Henrietta lay in the tin bath and touched her fingertips to her lips, the phantom pressure of Ewan’s kiss still lingering on them. She had not expected it, but it had not been an unpleasant experience. In fact, it had been quite the opposite.

You should not have invited such a thing, she scolded herself. You have ruined the equilibrium that existed between you both. Now, you have changed it all. There is no going back now, not unless you wish to wound him with rejection. She could not see herself doing that.

A knock at the adjoining door startled her out of her reverie.

“Henrietta?” Ewan’s voice echoed from beyond it.

“Yes?”

He chuckled. “I just wanted to check you had not drowned, for you have been in there an ungodly amount of time.”

“I am soaking my injuries,” she replied.

“Very well, but we ought to be heading down to dinner soon.”

“I shall get out now,” she promised, thinking again of the way he had kissed her. The pressured graze of his mouth on hers and the manner in which his fingertips had traced invisible lines across the curve of her waist.

What if he rejects me? The thought made her shiver, for she did not think she would be able to bear such a prospect. It would be worse than never knowing his kiss.

Hurriedly, she clambered out of the tub and picked up her bathrobe. Tying the belt around her waist, she opened the adjoining door and stepped back into her chambers. Ewan sat on the chaise, gazing into the fire. He looked up with a smile as she entered, alleviating any of her former fears. Adoration remained in his eyes, which seemed like an encouraging sign. Not that you want to be encouraged, Henrietta! A kiss is quite enough.

“There was something I wanted to talk to you about,” she said hastily, feeling marginally exposed in nothing but her robe.

He arched an amused eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Not about that, if that is what you were thinking,” she chided. “I have been having some thoughts about the Mr. Booth situation.” They had discussed the meeting with Isobel, in the carriage on the way back to the Old Bell, and neither of them had been particularly overjoyed by the revelation that Seth had been telling the truth about his family. Still, it had not allayed any of their former suspicions. It only meant that he had used alternative means to put Henrietta in harm’s way.

“You have?”

She nodded. “This ball at Scampston Hall—might we use it to entrap Mr. Booth? If he discovers that I will be attending, we may be assured that he will attempt to strike at me. All we will have to do is keep our eyes on him and stop him before he can do anything. That way, we will catch him in the act.”

“I will not use you as bait, Henrietta.”

“But it is the only way to put an end to this, once and for all.”

He pulled a doubtful face. “I do not like it.”

“I will be perfectly safe with you watching over me. Indeed, if we tell my mother and father of what has been happening, then my father will also be able to watch me,” she explained. “He might not be good at paternal instincts, but he has a military mind. He will know better than any of us where Mr. Booth will be likely to make another attempt on me.”

“The parkland is much too exposed, even in the outside ballroom there,” Ewan replied. “You could be snatched, and we would have no way of knowing where you had been taken to.”

“My father can send for his men. He can station them throughout the parkland of Scampston Hall, in the event that something should happen. All possible exits will be covered, thus leading to Mr. Booth’s capture.”

“How can you be sure that Mr. Booth will strike then?”

“It will be too tempting for him not to. I will be served up on a silver platter.” She smiled at him. “And, if he does not, then we have lost nothing. We can simply enjoy the ball.”

He tutted. “I still do not like it.”

“Neither do I, but once this is all done with, we can enjoy our lives without the fear of this threat looming over us,” she replied gently. “You see, no matter where we go, this will follow us. We must put an end to it, as soon as we can.”

“And you are sure that your father has such men at his beck-and-call?”

“If he can utilize them to keep me a prisoner in my own home, he can certainly use them to keep me safe,” she said. “He owes me that much, after everything he has done.”

“It has not been so bad, has it?” A boyish vulnerability leaked into his words, as though he were testing the waters of her affection.

“It is better than I could have expected,” she admitted, a shy smile on her face.

“You do not regret that I kissed you?”

She shook her head slowly. “I do not.”

Relief seemed to wash over him. “I am glad to hear it.”

“Do you regret it?”

“I hardly dare admit it, but… no, I do not.”

“Then, kiss me again so that I may dress for dinner,” she said mischievously. “I am in need of further care to ease my pain enough to prepare for such an engagement.”

He laughed and rose from the chaise, moving over to her. She had forgotten how tall and broad he was, his arms encircling her with ease as he held her close. A flutter of anxiety made her heart patter, her breath catching in her throat as she waited for his kiss. With one arm clasped around her waist, he tilted her chin up and pressed his lips to hers. This time, she did not freeze, not even for a second.

I could get used to this, she thought, letting her worries melt away.

“We were starting to get worried,” Aaron announced, as Ewan and Henrietta appeared at the entrance to the lounge.

“You needn’t concern yourself, Papa,” Henrietta replied evenly. “I am here, as you see me, and I am feeling refreshed. My husband has seen to my injuries, and all appears to be well.” Her cheeks felt hot at the secret truth that bristled between her and Ewan.

Aaron cleared his throat. “Well then, shall we go into dinner?”

“I think that would be a splendid idea,” Ewan replied pleasantly, acting as peacekeeper alongside Tabitha.

They moved through to the dining room as a quartet and were seated by the window. Evening had fallen, a sliver of moonlight poking through the rainclouds that had gathered over the sea. Regardless, Henrietta thought Scarborough looked beautiful in the gloomy light. Lamps glowed in the near-distance, illuminating the seaside town in the most wonderful way. It looked positively picturesque.

As soon as they were seated, Henrietta gathered her courage. “Actually, Papa, it is somewhat fortuitous that you have arrived at this moment in time,” she said politely.

He looked stunned by the revelation. “It is?”

