“Is your gift frightening?”
“Nay. I but have a gift for sensing the enemy, some approaching danger, and can track down near anything or anyone.” He decided not to mention his ability to calm people as that could be something she might not so easily accept. “I will find your brother, although, from what you have told me, it does not appear that he is trying to hide.”
Primrose laughed. “True, but, if, and I do not have any proof to say anything, but if my aunt is thinking to be rid of the heir and somehow Simeon catches wind of it, he will hide. He will do it very well, too. As I told you, some people think him a worthless fop, but he is actually quite brilliant. My mother once told me that she thinks all brilliant people are a little odd because their minds are so busy. She saw my father’s love of fine clothes and occasional foolishness as the way he escaped all those deep thoughts.” She smiled. “I cannot say I believe that, yet both Simeon and Papa could be foolish one moment and then fall into a long discussion of something so deep and complicated it was beyond understanding. At times you would even have to remind them that they needed to eat a meal.”
Bened nodded. “I have some kin who are much the same.”
The hairs on the back of his neck rose and Bened tensed. He could hear no one approaching but he knew someone who meant them ill was near at hand. As he abruptly stood up, he patted the pocket of his coat, pleased that he had decided to keep his pistol with him.
“What is wrong?” Primrose asked, fighting the fear that threatened to swamp her as his expression darkened.
“Not sure. Stay right here,” he ordered, and left.
She stood up and then sat right back down. The urge to rush after him was surprisingly strong but she knew it would be best to do as he had commanded no matter how much being ordered around annoyed her. She had no skill for fighting or dealing with any sort of real danger. All she could do if she insisted on being with him wherever he had run off to would be to impede him in whatever he had gone to do.
Drumming her fingers on the table, she wished she knew what was happening. He had told her he had a gift for sensing an enemy. Although she was not sure she believed in such gifts, there was always the possibility they existed. Her father had been fond of saying anything was possible. The question that needed answering was had he sensed his enemies or hers? And just who were her enemies? Next time she would ask a few questions before he ran off.
A moment later she realized that she had accepted his presence in her search for Simeon. It annoyed her to have to admit that she needed a man to help her but she was neither too proud nor too stubborn to accept the facts. Her reputation might be utterly ruined if it was discovered that she had traveled around with a man who was not related to her, but traveling alone could as well plus cost her a great deal more. She had already seen that in the looks men had given her, heard it in the crudeness of comments directed at her. Even if Bened did not possess the skills he claimed, he could prove to be a fine shield against such harassment. She only needed to recall the last time she had stopped at an inn to admit that she needed one. Primrose just hoped her new shield did not get badly dented by whatever or whomever he had just charged off to confront.
Bened cursed as he stared at the empty stalls that had once held his and Primrose’s horses. It was bad enough her horse had been taken while under his watch but to lose his own was embarrassing. He then turned to stare at the cowering stableboy. The youth did not look as if he had put up any fight at all while someone had taken the animals.
“Where are our horses?” he demanded.
“They been taken back by the ones ye stole them from,” the boy replied, the tremor in his voice stealing some of the bravado he was attempting to display.
“Is that what they told you?”
The youth nodded. “Said they were taking them back to the lady what owns them.”