Lord Richard of Grey descended the main staircase. His gaze seemed fixed upon the Oriental rug trailing beneath his lackadaisical descent. He couldn’t remember, even after all the escapades he had happily enjoyed with his sister, ever feeling so completely troubled.

The hour was early, and it was still dark outside. Besides that, the day promised rain. His cravat had not been given the usual attention and hung in a manner that would have pained Brummell. His delicately embroidered pale-blue waistcoat was still unbuttoned beneath his dark and well fitted superfine and as he passed the long mirror, he saw that his blond hair looked more windblown than usual, and sighed.

He stopped at the foot of the stairs and put a fist to his chin as thoughts bumped into one another when his cogitations were interrupted by the ever attentive Toby, who appeared from the long dark hallway.

“Oh, good morning, sir.”

“What? Oh, yes, good morning to you, Toby.”

“Cook has just got the fire lit in the kitchen, sir, and your coffee won’t be but a moment. If I may suggest, sir, a nice fire is working in the library. I shall be happy to bring your coffee to you there.”

“The library?” he returned absently. “Yes, the library.” With which he crossed the polished oak floor.

Once within, and still alone, Richard of Grey reflected on the things that had him so deeply concerned. One, of course, was his sister, though he adored her, though he had always thought her a magical being, a cherished friend, always there for him, he was concerned.

He knew there were few better than Ness. She had spunk and yes, she was unconventional, but her heart was enormous and she was selfless. He had rarely ever criticized her for her antics. She was fun to be with and she always managed to come about.

This time, because of last evening, he realized, she could be seriously damaged by her wayward spirit. How was he to handle her? She was his junior by only a year and had always been so independently strong. He had always had her unconditional love and support. How could he not give her the same?

He sighed heavily and shook his head as he moved to the fireplace mantle. After last evening, he had come to see that Ness was into something well over her head. Last evening had driven it home that his sister could be forever harmed if she were caught.

He had returned early from town, leaving his cousin to while away the midnight hour at a lively tavern. He had approached the dark stables cautiously, as he didn’t want to wake the groom. There was no need to disturb him, he was perfectly capable of putting away his tack and his horse.

This done, he moved to snuff out the lantern he had lit on a nearby table and noted that Shadow’s stall was empty.

He went outside, wondering if Shadow had been left to graze in the pasture. He did not see her anywhere nearby and had nearly shrugged this off and gone up to the house when he saw a movement.

He stood, appalled. He folded his arms, aghast, and waited.

He watched as she hung up her tack and patted Shadow before putting her mare in a stall. All the while, she moved gingerly, quietly, unaware that he stood there watching her.

He stepped into her view and she squealed, clapped a hand over her mouth and her other hand over her heart.

“Zounds, Rick! You frightened me, slinking around like that!”

“Me? Slinking—me?” he expostulated. “Where the devil have you been, and don’t try and bamboozle me, Ness. I won’t have it.”

* * *

Few could deter Vanessa from a goal once she had it in sight. Few could persuade her she was wrong when she was certain she was in the right of it.

However, her brother, her darling, had always stood her friend and supported her through all her waywardness, understanding when no other did.

It went against the grain to dissimilate with him. She didn’t have a choice. This was not her secret to tell.

“Ah, you are put out with me? Really, Rick, there is no need to fret. No one saw me go out, and no one shall see me go in,” she said soothingly.

“That is not the point, is it, Nessie? We were sent down to avoid scandal…and here you are, about to stir up another.”

“What, because I went for a night ride?” she teased him, with a nudge to his shoulder.

“Ness, this is serious. I am serious.”

“Yes, I can see that you are, but you needn’t be so serious, Rick. You know I can take care of myself. I haven’t done anything wrong. I haven’t done anything a man doesn’t do without critique.”

“But, Ness, the world doesn’t see such things like this as you do. You can’t do what a man may do, you are a female,” he argued. “You can’t go jauntering about the countryside in the dark, all by yourself no less, dressed in my old breeches. Ness, if you were seen, people would say and think the ugliest things.”

“But I wasn’t seen…” She eyed him. “Rick…did you think an ugly thought when you saw me like this at this hour?” Her brow was up and there was a catch in her voice.

He shook his head. “Don’t be stupid. I know you, Ness. There isn’t an ugly ounce in anything you are, but what you do could give rise to people thinking…”

She hugged him. “Rick. You have no cause to worry.”

“No? I suppose you were having a restless night and decided to take to horse. It is just like you.” He shook his head and then eyed her. “Hold a moment. It is more than that. I can tell. Ness, what are you up to?”

