Lady Elsbeth forced a weak smile. “It’s all right, LadyMargaret. I fell along a path in the woodlands. It was near dusk.”
“Near dusk?” Niles pressed, a suspicion flickering in his mind. He kept his voice even, but his sharp eyes were locked on her face, searching for any sign of deception. “Why were you out riding so late?”
Lady Elsbeth’s hands tightened where they rested in her lap. “It doesn’t matter why, my lord,” she replied curtly. “The question is irrelevant.”
“I disagree,” Niles countered. “It’s rather odd, wouldn’t you say, that you only injured your left arm after a fall? Most riders would have more extensive bruising or at least a few scrapes elsewhere.”
Lady Elsbeth’s back grew rigid. “I suppose I was spared that fate.”
Niles tilted his head slightly, narrowing his eyes as a thought occurred to him.Could Lady Elsbeth be the highwaywoman?The idea was absurd, and yet it seemed entirely probable.
He pressed on, his tone deceptively casual. “Tell me, Lady Elsbeth, were you perhaps riding in the woodlands in the dead of night?”
A flicker of something—shock, guilt, fear—passed across her features, so brief that most wouldn’t have caught it. But Niles did.
“Why would I ever do such a foolish thing?” she replied.
Eugenie interjected. “I agree with Lady Elsbeth. No sane young woman would venture into the woodlands at night. That would be madness.”
Niles ignored his sister. He leaned forward slightly, his tone hardening. “Then let me see your wound.”
Aunt Margaret gasped. “Niles! Have you lost your senses? Asking such a thing of a lady is entirely improper!”
Lady Elsbeth’s chin lifted. “I agree with Lady Margaret. Itwould be highly inappropriate for me to undress my arm for you.”
Niles paused, studying her carefully. “Who treated your injury?”
“Morton, our groom,” she replied, her voice tight with irritation. “He served in the Royal Army, and he has experience stitching wounds. I’m fortunate to have his skill at hand.”
“How very convenient.” Niles decided to try a different tactic. “I assume your mother was terribly worried?”
“I didn’t inform her. I saw no need to worry her over something so trivial,” Lady Elsbeth replied.
“How gracious of you,” Niles replied dryly, though his mind whirled with possibilities. Her explanation sounded plausible enough, but something about it rang false.
Aunt Margaret interrupted with an impatient shake of her head. “Dear heavens, Niles! You’re being positively unbearable this morning.” She turned to Lady Elsbeth. “I do apologize, my dear. I have no idea what’s gotten into him.”
Niles rose abruptly, pushing back his chair with a scrape against the floor. “Forgive me, but I believe the stuffiness of the drawing room has clouded my judgment. A turn in the gardens might clear my head.” He turned his attention to Lady Elsbeth. “Would you care to accompany me, my lady?”
Lady Elsbeth held his gaze, her expression guarded. “It’s rather cold outside, my lord.”
“I would be happy to lend you my cloak,” Niles replied, unable to resist adding, “assuming, of course, that you’ll return it.”
Her lips pressed together, pulling downward at the corners. “You need not worry for your cloak, my lord. I have no desire to keep it.”
Just his pocket watch.
Niles extended his arm towards her. “Shall we?”
For a moment, she stared at his proffered hand. Then with asigh, she placed her hand lightly in his. Niles couldn’t help but note the tension in her grip, as though she were bracing herself for battle. And perhaps she was.
He led her towards the door, his mind already plotting his next move. If Lady Elsbeth wasthe highwaywoman, he would find the proof. And if she wasn’t?
Well, then he had an entirely different problem.
Because either way, he couldn’t seem to stop thinking about her.
7
