Edward parks put his fork down and sat back in his chair to frown across his dining table at the viscount.

“I tell you, Bret, something is afoot. I can feel it.”

“In what regard?”

“Look, I managed to take your man aside, Epps, and he tells me that the Echworths are invited to Penrod tonight for dinner. I find that…strange.”

“Lady Penrod wouldn’t have them again? It is impossible. Not with Mary in the house. Besides that, Guss loathes my cousins, and well you know it. Are you sure he said they were invited?”

“I am sure and what is more, I quite agree with you. Makes no sense, but, nevertheless, they go tonight, and what is more, what is worse, Duncan is with them.”

“Burn it! Never say he is here already! Bloody hell!” The viscount got up, ran a hand through his hair and took to pacing.

“Well, as to that, I’m glad of it, as now we may proceed with our plans. He arrived some minutes after I took my leave of Sheila to go into town. On my return trip, I met Epps in the field, as he had been waiting for me, and he gave me the news to give to you if I saw you. Also, he left some buckets of water near the cliff for Midnight.”

“Thank you, Edward.” The viscount sat back down and took up his snifter of brandy, drinking it down instead of savoring it. “Edward, this worries me. Duncan coming just at this time…it is too soon.” He shook his head. “The Echworths dining at Penrod while Mary is there…while Ness is there. I don’t like it…damn, I don’t.”

“Are you worried that Lady Vanessa will give Mary away to them?”

“I am not sure,” the viscount said quietly.

“She has not given you away, Bret,” Edward pointed out, and as Bret stood up again, he motioned for him to be seated. “Stop your restlessness. You are making me dizzy.”

The viscount sat once again. “What if she does give Mary away, thinking that she is doing the right thing for m’sister?”

“No, that doesn’t fadge. I don’t see Lady Vanessa in that light and I fancy you don’t either,” his friend answered thoughtfully.

“Who knows what a woman will do?” the viscount snapped.

“I will agree with you there. Women have always been a mystery to me.” Edward smiled and then grew somber. “And come to think of it, she seemed taken with Orson the night I was there. Spent a great deal of time in his company.”

“Orson? No. I can’t credit it. He isn’t in the petticoat line and wouldn’t know how to turn a pretty phrase to impress a woman of Ness’s stamp,” the viscount scoffed. “No, I tell you, she isn’t interested in Orson. I don’t believe it. For all her wild spirit, she has more sense than that.”

“Ah.” Edward grinned. “Well, Orson seemed very much in a flirting mode and gave Lady Vanessa more than a compliment or two. But she did not give you away when your name was mentioned, and I even heard her defend your honor. No, quite frankly, I think the woman means to keep your secret.”

The viscount said nothing to this. Instead, he poured some brandy in his friend’s glass and then some for himself. Once again, he downed it in short order and then got to his feet. “I’m off, Edward.”

“Ho there, my friend, not so fast. The hour wants but ten minutes to nine. It is far too early for you to make tracks…just to drop onto a straw bed. Best wait until all the revelers are safely tucked away.”

The viscount fidgeted. He wanted to return to his cave. He couldn’t say why. It was a driving need. He wanted to mount his horse and ride like the wind, yes, it would dissipate some of his angst, but it wasn’t just that. Specifically, he wanted to return to his cave.

In his heart, he actually knew why and, in that moment, acknowledged the truth. Even the slight possibility that Naughty Ness would attend him there made his spirits soar.

Confound it! He railed against himself. What hope had he that she would ever think of him again? Not after the way he had so ill used her and the way he had spoken to her. He should count himself lucky if she kept her promise to not give him away.

He poured himself another glassful and under the disapproving eye of his friend, once again downed its contents.

* * *

With Mary’s arrival, some confusion and a bevy of questions flew around the room.

Ness immediately took something of a backseat to the proceedings and watched the Echworths, one by one.