“If I told you, love, you would only fret, so I shan’t tell you yet, but if you are so worried about what people might think, you will lend me your aid and make sure no one finds out about my little jaunts.”

He opened his eyes wide. “Never say you mean to continue to…oh Ness, do say you are only bamming me.”

She reached out and touched his cheek. “No one will know who I am dressed as I am. You have naught to concern yourself with.”

“Stablemen?”

“They did not see.”

“What if they came down and saw Shadow missing?” he argued.

“Yes, I shall have to contrive something to tell them in advance,” she said thoughtfully.

“But, Ness…why? What are you up to? What is towards?”

“Never mind, for now, Rick, and don’t look so worried. I shan’t go gallivanting every night. I do promise that.” She knew he wasn’t satisfied, but linked her arm with his and allowed him to walk her to the house’s rear entrance.

He put a finger to his lips and arched a brow as he silently cautioned her to be still and went inside.

She smiled to herself when he returned and nodded for her to enter, thinking he was the best of all brothers. He didn’t approve, but he deuced well would keep her secrets.

He was correct, of course. This was a tricky business at best and she would have to choose her timing carefully with regards to visiting the viscount. After all, she did not wish to expose his hideaway. Now, with any good luck, she might still get a few hours’ sleep.

 

* * *

Richard shrugged off his troubled night and looked up as Toby brought him a tray with coffee. He sipped at the strong dark brew and heard, “Psst!”

With eyes opened wide and a mind still reeling, he scanned the room, looking for the direction of the almost human-like sound.

Thinking it was some sort of bird at the window, he put the delicious brew back to his lips, but once again heard, “Psst!”

He put down the coffee cup and stood.

“I say, Richard, over here!” came a low whisper.

He spun around and stared at the wainscoting. There, to his amazement, a section of the heavy paneling was opened into the room. In its undersized portal stood a dark-haired, dark-eyed minx of a girl in a white ankle-length school dress. She waved him to her anxiously.

“Mary!” he gasped.

She immediately put her finger to her mouth and pulled a face. “Do come, and hurry, oh, and bring some of those biscuits from your tray, for I finished mine and I am still famished.”

Excited about exploring secret vestibules, he took no time out to examine the wisdom of the plan. He quickly filled a linen napkin with the biscuits from his tray and hurried to bend his head and enter the nether realms of Penrod Tower.

“By Jupiter, this is famous!” he exclaimed once she had closed the door at his back.

“Yes, it is rather nice,” she said with a smile as she held her lantern high. “You know, we have many more of these secret passages at Montlaine and a tunnel that leads right out to the moors.”

“Have you? I daresay your parents closed off the tunnel, though? Dangerous things, never know when one will cave in on you.” He shook his head. “We had a Jacobean tunnel up at our estate in the north, but m’parents had it walled off.”

“Well, ours isn’t walled off. No one uses it, though, and I am not even sure how to get to it or where exactly it opens, but it is there. Bret knew, of course…” She looked away.

He put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Come on then, show me where this leads, and here, munch on one of these along the way.”

She beamed up at him and obediently began devouring the bun he had shoved into her hand. Up the narrow winding stone steps, one, two, three flights until they reached a dark wood panel. A spring released this, and they were pushing it open into a bright and amazingly attractive turret room. Circular in shape, walls of stone, and bright with windows nearly all around. Another door led onto a small rectangular battlement, where Mary had chosen to grow potted herbs and bright flowers to help occupy her time.

She spun around with enthusiasm and clapped her hands. “Well then, is not my prison cozy?”

He had been pleasantly surprised and was about to say this when his eyes lit on the large four-poster bed. He walked away from this to the settee near the window.

“It is very nice, Mary, but I shouldn’t be here alone with you.”

“No,” she said saucily. “You shouldn’t, so do step outside with me.”

He was struck by the child in her and by the woman she would one day be. He would have to be careful lest she attach too much to their easy friendship.

She took his hand without the least bit of shyness and pulled him along to the glass door that led to the battlement.

The view was breathtaking and he remarked upon it at once. Mary lowered her eyes and agreed gently. “Yes, I can see quite a bit from here.” She hesitated a moment, then asked, “Where did you and your cousin go last night? To visit Sheila?”

“No, though we are having dinner there tonight,” he answered with an accompanying frown. He was worried about his cousin, who showed marked signs of being infatuated with Sheila.

“Are you? Is Lady Penrod going there as well?”

