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Maggie’s bright eyes considered him for a moment, and he wondered if she was about to chastise him, as she had so many times when he was a boy, and she the housekeeper at Summerfield Park, but she simply nodded.
“I’ll keep your secret for now – but don’t be surprised if she uncovers your subterfuge on her own. She’s far more intelligent than half the men I’ve met. Which is exactly why she’d be a good choice for you.”
With that, Maggie patted his hand as if he was still a child, and stepped back into her house, closing the door after her.
He swung up onto General, and set off for home, but her words echoed in his thoughts, all the way there.
*****
Not consciously hoping to encounter the man who was so disconcerting, Verity was again walking in the meadow, just before tea time two days hence. Humming to herself, she was enjoying the warmer air and the scent of the early blooming flowers. When she heard footsteps she did not immediately turn, sure, for a moment, that it was in fact Daniel approaching for tea, as he’d said to Maggie he’d be there.
But when a rough hand grasped her arm and pulled her around, she realised her mistake. She saw the red and leering face of Dirk, the Innkeeper’s son. He was years her junior,and certainly not someone she would want in her life - she could hardly credit his presumption.
“So, Mrs. Millwood, you are alone and can receive a sober fellow with kindness I should think.”
“Surely you can see that I am in mourning for my recently deceased husband, and not interested in your advances sir. I am far too old for you at any rate. Find yourself a lovely village maiden and have a good life.”
She turned, shaking off his grip and taking a step away.
“Think yourself above me do you? I saw the drunken suitor you shoved out your door at the Inn, scarce hours after your arrival. And you in your nightrail too. Surely you’ve no right to think yourself better than me?”
With that Dirk grabbed for her again and she stumbled backward, nearly falling. She was disturbed by the determination in his face. Knowing that he was larger and heavier than she was, she hoped that he had enough intelligence for her words to be heard, and disarm his intentions. Stifling the fear which churned in her stomach, she stood tall and spoke calmly and forcefully.
“Kindly leave me alone, Dirk, I have nothing against you, but you have misinterpreted the situation. Whoever that was who stumbled into my room was not known to me, and was not allowed to stay long enough to make an acquaintance. I ejected him immediately that he entered the room, uninvited. Surely you can’t believe that a woman bereft would welcome uncouth advances from any man, drunk or sober.”
Dirk almost snarled at her, and spoke again.
“Why should I believe that? Women have not the strength to remove a man who wants to stay… so you li…”
The thunder of hooves approaching interrupted his words before he could complete the insult. Then General was upon them, and an enraged Mr Trowbridge leapt from his back, shoving the rude young man to the ground.
“Ruffian, your father knows that such behaviour is not allowed on Summerfield lands. Get you off back to your home, and never bother this woman again, or I shall have the Inn itself for payment of your effrontery — and your father will know the reason.”
Breathing hard, Mr Trowbridge took hold of the young man’s shirt and pulled him up, pushing him off toward his home. Verity stood as if frozen, heart pounding for a myriad reasons. He was magnificent!
After watching to see that the lad really did keep going, with only one furtive glance back over his shoulder, Mr Trowbridge turned to Verity and offered her his hand.
“I’m so sorry that I was not here sooner, Mrs. Millwood. You should not have had to be subject to that behaviour.”
His distress was evident in his face, and he met her eyes, seeking to ascertain her own feelings.
“Your arrival was well timed sir, but I do still have the rock in my reticule.”
*****
Her smile was only a little tremulous and Daniel again found his admiration of her overshadowing any concerns about the fact that she was not what his father would have liked. Again, he reminded himself that his father was gone – the choice was entirely his own, now. He tucked her hand through his arm. Only then did he remember to look at General, who he had abandoned when he had leapt from the saddle to deal with young Dirk. The horse stood nearby, obviously content to graze until his master was ready to move on. Daniel smiled, and reached out to gather up the reins and slip his arm through them. Obediently, General came to him.
“As it is almost teatime, I think that we can meander by the back pathway and avoid another encounter with that inept young rake. Are you recovered enough to walk on?”
She gripped his arm and nodded.
“Let me tell Maggie about this incident in my own time Mr. Trowbridge, I don’t want to cause strife for the young fool – after all, he’s her grandson! I believe your dressing down will contain him. He had a mistaken impression of what occurred on my first night at the Inn.”
She smiled again and turned with him towards the path, the horse following. Then, as they walked along a seemingly smooth path, suddenly she stumbled, and he noticed that she had turned pale.
“Mrs. Millwood, what has happened?”
He deftly caught her as she nearly fainted. The sensation of holding her in his arms was heady, the scent of her intoxicating, and part of him could not but hope that she would not recover soon – for whilst she remained in this swoon, he might hold her still.