She almost clapped at the grand entrance her brother and Mary made, and having the butler announce them had been brilliant, indeed. That must have been Rick’s idea, for she had not thought of it. Her brother, only a year older than she, had suddenly grown in her estimation. He seemed so in control and wise.

Mrs. Echworth was moved to a convulsive display of feelings. Sheila’s attitude could not be checked and flowed freely, while the twin Echworths remained completely silent at first.

“Mary! Why, you should be ashamed of yourself, cousin!” Sheila exploded, taking a step toward her and looking as though she might slap the girl.

Ness moved forward in the chair, ready to intervene, but Rick put himself slightly in front of Mary, all the while keeping her little hand in the crook of his arm.

Ness smiled to herself and sat back again.

Mrs. Echworth immediately put her hands together and wrung them as she wailed, “How can you have put me to so much grief and worry?”

“Indeed, Mary, it was most thoughtless of you to do this to us…and then to come here…instead of your own home—to us!” Sheila ranted, her cheeks flushed with obvious rage.

“I should think we might consider Mary’s emotional state before we allow ourselves to run the girl through,” Duncan said quietly, and Ness stared at him, not at all fooled.

His face and eyes could not hide his fury.

He must have felt her eyes on his and turned to look at Ness over one shoulder. His expression clearly said, you knew and you kept it from us.

She put up her brow and her expression said, yes, I did know Mary was here.

“Indeed,” Lady Penrod said, taking command of the situation as she stepped into the middle of the fray, walking over and touching Mary’s shoulder where she stood beside Rick. She added, “My dear, dear heart, my Mary has lost her brother under grave and mysterious circumstances. I understand from the friends she has been with these last few weeks that she was in an emotional and physical decline. I should think the last thing she needs now is chastisement and even if you don’t agree, I shall not allow it under my roof.”

Ness nodded and said softly, “Bravo, my lady.”

“Are you trying to tell us that she wasn’t actually here with you?” Sheila said with disbelief to the point of insult.

Lady Penrod shot her a cold look. “I have already told you that on another occasion. Mary has only just arrived at Penrod yesterday afternoon. Hence my invitation to you for dinner.”

Ness marveled to herself how her Guss took control and lied without the slightest bit of guilt. Easy enough, as they all believed that the Echworths meant, at the very least, mischief towards Mary.

“I demand you tell us at once where you have been!” Mrs. Echworth snapped at the girl.

“In what capacity do you make such a demand?” Richard of Grey asked, his brow up, his eyes frosty blue.

Ness almost laughed. Was this her brother? Why—he was perfect!

“In the capacity,” Duncan said, and now he could not hide his fury, “of her guardian.”

“That is not what any of you are,” Lady Penrod said, and whipped out an official looking document from the pocket of her gown. “This is a codicil to the viscount’s will. It stipulates that should anything happen to him, I am named as Mary’s legal guardian.”

The Echworths broke out into argument amongst themselves, all of them speaking at one another and then turning on Lady Penrod.

Duncan finally raised a hand and said, “May I see that?”

Lady Penrod handed it over, her chin well up. “My man tells me it is in order, but you are welcome to question it in a court of law, or anywhere you choose.”

Ness marveled. She had no idea that Lady Penrod had such a document. This was astonishing news. The Echworths could not remove Mary from Lady Penrod’s care without going to court, where they must know they would lose.

“Why did you wait to advise us of this?” Duncan demanded irritably.

“Ah, why, indeed. I wanted to consult with my attorney and ascertain its validity before I took control of this grim and sad situation. No matter, the bottom line is, Mary will remain with me.” She eyed Mrs. Echworth, who was spluttering incoherent sentences, and added, “In addition to that, as Mary’s guardian, I have asked the Home Office to look into the event that led to the Viscount of Montlaine’s untimely death. He should not have been chased onto the moors in fear of his life. He should not have been accused with a mob at the magistrate’s back. It should have been done in private and at a reasonable hour. You can be certain the magistrate, who conducted that ugly affair, will have to answer for his mishandling of that situation. The name of Montlaine is ancient and respected. This will not stand, you may count on my contacts to look into this from every aspect.”