“No, she is promised elsewhere, but I think that my sister, Ness, joins our party.”

“I don’t think Ness likes my cousin, Sheila,” Mary said, her chin up in the air. “And she is right not to.”

“Now, how would you know? Spying from your peephole again, Mary?” he teased.

He was taken aback when she stomped a foot at him. “If you are going to be horrid, you may leave!”

“Forgive me,” he said gallantly. “I shall not be horrid.”

She eyed him and said, “Good.”

He laughed. “I am sorry you are in hiding still. I would like you to join us at dinner soon.”

“I so want to, but Lady Penrod does not think it would be wise, and I do agree with her. If the Echworths found out I am here, they might try and make me return to Montlaine and life with them…well, I would rather hide away alone.”

“Yes, but, Mary…”

“Anyway, what difference does it make to you? I suppose you want me to return to Montlaine and the perfectly odious Echworths because it is what they want, and no doubt you want whatever Sheila wants.”

He could see she was out of temper and definitely irritated, though why, he couldn’t quite yet understand. He shook his head and said, “That is a silly thing to say.”

“Is it? Then why do you want me to show myself?”

“Because I know you cannot run away from your problems—and that it is much better to take them head on.”

“I am not running away from a problem, Richard. You know better. I am running away from a murderer!”

“What? What the devil do you mean?”

“Honestly, Richard, why else do you think Lady Penrod feels it necessary to seclude me? Because of some witch drivel? Nonsense.”

“I…I…what?” Rick was stunned by this.

“You didn’t think, did you?”

“Explain,” he said.

“My brother was innocent. Obviously, then someone else is guilty. Who then? It is very simple when you think about it. Who would stand to gain? The Echworths. So what have we? A plan to discredit my brother, perhaps get him hanged by the mob…but, instead, fate played in their favor. Now, I stand between them and a substantial inheritance and as they are greedy, they want both my brother’s trust fund and mine.”

“Upon my soul,” Rick breathed.

“Indeed. The Echworths have two ways they could handle this—try and marry me off to the dreadful Duncan, as he gains the title and half the trust fund, or eliminate me.”

“You are far too young to be married,” Richard of Grey announced.

She put up her chin. “Well, perhaps, but other girls have been married at sixteen and I shall be seventeen in two months.” She frowned. “It doesn’t signify. Duncan has never liked my brother or me. I used to kick him in the shins when I was younger, you see.”

“Then I don’t blame the fellow,” Rick concluded with a grin.

“Your blue eyes twinkle so.” She sighed. “But you are quite right. So, there we are. If they find me, they must think to eliminate me and thereby obtain the entire fortune.”

“But why must they have the entire fortune?” Rick said doubtfully.

“As I said, they are greedy. Usually those who have suffered a life wanting when they had very little…have a different point of view. It is only natural, I think.” She wrinkled her nose. “Richard, you are quite naïve, I think.”

“Yes, but…” He tried to reason this out.

She interrupted him. “Don’t you see? Bret was always so generous to them. He made each one a substantial allowance…saw to it that they were comfortable, and look how they repaid him. They are quite evil, I think.”

“They must be,” Rick said, putting an arm about her shoulders. “There, there, Mary. We shall get through this muddle.”

“How? I don’t see how.”

He shook his head. “Let me ask you this…are you certain that your brother didn’t do…”

She jumped away from him as though he had suddenly struck her.

“Mary…?”

“I was wrong about you. I want you to leave now,” she snapped.

“Mary, dash it, I am sorry,” he said, and did indeed feel a brute.

“As you should be. However, I see that you are only sorry for distressing me. You would rather believe my good and honorable brother was a devil than think poorly of Sheila and her family. You have made your choice and it is most disheartening to me.”

“And if I believed in your brother’s pure innocence, because of you, because of our friendship, and solely on your word…that would mean the people I am dining with tonight are possibly the wickedest lot I have ever come across. You called me naïve, but I have some years on you, and while I don’t find them…”

“Don’t find them what? Agreeable? Honorable? How can you tell? You know nothing,” Mary ranted.

He turned on his heel and started to leave.

She called after him, “Richard?”

He stopped a moment, but all she could blurt out was, “Use the regular door and take the main staircase. No one will notice at this hour and if they do, it will only be the servants who are quite loyal to me.”

He took his leave, thinking that he had been hard on the child. He didn’t have answers but he knew one thing, she couldn’t go on indefinitely like this and if she was right, and the Echworths meant her harm, he damn well was going to stop them!