it, had come of age and Kingston’s power was gone
. The man had been desolate but determined to enjoy his spoils as long as he was able.
Of course, Martin had been disgusted and had taken matters into his own hands. He hadn’t realized Miss Kingston would one day return—that his guardian angel could, in fact, be his. But the moment this realization was set in Martin’s mind, he only had one focus, and one purpose. Her.
He reached for his mug, moving it to the side and watching the door for his guest. He would normally drink, but at present he needed his wits about him. A quarter-hour later the man arrived, sliding smoothly onto the bench opposite Martin. Drawing himself further back behind the column, Martin held the man’s gaze.
“Do you still have access to the plant?” he asked.
The man blinked. For such a cunning creature, he could be oddly dim at times. Martin watched him until his eyes lit with understanding. “Aye,” he said. “And I can get more, too.”
“Good. There is going to be a house party at Evanslea, and I require your services once more.”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “That’ll be double, gov. I’m not risking my neck for anything less this time.”
Martin watched him, sliding his finger around the rim of his untouched mug. “I’ll pay the same fee as last time up front, and another ten when the job is done.”
“Deal.”
Martin tempered his smile. He was well on his way to getting everything his heart desired. Leaning forward, he lowered his voice and began to explain the specifications of the job.
Kate
Kate felt silly packing a trunk to stay at the neighbor’s house for a week, but it was worth the trouble. This was the only way they could come up with to keep Miss Smithson safe. When Peter had suggested the house party, she had been so glad she could have flung herself into his arms. She had done so momentarily before remembering herself and hastily backing away.
A Forgiving Heart Page 17