Mrs. Echworth sank into a chair.

Ness’s mouth opened, as did her brother’s. Randy stood oddly quiet during all of these proceedings while he watched and frowned at Sheila.

All this while, Mary had not said a word.

“I am going to fight this,” Mrs. Echworth said, her voice scarcely audible. “Meaning no disrespect, Lady Penrod, but you are not her nearest relative. I am. She should be with me.”

“Yet…she will not be. I am her legal guardian and Mary will be under my care, as will her part of the estate. I believe her brother knew what was best for her,” Lady Penrod answered sharply.

“Duncan?” Mrs. Echworth said. “Do something.”

Mary cleared her throat and all eyes went to her. “’Tis not your place to argue with my brother’s wishes. You never lifted a finger to help him or take his part, or mine for that matter, when the mob was upon us. You—not any of you are capable of being my guardian and my brother knew this and provided for my care.”

“How dare you speak to our mother…to us, in that manner!” Sheila snapped, and in fact took another threatening step towards Mary.

“Sit down…or go, but don’t you ever storm up to Mary like that again,” Rick said sharply, his eyes looking like blue ice to his sister.

Ness was simply too fascinated by this grown up man before her eyes to take part in any of this, and thought that Lady Penrod and her brother had it well in hand.

Duncan touched his sister and said, “I think, Sheila, you take affront too easily, however, I believe we shall forego dinner at this time. I no longer think it appropriate under these uncomfortable circumstances, and while tempers are heightened, to sit to a meal.” He offered his arm to his mother and turned to Orson to take hold of Sheila.

Sheila shrugged away from Orson and said, “You think this is done? We have an attorney who will contest this for us, see if he won’t.”

“He may try,” Lady Penrod answered quietly. “Good night.”

Ness rose then and went to stand beside Lady Penrod in a show of support. She saw Sheila turn to Randy and wailed at him, “Randall…are you going to allow these people to treat us like this?”

“Indeed, I should very well be pleased to see you leave…now,” Randy answered coldly.

Ah, Ness thought, her cousin had thankfully seen the light. That was one situation thwarted without any help from her.

* * *

Outside, Duncan fumed as he helped his mother and sister into the coach and climbed inside. He waited only long enough for Orson to climb in and take the seat beside him. Orson had not said a word while this new revelation had hit them.

Sheila, however, was still wailing and complaining.

“Do shut up, sister,” Duncan snapped. “We are momentarily nonplussed, but not out. I have yet another more thorough plan. Mary will now think herself free to get back into her normal routine activities. She will…”

“Well, abducting her won’t serve,” Mrs. Echworth said. “You will have to do something about that will. Get that attorney…what is his name, the one that has a tendre for Sheila…Parks, that’s it. Parks. Get him to do something about this codicil. How can Montlaine have appointed Lady Penrod as guardian?”

“He was her brother and legal guardian and had that power. It shows he did not trust us, and Mary’s part of the estate was his to control until she comes of age or marries.”

“Well, you can’t marry a sixteen year old,” Orson finally said. “We have enough fortune now…”

“You mean, I do,” Duncan said on a hard note. “And there is never enough when there is more to be had.”

“That Mary—she played us for fools. She made her brother write that codicil, mark me on this. I wish she were dead,” Sheila said.

“Aye, as do I,” Duncan agreed.

Only Orson squirmed and looked away. Duncan laughed. “You have no spine, brother. You know what needs to be done but won’t do it. So, I shall. Mother and Sheila will not mind.”

“I don’t wish to know anything more,” Mrs. Echworth hurriedly stuck in.

“Nor I,” Sheila said.

“Then keep your ears covered and your eyes averted, for Mary will not survive the week!”