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“And was your journey extremely uncomfortable?” Lady Bellingham asked, her tone and tilted head holding sympathy and an expectation he’d agree.
“Not at all,” he said. “Two hundred miles of good road these days makes the journey far quicker than one might think. Of course, it would have proved quicker if I had not stopped off at Langley House, which is more of a castle really, to see an army acquaintance.”
Seraphina’s eyes rounded. “You know a gentleman who lives in a castle?”
“Major James Langley. Lives in a castle by the North Sea. Of course, he’s sold out, so not a major now, but rather nicely settled and married. I shouldn’t be surprised to hear that his little family will be increasing in the not-too-distant future.”
From the startled responses that met this last comment, he might have realized the impropriety of speaking as such to near perfect strangers, as he begged their pardon.
Theo grew uneasily aware that, for all his affable charm, the lieutenant was a talker. Concern threaded through her at his ability to hold his tongue.
Lady Bellingham’s gaze narrowed. “You are a friend of Captain Balfour’s, I understand.”
“Yes.”
Theo’s heart froze.
“Which is why he sent for me to look in on the situation.” He turned to Becky. “Apparently he wants me to keep an eye on you.”
She blushed and giggled, dimpling up at him in a way that drew a fresh pang of misgiving. Oh dear. The lieutenant might hold swags of charm, but he was at least ten years Becky’s senior. No good could come of a poor girl’s infatuation. Theo knew only too well how badly that could turn.
But further thought could not be applied to this, as Lady Bellingham’s brow had pleated. “The captain sent for you? Do you mean he is here?”
Theo’s breath sucked in, and she could only look between her mother and the captain’s friend, her ready wits for once not quick to the fore.
Becky’s cheeks flushed. “If he were here, then wouldn’t we all know?”
“Exactly so.” Theo smiled warmly at her charge. “One couldn’t expect such a man to come into the neighborhood without great fuss and fanfare.” She shifted to check on the fire, whose welcome warmth the lieutenant still enjoyed. “I trust, sir, that you’d be willing to stay here with us at Stapleton Court. We are rather blessed with company, so I’m afraid it is our third guest bedchamber that would be yours, but I assure you it is most comfortable, though some might think it small.”
“My dear Miss Stapleton!” protested Lady Bellingham turning to Theo’s mother. “Surely, Letitia, you would not wish to open your daughter up to a charge of impropriety.”
Mama concurred.
The man shot an uneasy look at Lady Bellingham. “I rather thought I’d stay at Mannering. I believe that was what the captain said.”
“That is a much better idea,” approved the squire’s wife.
“It would be,” Theo said smoothly, “if the house was still able to be used. But as it remains at the mercy of builders, I think you would prefer to stay elsewhere, where you can be assured you will not come to grief.”
The lieutenant scratched his cheek. “I could make arrangements at the local inn.”
“Nonsense.” Theo refused to look in the squire’s wife’s direction. “If you have been directed to keep an eye on Captain Balfour’s niece, how can you be expected to do so when you are all the way across in the village? Did you know it is nearly two miles from Stapleton Court to Wooler? Quite too far to be traipsing back and forth every day, especially when I am sure it is going to rain yet more.”
“Exactly so,” Mama interposed. “I said as much to dear Theodosia just the other day. I always feel the oncoming rains because my sciatica flares.”
Theo readjusted her mother’s shawl, her mother thanking her with patted hand. “More rain, I’m afraid, will make the roads impassable, so staying at an inn would be unwise.” And if the lieutenant was safely ensconced here at Stapleton, it might mean he’d have less opportunity to allow his tongue to run away. Although, there was the added pressure of Seraphina and Roger’s presence. “Now, I must make you known to the general.”
“General Stapleton? Yes, Balfour mentioned him.”
Oh dear. Theo clasped her hands tightly and smiled at their visitor. “Lady Bellingham, please excuse me while I show our newest guest to his room so he can wash off his dirt and be presented to the general. Come, sir.”
Lieutenant Musgrave made his adieus and they exited to the sound of Lady Bellingham asking if Letitia had plans to turn Stapleton Court into a hostelry, as dear Theodosia seemed determined to insist on all and sundry being invited to stay here.
“You seem to have landed on your feet.”
Daniel looked up from his book at that welcome voice as Jeremy Musgrave entered the guest room, Miss Stapleton hanging back just behind him.
Musgrave took in the view on all sides then broke into a laugh, as he motioned to Daniel’s splint-bound leg. “Except not.”