“Yes, because there is something that we must divulge to you,” she went on, knowing that if she paused, she would lose her resolve. “And it will require your assistance, in the near future.”

“You cannot be with child already. It is impossible!” Tabitha exclaimed, a fraction too loud. It drew the curious gaze of nearby diners and prompted Henrietta’s cheeks to glow like mortified beacons.

“No, Mama, it is nothing like that,” she replied. “It is something far more serious.”

Ewan nodded. “Yes, you see, a certain unpleasantness appears to have followed us to Scarborough. Indeed, I should say it is more than an unpleasantness, for it has put my dear wife, and your darling daughter, in a great deal of danger.”

Aaron paled. “What kind of danger?”

“He exaggerates,” Henrietta chided. “There have been… warnings. We did not want to worry you, but we felt we ought to tell you the truth, as Papa may be the only one who can help in this matter.”

“What is it?” Aaron replied impatiently. Henrietta eyed him, wondering what had caused this sudden terseness. He had been all sweetness and light, not a moment ago, and now he was practically on the edge of his seat. His demeanor was very unsettling, giving rise to Henrietta’s unspoken fears.

“A few days ago, Henrietta was almost crushed by a block of falling masonry. Although it was reported as an accident, we have since learned that there was no way that the stonework could have fallen on its own—it had to be pushed,” Ewan explained, as Henrietta continued to look at her father. She was desperately trying to figure out the whorl of expressions that twisted his face into a mask of despair.

“My goodness.” Tabitha clasped her hand to her mouth.

“The incident with the horse also appears to have been anything but an accident,” Ewan continued. “Gunshots were fired very close to where we were picnicking, and it spooked the horse. We knew there was a hunting party in the nearby woodland, but even so, the shots were much too close to be them. At least, these are our suspicions. We have no evidence, as yet.”

Henrietta nodded. “And I received a note, not too long ago. Initially, I kept it from my Lord Marquess, but I have since revealed its existence to him.”

“What did it say?” Aaron squeaked.

“It mentioned my interest in the medical profession and informed me that harm would come to me if I did not withdraw my letters. Whoever wrote the note also warned me to be careful, because they were watching me,” she replied. “They signed it with “A Friend” although the note was anything but friendly.”

“Yes, and we have reason to believe that we know who the culprit is,” Ewan added.

Aaron looked as though he were about to explode. “You do?”

“Mr. Booth,” Henrietta replied. “We encountered him upon our arrival in Scarborough, and he has taken up a position at the house of Lord Averson—an acquaintance of my husband. The note came to me here at the Old Bell, not long after that encounter.”

“That wretched devil!” Aaron spat, his eyes flickering with livid fury. “How did I fail to see that?”

“Papa?”

Aaron held his head in his hands for a moment before speaking again. “I also received a note. Indeed, it is the reason we are here, for I suspected that your life might be in danger.”

Henrietta gasped. “You received one?”

“I did. It must have come around the same time.”

“What did it say?” Ewan pressed, whilst Tabitha sat in silent shock. Henrietta realized she had known nothing about this letter, and the understanding made her stomach twist with guilt. This was a lot for anyone to take in at once.

“It said that all was not well with you, Henrietta. It mentioned that trouble was brewing for you and spoke of the ghosts of the past. It said that I should involve myself if I did not wish any harm to befall you. They signed it in the same way.” He shook his head. “I did not even think of Mr. Booth— but now that you mention it—it all seems perfectly, horribly clear.”

“And you did not think to tell me any of this?” Tabitha snapped.

“I did not want to worry you, my dear.”

“And this is a better means of easing my concerns?”

He had the decency to look sheepish. “No, I suppose it is not.”

“You may be assured that it is not! This is outrageous! We must go to the magistrates at once and have this man arrested.”

“We lack the evidence, Mrs. Oliver,” Ewan chimed in. “That is why we require the assistance of General Oliver.”

“In what way?” Aaron asked, his expression rageful. “I will do anything to see that cretin brought to justice. Why did I not even consider him? I have been foolish… so very foolish. I ought to have known he would seek vengeance for that dismissal.”

Tabitha jabbed him in the arm. “I told you to give him a recommendation regardless of your feelings towards him. But you simply would not listen to reason, would you?”

“And I am paying for it, Tabitha,” he shot back. She recoiled from his harsh tone like a hedgehog curling into itself when a predator neared. “Please, both of you, tell me what I can do to help. I must fix this.”

Henrietta and Ewan exchanged a glance before telling Aaron about their plan to catch Seth in the act. As soon as they had finished, her parents fell into a stunned silence. Henrietta just hoped that her father would agree.

“So, you see, we require your men to help us in this,” Ewan added. “In order to keep Henrietta safe, they are necessary.”

Aaron nodded. “It is a risky plan, but I agree that it may be the only way to capture Mr. Booth before he can cause any further damage. If he has already gone so far as to push masonry and shoot at your horse, there is no telling what else he may do, if he is left on the loose. I will send word to my men and have them join us at the ball next week.” He glanced at Henrietta. “I will not let any harm come to you. I promise you that.”

“She is brave, is she not?” Ewan prompted. “This was all her ploy.”

“I always knew she was courageous,” he replied quietly. “She proved as much at your wedding.”

Henrietta dropped her gaze, feeling sudden tears well in her eyes. She did not want her father to see her cry, not now. And yet, his words had brought her a sense of joy. Have you finally seen the error of your ways? She reasoned it would be a long time before she received any sort of apology, but his kind words would have to do for now.

“Well, I think this is all entirely ludicrous,” Tabitha interjected.

“It will work, Mama. I know it will.”

She only wished she believe in her own sentiment. For, in truth, she was terrified of what may happen. If one thing went awry, then her life might well be on the line.