Page 69 of Broken

“Christ, I had forgotten all about that woman.” Giles shook his head. That was going to be an awkward conversation too. “Oh, and by the way, I don’t care what your problems are, but settle your differences and do your jobs, unless you prefer to see others promoted to take over your positions.”

Giles strode off for the house without waiting to see the reaction to his threat. Dithers was an idiot and Mrs. Osprey had played him, and continued to play him, for a fool. That woman might have run rings around the aging rogue before, but the cat was out of the bag now. He wondered what Dithers would do. He should probably run, but then Giles would have to endure the training of one of the younger footmen into the role of butler. That was all the trouble he needed this week.

Luncheon was followed with another musical performance, and while Barrette was distracted by his playing, Giles studied both Lord Winter and Lilly. Lilly sat back into her chair with a posture that was not quite correct. A scandalous lapse in London, but a necessary posture today. Since Giles had not managed to visit Lilly last night, he imagined she was in pain.

Tonight, he would get into her room and help her. But how she was going to cope with the trip to London for her triumphant launch on society, without his hands on her at the end of each day, escaped him.

But Lord Winter appeared happy. That was such a new outlook for the older man that Giles could not decide if it boded good or ill. Lord Winter frequently held his daughter’s hand and, when they were not watching, Barrette glanced at their entwined fingers with an unreadable expression. Giles was sure, however, that it was not delight.

When Barrette took his leave of them, they could talk freely again and Lord Winter was quick with his questions. “What has become of the nurse I left in charge of Lilly?” Lord Winter asked. “Lilly mentioned she disappeared one night.”

Giles scrubbed his face before he answered. He could tell the truth and would prefer to do so, but Lilly—sweet, innocent Lilly—could be damaged by it. He would be careful how much he revealed. “She left us the night of your departure. We found not a trace of her the next day.”

He could tell Lord Winter that he suspected the nurse might have made Lilly ill but he had no real proof only suspicions..

Lord Winter nodded. “I did not think she would be with us long, but I had hoped she would await my return. None of them seem to stay. However, it appears that you have exceptional servants to rehabilitate my daughter so quickly, when years of consultations and examination have failed us. Would you do me the honor of pointing out the servant responsible so I can reward her? My daughter’s recovery is due in no small part by her efforts, and the stubbornness of a Winter’s willpower.” He leaned forward conspiratorially. “I might steal the woman from you.”

“Of course.” He refused to correct the man of his wrong assumptions. It would have to be Mrs. Osprey who took the credit. He could not claim it himself when to do so would make Lilly’s father look at her with disapproval.

“Wherever did you acquire the gowns my daughter wears? If there is a bill to pay, I would like to hear of it now, if you please.” Lord Winter reached out a finger and touched the trail of gown strewn beside his daughter’s leg.

Giles laughed in surprise. He had forgotten about the clothes. “My sister maintains a substantial wardrobe here still. Shocking, is it not? Katarina is addicted to fashion, but will probably never wear half of them. Perhaps you could approach her with the request for the bill, but perhaps not. Katarina is a bit of a shrew, after all. Lilly was deemed a similar size and I have allowed her access to my sister’s possessions. She could not continue to wander the house in her nightgown.”

Winter stilled, and then his jaw clenched tight as Giles realized just how bad that sounded. It sounded as if Giles had seen Lilly in her nightgown more than once, which was true, but Lord Winter did not need to know the full details. He would have to be more careful how he phrased these matters relating to Lilly.

Winter gave him a strange look. “Cottingstone is as lovely as I remember. You’ve had work done since I left.”

While Giles spoke of his improvements, Lord Winter stirred three lumps of sugar into Lilly’s teacup. Since Lilly only liked one, Giles swapped his untouched cup with hers.

“Thank you, Giles.”

When Giles sat down again, the baron was glancing between him and Lilly, a frown restoring his face to its usual expression. Giles held his gaze. The man should have predicted he’d at least speak to his daughter while he was off in Wales. He shouldn’t be surprised he knew how she liked her tea either. There was nothing scandalous about knowing that.

Lilly fidgeted.

Come to think of it, why hadn’t Winter simply asked these questions of Lilly already? Did the baron not believe her explanations? Lilly was unusually pale, even for her, and while he could not guarantee it, he was pretty certain Lilly had something on her mind.

Giles caught her eye. “How do you think Cottingstone compare’s to your ancestral home?”

Her frown grew. “Cottingstone is—”

“Cottingstone is a lovely, rustic setting, but it cannot compare to the splendor of Dumas,” Barrette assured them from the doorway. “I have been reacquainting myself with the house and grounds but I must say it could use Lady Winter’s superior touch. She will be greatly relieved to have my cousin under her wing again.”

Giles had not heard Barrette in the hall, and he wondered just how long he had been there. Lilly didn’t want to return to Dumas. She had been very insistent on that point just a few days ago. “I did not realize that you had visited Cottingstone before.”

Lord Carrington swept into the room and circled behind Barrette to take a chair a little to the side of the group. His expression appeared puzzled.

“I have always been invited everywhere,” he promised.

Giles had to think. Barrette had not been at Cottingstone during the time Giles had held the title. He would never have invited this toady anywhere in the past or in the future.

He also couldn’t bear to let the quip about his home being rustic pass without comment. “Cottingstone is the least of my concerns in England, Barrette. Like many progressive men, I find great pleasure in pursuing investment in other areas that offer a higher return.”

Had he thought that because Giles was not a substantial landowner that he was not wealthy in other ways? Did he think that the lack of servants and ostentation was an indication of economy? It was an exercise in achieving a peaceful, responsibility-free existence. There were many ways to acquire wealth, after all.

Barrette clenched his jaw. “As am I.”

Giles thought that an exaggeration. If Barrette had funds to spare, he wouldn’t be hanging around his uncle and trespassing where he wasn’t invited.