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“Oh,” Selina said. Leah looked at her, closely. She seemed—odd. More so than usual.
“What? You don’t think I can do it?”
“I’m sure you can do anything that you put your mind to,” Selina replied, giving her a half-hearted smile.
“I see, now,” Leah went on, after all, maybe her cousin could benefit from seeing her example. “I deserve love.”
“Everyone deserves love,” Selina replied.
Leah beamed at her cousin. “You’ll see,” she assured her. “We’ll be rescheduling the wedding very soon.”
* * *
“We need to solve this,” Colonel Fitz was saying. “Your Grace, how can we have these bad men, running about the countryside, murdering ladies?”
“I do feel as though we’ve failed them,” Jasper agreed. There was the funeral luncheon at Lord Langley’s mansion. All of the local aristocracy was gathered in his Great Hall, with plates of food, cups of tea.
“I’m going to increase patrols in the area,” Colonel Fitz declared. “No ladies are to stir from the safety of their homes without being accompanied by an armed gentleman. No gentleman should go abroad unarmed.”
“Agreed,” Jasper said. They needed to solve this.
He looked about the room, spotting Stephen, who was standing beside Lady Ella. They were both talking in low voices, politely. It was the first time that anyone had seen Lady Ella since her mother’s death.
She looked pale; her usual mirth was completely gone. The tragedy had altered her. Jasper was glad that Stephen was giving her attention until Stephen’s gaze cut over to Lady Selina. Jasper knew that his friend was still enamored of her.
“Your Grace?” Colonel Fitz asked. Jasper looked at him, in surprise.
“Yes, Colonel?” he asked, feeling jarred.
“Is there anything else that we should do?” he asked.
“Perhaps, we should think about asking for another regiment or two,” he replied. His eyes had gravitated toward Lady Selina, who was watching him. “I’ll write to the Regent directly.”
Their eyes met. Desire swept through him like a wave of dark water, plunging him into the depths.
* * *
After the family returned from the funeral, Selina finally took out her letter to her brother. It sounded, to her ears, that Leah was not about to let the Duke go—not without a fight.
She knew that it would be best. She opened it, up, copying the letter out, so that the date would be current.
Dear Thomas,
I hope that my letter finds you and Lord Merriweather well, up there in the North. I am writing to you because there have been recent robberies in the area, as well as a murder of a lady, no less. Leah’s wedding has been called off, and it feels rather unsafe.
I was wondering if it would be at all possible for me to come and join you, at least for a little while. I don’t want to be presumptuous, or to ask too much of Lord Merriweather, but I find it rather urgent that I be on my way from Kirby Hall and the surrounding environs.
All my love,
Selina
She folded it, sealing it with a bit of wax before writing out the address, then rang the bell for Mr. Wickes. He was at the door in the space of a few moments.
“My Lady!” he said. “What can I do for you?”
“Would you be so kind as to post this for me, Mr. Wickes?” she asked, holding the letter out. She watched as she placed it into his hand. His eyes took in the direction.
He gave her a short bow. “Of course, My Lady. I will post it immediately.”
