Page 54 of Truly, Madly, Daring

“We know Melvin had pretensions. A right dandy he was, always looking at himself and preening. Thought he was better than the likes of us,” she said, and Wrexham remembered the woman well enough to picture her disapproving expression.

“The sort of person who would be easy to seduce with the offer of a better position, perhaps?” Emmeline suggested.

“Exactly, my lady,” Mrs Tweedy agreed. “Would have been no bother at all to lure them away and then set those two devils up in their place. I told you, did I not, Mr Bunting, that if those references were real, I’d eat my best Sunday hat.”

“You did, Mrs Tweedy,” Bunting agreed wearily. “And I had come to agree with you. The truth is, I’d been planning on dismissing them this morning.”

“Why did you not tell me this at once?” Wrexham demanded.

There was a moment’s hesitation, but Wrexham realised in that moment his wife had been correct. Bunting had asked to speak to him earlier and received short shrift because Wrexham was interviewing the upstairs staff. He had clearly not pressed the matter, as he had feared reprisals.

“Forgive me, my lord. I know I ought to have done at once, only—”

“Only I was behaving like a brute and you thought I might shoot the messenger,” Wrexham said with a sigh.

“I am sorry, my lord. I did try to tell you,” Bunting said, and Wrexham could hear his agitation.

“I believe you, Bunting, but I’m the one who is sorry. I hope you can both forgive me.”

There were exclamations and assurances from his loyal butler and cook which only made him feel even more the ignorant arse Emmeline had accused him of being.

“Why did they do it, my lord?”

Wrexham had only ever told his sister Delia and Aunt Lucy of his father’s plans for fear they would consider him paranoid, that they would believe it to be the first signs of madness and play into the duke’s hands. Even they had thought him overwrought to begin with, disbelieving that the duke, as appalling as he was, would go so far. It had taken several incidents before they saw the reality of the situation he was living with.

Before he had time to gather his thoughts, Emmeline spoke.

“We believe his lordship is in danger, and I’m afraid to say we suspect Lord Cecil and the duke.”

There were no gasps of shock or horror as Wrexham might have expected.

“Didn’t I tell you?” Mrs Tweedy demanded, and Wrexham jumped a little, uncertain if she was addressing him or not. “Beg pardon, my lord, but I’ve feared that were the case this many years, but Mr Bunting told me I was too suspicious. Well, I know a bad ’un when I see one, and whenever your father is here…. But I ought not….”

“It’s all right, Mrs Tweedy,” Emmeline said, her voice soothing. “I promise you may speak freely. We are neither of us friends to the duke or Lord Cecil, and if you can help us, we would be grateful.”

“My wife is quite right, Mrs Tweedy. I would appreciate your honesty, and any insight you may have.”

“Well, I don’t know how I can help but all I know is Lord Cecil has been jealous of Lord Wrexham since the day he was born, and that’s mostly the duke’s fault. He set the lad up against the marquess, which was cruel enough, when he’s a scrawny thing with more hair than wit. I always thought it was because Lord Cecil was weak, and the duke knew he could control him when he could never get the better of Lord Wrexham. But that’s just what I saw and I’m only a housekeeper.”

“On the contrary, Mrs Tweedy, I think you are wiser than most,” Emmeline said. “And now we face with the truth. Either the duke or Lord Cecil, or both, are set upon doing my husband harm.”

“They’ll not get another chance,” Bunting said, his anger palpable. “I failed you once, my lord, it will not happen again. I will ensure the property is made safe, that no strangers come anywhere near. We will guard Cawston Hall every moment of the day and night. I swear you will not be troubled again.”

“You failed no one, Bunting,” Wrexham said. “You did not know the danger. Now you are aware, however, you do not know how grateful I am to be back home, among friends.”

“We won’t let any harm befall you, my lord,” Mrs Tweedy said, determination ringing in her voice. “The nerve of them. The idea of that primped up little worm fancying himself Lord Wrexham, living here and putting on airs, the b—”

“That will be all, Mrs Tweedy!” Bunting said swiftly. “It is time we were about our business. I’ll not have these upstarts interfere with the running of this house any more than they already have.”

“Actually, Bunting, at the risk of causing further upheaval, might I request all the staff to gather in the great hall? I should like a word with them.”

“As you wish, my lord. I will see to it at once.”

Wrexham heard the door close and Emmeline moving towards him. She slid her arms around his neck.

“Well done,” she said, pressing her cheek to his.

Wrexham shifted, reaching for her and smiling as she gave a squeal of protest. She landed in his lap with a frantic rustle of skirts and petticoats.