Page 83 of Broken

He shook his head. “You do not need know the details.”

Lilly turned toward the house, furious for the first time in many years, and left without saying a goodbye of any kind.

She ignored Carrington’s enquiries as she passed him on her way to her bedchamber. The stout door would keep those foolish men from her sight. She just might be tempted to whack some sense into their defective brains. She may not be worldly, but she wasn’t stupid. What they discussed was very much her business.

* * *

“She did not mean that,” Lord Winter promised Giles as he stepped out of the fog.

“Yes, she did.” Giles chuckled. “And I deserve a great deal more of your daughter’s anger beyond this outburst. She appears to have a terrible temper. Is that a family trait I need to prepare for? Perhaps I should acquire a suit of armor from somewhere. Maybe Ettington has had enough of that ghastly suit in his front hall.”

Lord Winter winced. “I have not seen her lose her temper in years. Not since her mother gave away her puppy.”

Giles blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

“It was years ago. When Barrette was younger, he came to our estate while his parents traveled abroad. He took an instant liking to the young pup my daughter had acquired from the stables. Since my wife lived in horror of dogs but liked to indulge our nephew, she handed him over. Lillian did not take it well.”

“I do not blame her. That seems a particularly cruel thing to do to a child.”

“Yes, well, my wife was unable to bear more than one child. She had wanted a son quite desperately. She took her frustrations out on our daughter.”

“That is no excuse,” Giles argued as he glanced around. “Lady Winter seems usually cold.”

The baron shook his head. “Are you out here to spy on me, Daventry, or is there something I can do for you?”

Unfortunately, Lord Winter’s problems were Giles’ problems now.

“I was watching over Lilly. You know I have suspicions concerning her accident and the other odd occurrences all add up to a worrying conclusion. It is a situation I cannot ignore, especially when I have just learned Barrette has not left the area. Since a foggy day can hide many an act of tomfoolery, perhaps you had better come back inside.”

Lord Winter stood and glanced around quickly. “You fear for me too?”

“Let us say that you’re a little too close to that bridge for my liking. Come back inside and we will play a hand of cards.”

Giles had no wish to loiter outside on a day where there was no chance to see if Barrette crept up on them. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as it was. He hustled his soon-to-be father-in-law towards the house as fast as he could.

“Would you know if Barrette can shoot with any degree of accuracy?” Giles asked as they crossed the threshold into the drawing room and locked the door behind them.

“No. Barrette is a terrible shot. I am always surprised to see him out in the country. I don’t believe he cares for any place other than Dumas or London.”

“Of course he is here. You are here, and I understand he has become something of a shadow. I was thinking about the nursemaid you brought with you earlier. The one who disappeared in the night as soon as you departed. Did Barrette know her?”

“I don’t recall?” Winter frowned. “Wait. Yes. They have exchanged a few words now I think about it further. Barrette has always been keen on the ladies.”

“Yes, I noticed that here too which might explain how Lilly came to be drugged with laudanum again.” Giles shook his head; unable to believe any of his staff would knowingly agree to anything that would harm Lilly. “I wonder if he somehow gained access to her trays of food.”

“You are convinced he means to harm her?”

“How can you not suspect him?” Giles shook his head. “I believe Lilly’s accident was no accident at all. An angel would always behave herself. Do you know she is afraid of heights?”

“Well, of course she is, and who could blame her?”

“She was afraid of heights before the accident, Winter. Lilly would never have climbed that bridge on her own,” Giles assured him.

Lord Winter’s face paled. “How the devil did you get that out of her? We never could discover how she fell. She was too ill to answer questions, and then later she wouldn’t answer.”

“She may not want to remember. I took her to the bridge myself a few days after her recovery, and she told me of an incident with a kitten, an apple tree, and your valet. She said she had been hysterical even then.”

“You are right, come to think of it. Lilly was as white as a ghost. We all thought she’d climbed that bridge.”