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Without ever once even engaging Caroline in conversation. That was very true. But it wasn’t the same thing at all. “And if your father had donned a mask and threw daggers at people, do you believe Uncle Robert would have acceptedhissuit?”
Rachel opened her mouth to say something and thenclosedit.
“Of course he wouldn’t have,” Caroline said evenly. “I may rarely see eye-to-eye with my brother, but I know he had my best interests at heart, just like I haveyoursnow.”
“There’s a look in his eyes, Mama,” Rachel said more softly. “A haunted look that breaks my heart, and if I could just talktohim…”
Then Rachel could fix whatever was broken with that dagger-thrower? Caroline breathed out a breath, relieved completely that they weren’t in London and there was no danger of her daughter slipping back into the shadows of Covent Garden in the dead of night looking for a dangerous man with a haunted look. The very idea sent a shiver down herspine.
A knock sounded from her dressing room door and Caroline glanced toward the sound. “Marc?” sheasked.
And then he opened their connecting door. Fully dressed and looking quite put together, Marc nodded at Caroline. How could he possibly dress so quickly? “My dear, Mrs. Dawson says she’ll gather something from Miss Gleadhill’s wardrobe for you.” Then his gaze flashed to Rachel and he said, “Ah, Miss Benton. How are you settling in atSaddleworth?”
“I would rather be in London,” Rachelmuttered.
And searching for men with haunted looks who went around throwing daggers. Good heavens! Caroline had never been that reckless, not even in her wildestimaginings.
“It has been a long couple days for all of us,” Marc saidappeasably.
Rachel heaved a sigh. “You said when we got here I could ask you any question Iwanted.”
“That isn’t exactly what I said.” Marc frowned at her. “But what is on your mind, MissBenton?”
“So many things,” she replied. “But let’s start with the Covent Guard. I’m stuck here in Yorkshire. You know I can’t go anywhere. But if you could just tellmehis—”
“Instead of his name,” Marc began evenly, “what if I told you something elseabouthim?”
Caroline didn’t want her daughter to hearanythingabout the man, and she shot Marc a pleading look. The last thing Rachel needed was something to focus her attention on with regard to the dangerous fiend. Haunted look,indeed.
“What can you tell me?” Rachel took a steadyingbreath.
Caroline’s heart lodged in herthroat.
“What if I told you the fellow is quite married?” Marc said, frowning as hedidso.
“Married?” Rachel seemed to deflate right before Caroline’seyes. “But—”
“I am sorry,” Marc continued. “If I’d realized you were holding atendrefor the fellow I would have said something sooner. I just thought you were looking for an adventure ofsorts.”
Rachel looked like she might be sick, but relief washed over Caroline at hearingthenews.
“Now, you said there were many things you wanted to know,” Marc continued. “Was there something else you wishedtoask?”
But Rachel simply shook her head. “Not now,” she muttered, mostly to herself. “Not at themoment.”
And while Caroline was more than relieved with this recent turn of events, her heart ached a bit for her daughter too, especially as she looked completely crushed. She started toward Rachel, but her daughter shook her head, haltingherstep.
“They’re doing lunch on the verandah, but I don’t think I’m feeling all that well.” And then she very dispassionately quit Caroline’schambers.
Caroline let out a breath as she turned back toward Marc. “Goodness! Did you hear any of that before youknocked?”
“Enough of it,” Marc replied withanod.
“Thank God the man is married.” Caroline crossed the room and slid her arms around Marc’s middle, so glad for his strength. She wasn’t sure what she would do without him. “I have no idea what she’d try otherwise. I’ve never quite seen herlikethat.”
“He’s not married,” Marc saidsoftly.
“I beg your pardon?” Caroline blinked up at him. Buthe’dsaid…
