The interest of those gentlemen did not flatter Grace—quite the contrary. There had been only one man present whose admiration mattered to her. But at the moment, she could only fear that he might look out a window and spy Lord Benedict’s carriage.
As if he had read her thoughts, the viscount spoke. “We are on our way to London and from there to visit Miss Fletcher in Kent. I thought I might pay my compliments to Lord Steadwell before we leave. I have long admired the diligence with which he undertakes his duties in the House of Lords. I only wish there were more peers like him.”
Much as Grace would have liked to grant Rebecca’s husband his wish, she feared a meeting between the two gentlemen might expose her growing cache of secrets.
She ventured a furtive glance back toward the house. Was it only her guilty imagination or was someone looking out from an upstairs window?
“I’m certain Lord Steadwell would be honored by your praise, sir. But I am afraid this would not be a good time for him to receive visitors.” She cast Rebecca a look that pleaded for understanding.
“Very well.” The viscount seemed disappointed and perhaps even a trifle offended. “If he is indisposed, I do not wish to disturb him.”
Rebecca and Grace parted with rather strained goodbyes. “Please give my best wishes to Hannah and our other friends when you see them. I hope one day we may all meet together again.”
To Grace’s relief the coachman managed to turn Lord Benedict’s vehicle in close quarters without going all the way to the house and rousing unwelcome questions.
As she and the girls waved to her departing friends, Grace could not help thinking what an exhausting and worrisome business it was to maintain her pretense. More and more she wished she could tell the truth and be herself. If only there was not so much at stake...
Who in blazes was Miss Ellerby talking to down at the end of the lane? From his bedchamber window Rupert could only glimpse bits of distant figures partially shielded from sight by the linden trees. He could see enough of the vehicle to recognize it as a travelling carriage of the kind in which he drove back and forth to London.
What was it doing here, lingering so long in the distance rather than coming straight down to the house? Had the people lost their way perhaps and stopped to ask directions? The more time passed, the less likely that explanation seemed. The occupants of the carriage could have gotten directions all the way to Dover in the time they spent talking to Miss Ellerby.
By the time the carriage made a tight turn and drove away, Rupert’s curiosity and suspicion had been roused to a keen pitch. He donned his coat and strode off in search of answers.
He found his daughters and their governess at the end of the lane sketching wildflowers. The girls did not call out and run toward him as they usually did, and Miss Ellerby seemed to shrink from his approach. Did he look so formidable?
Perhaps so, he acknowledged ruefully, making a determined effort to relax his severe frown, stiff stride and arms clenched behind his back. It was not easy after the events of last night.
“Sketching again, are you?” He glanced at Sophie’s drawing with an approving nod. “Very good. Perhaps later you could go over it with your watercolors.”
“I think I will, Papa.”
He wandered past his two older daughters, casting admiring glances at their work as well. They seemed to concentrate very hard on what they were doing—too hard to make eye contact with him.
Their governess kept her gaze downcast and seemed to brace herself as he approached. Rupert had never observed anyone look so transparently guilty. What she might be guilty of, he had no idea. But he intended to find out.
“Miss Ellerby.”
“Sir.” She dropped a furtive curtsy and refused to look up at him.
“I thought I saw a carriage stop here and the occupants speak to you.”
“Yes, sir.” The governess clenched her lips in a thin, stubborn line, as if she feared he might try to pull her teeth out.
“I thought it odd that this carriage did not continue on to the house. Can you offer an explanation?”
She swallowed visibly. “The people only stopped for a moment, sir. They were on their way to London. I did not want them to disturb you after your late night out.”
“How do you know I was out late?” The question came out sharper than he intended.
It made Miss Ellerby start. “I just assumed, sir. Since you were away to a ball...”
“As a matter of fact I was out late,” Rupert admitted. Furthermore, he had not slept well once he reached home. Was that what made him so gruff and suspicious this morning? “But I am wide awake now. Tell me, were the people in that carriage acquaintances of mine? Or yours?”
She drew a deep breath. “Of mine, sir. The lady is an old friend from my school days, recently married. She and her husband stopped by on their way to London.”
Rupert glanced toward his daughters, who had been staring at them but now returned to their drawings with fierce concentration. “Girls, why don’t you take your sketch boxes back to the nursery? Then I will take you for a punt on the river.”
“Yes, Papa,” they chorused but without the enthusiasm Rupert expected.
They packed up their drawing materials with lightning speed then headed for the house. Their governess tried to follow, but he stepped into her path. “A moment if you please, Miss Ellerby. I sent the girls on ahead because I wanted a private word with you.”
“What about, sir?”
“About the people in the carriage, of course!” he snapped, vexed with her for pretending she didn’t know. “If they were friends of yours, why did you not invite them in for a visit?”
She continued to keep her gaze lowered. “Because it is not my house, sir.”
Her answer took him aback. The house might not belong to her, but he liked to think it was her home now. “I am dismayed by your assumption that I would not allow you to receive guests at Nethercross.”
“I’m sorry, sir. But it is not usually permitted.”
“So you sent them on their way just like that—a friend you have not seen in how many years?”
She hesitated. “Nine, sir.”
“I’m afraid I do not believe you.” Rupert hoped that might shock the truth out of her. “I see no reason for you to be so evasive about an old friend paying a call. Admit it—you are seeking a new position with another family!”
The possibility made him feel betrayed and strangely... jealous? No—that was ridiculous! It must be some residual feeling from last night.
He had come to believe Grace Ellerby was one woman who would never abandon him and his children. At first he’d thought that because she had no other options available to her. But lately he had come to trust in her loyalty and devotion. Her evasive answers to his questions made him feel like a fool for placing his trust in her. The notion that she might be making plans to go elsewhere felt like a personal betrayal.
It took Miss Ellerby a moment to produce an audible reply.