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“You must forgive me if I seemed impertinent,” Frederick said. “I did not mean to give offense.”
“Oh, I am not offended, just a little puzzled. Then I realized that my refusal to give a direct answer might be construed in other ways. So I determined to share with you what has been happening here but must beg your indulgence to keep our secret for a little while longer.”
Grandfather’s eyebrows almost met the crown of his head. He’d given up all pretense of reading his book, his arms crossed as he scowled and waited for her to continue.
“Miss Stapleton, I can assure you anything you tell me will be in the strictest confidence and shall never pass my lips.”
“Truly, I hope you shall prove to be a man of honor and a gentleman of your word.”
“Oh, Miss Stapleton, you must know you can always trust me.”
“It may seem a little peculiar, but we all know how gossip can thrive in this district, and I cannot help but wish such an explanation would not prove necessary.”
His hesitation suggested Frederick was torn between decrying his interest and wishing to know the truth. Eventually honor won out. “Please, do not feel you must share such things with me if you would rather not.”
“But that is the thing. I feel somewhat uncomfortable now, and it seems anything I say will prove a sad disappointment.”
“Nothing you could say could ever disappoint me, Miss Stapleton.”
Now that was patently untrue, as had been proved, but she would overlook it. “You see, I fear you will think it much greater than it is, when really, the great secret is …”
“Yes?”
She exhaled heavily. “It’s simply that the man who was to fetch Miss Mannering and take her to London met with an accident, which I believe you already know.”
“Yes, yes,” he said impatiently.
“Well, that man is here.”
He blinked. “Here?”
“Here. Upstairs.” She sat back and watched his fresh struggle between propriety and his wish to know more.
“Is that all? You’re telling me the doctor was here to see a servant?”
Not exactly a servant, although the captain was in service of the King, so that might suffice. She avoided answering the question with a small laugh. “You can see now why I didn’t feel like such an inconsequential matter needed to be elaborated on.”
“Yes.” But the crease in his forehead suggested he did not. “So the man who is upstairs was here to collect Becky.”
“Exactly so.”
“Can I meet him?”
The bold-faced question made her blink. “I, er …”
“Indeed not,” Grandfather interrupted from his corner. “The captain needs his rest,”
“The captain?” Frederick quickly turned to face the general.
Alarm sped up Theo’s spine, and she frowned at her grandfather, but swiftly found a gritted-teeth smile when Frederick looked back at her. “Why yes! The captain arranged for Miss Mannering’s return”—all true—“and I’m sure he is enjoying his time away from the fighting. It must be so arduous. Can you imagine trying to sleep in the midst of a battlefield?”
Frederick scoffed. “I’m sure they do not try to sleep on a battlefield.”
“No, I imagine you are right,” she said meekly. “I’m sure any quiet place as can be found in England must prove a wonderful respite.”
From Frederick’s frown it was apparent her efforts to distract and dissuade were not working. “Miss Stapleton, sir.” He bowed slightly to her grandfather. “I do not wish to appear intrusive—”
Then perhaps he should leave. She bit back a small smile.
