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“Out with it, man.”
“It is the, er, captain, sir. Captain Balfour.”
Oh no.
“He desires a word with you all.”
Lady Bellingham promptly sat down, as her husband began a fruitless request for them to effect their departure.
“No.” She sat upon her dignity as much as if she were the Queen. “I have every intention of staying to hear how this man can attempt to justify himself.”
“You do not need to,” the squire hissed. “You heard enough from him yesterday.”
Theo’s heart caught. The poor man, admitting the truth in front of the village notables, taking the brunt of the attack in her absence. How thankful she was for him. But it was no wonder the Bellinghams had visited the Stapleton household so early to learn more.
“Send the man in.” The general glared at the Bellingham family. “And you can escort these ones out.”
“Oh, but sir—”
“You, madam, are the most meddlesome, interfering person of my acquaintance. Be gone from here, before I tell your husband to drag you out.”
“Oh, I never!”
Tears pricked Theo’s eyes at the protests, the cries, the noise. Oh, how had a little subterfuge descended into such chaos, where words were being spoken that would likely prove impossible to forget? Regret kneaded her heart, her confession and repentance only going a small way to absolving the guilt staining her soul.
Theo clasped her hands in her lap, barely raising her eyes as they exited, only too conscious of the man who waited on the other side of the door.
Captain Daniel Balfour.
Chapter 23
Daniel rose unsteadily from his perch on the hall’s wooden chair, taking care to balance on his crutch and yet not appear weak as the Bellinghams appeared. Some might call him brave, but the expressions on their faces made him wish he had not forgone Musgrave’s offer to accompany him inside this morning. Daniel had requested the lieutenant instead remain by the stables, where the intrepid horseman would doubtless be entertained. For this mess was not of Musgrave’s making, nor was it his responsibility to supply the remedy.
“You!” the squire’s wife exclaimed, before her husband grabbed her arm and led her forcibly away.
Frederick eyed him with disdain, before hissing, “You are responsible for this.”
Daniel’s jaw clenched. Undoubtedly, he was, whatever this new fracas was, but he’d apologized enough yesterday that he wasn’t going to do more today. Not to this young whippersnapper, anyway.
“I would blacken your eye if you weren’t injured.” Young Bellingham’s eyes blazed, as if he thought he actually would. “How could you take advantage of someone like her?”
Daniel did not engage, willing his face to impassivity, and was relieved when the young man’s father snapped at him to attend them now.
“You may enter,” Mr. Siddons intoned, but with a hint of pity in his eye.
Inside the drawing room he was met with the three Stapletons, but fortunately, not his niece nor the Rileys.
“Ah, the man himself.” The general’s eyes and voice seemed to be made of flint.
Daniel made his bows and good mornings and glanced at the youngest member of the trio.
She did not return his gaze.
His heart twisted a little more. “I thought my visit was unconscionably early, but it appears I am not the first to visit this day.”
“Indeed you are not,” grumbled the general.
“I have reason to believe the Bellinghams have forestalled my wish to be the first to share what happened last night, and for that I am sorry. Truly, I beg your forgiveness for what proved to be an ugly situation, and for what I fear will have further consequences.”
