Page 65 of What Cannot Be Said

“What happened to Arabella’s abigail doesn’t worry you?”

The boy bit his lower lip. “I mean, I know it’s awful. But I can’t help wishing I’d been there. I wouldn’t have run away like Bella did.”

Thank God you weren’t there, Sebastian thought. Aloud, he said, “Did the man who tried to grab you on Wednesday have a knife?”

Percy thought about it a moment, then shook his head. “If he did, I didn’t see it, sir. It must’ve been after he wasn’t able to keep ahold of me that he decided to bring a knife the next time.” Something flashed in the boy’s eyes. “I say, do you think he’s been watching the house? He must be, don’t you think, to have been able to follow us like that when we went out?”

“It seems likely. Which is why you really shouldn’t have come here alone, Percy.”

The boy looked mulish. “But I have something I need to tell you, sir. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before, when you were talking to Bella and me, but after you left it occurred to me that I should have told you about the sweep.”

“You mean a chimney sweep?” said Sebastian, his voice coming out sharper than he’d intended.

Percy nodded vigorously. “I don’t know what his name is, but he must’ve been somebody Aunt Laura had dealt with recently, because she knew him. He came right up to us when we were getting in the carriage to leave for Richmond Park and started yelling at her—telling her she was ungodly, and ranting on like a preacher about how ‘aged women’ should be as ‘becometh holiness’ in their behavior and not false accusers who blaspheme the word of God. Or something like that.”

“What did your aunt do?”

“She ignored him and told Arabella and Emma to get into the carriage. So then the sweep—you should have seen him! His clothes and face were as black as a coal scuttle from all the soot—he says something about how a wise woman builds up her house while other women in their folly tear down theirs. But Aunt Laura, she keeps on ignoring him and tells me to get in the carriage, too. Then she says something to him I can’t hear—something that makes him take a step back. And after that, she climbs in with us and tells her coachman to drive on.”

“What was this sweep doing when you drove away?” asked Hero.

Percy glanced over at her as the jingle of harness and clatter of horses driven fast sounded in the street outside. “Just standing there on the pavement, ma’am. Staring after us.”

Percy’s eyes widened as they heard the carriage rattle to a halt before the house. Then quick footsteps pounded on the pavement and steps outside, and Morey moved to open the front door.

“Where is he?” they heard Salinger demand.

“In the library, my lord.”

“Oh, blast,” whispered Percy as his father burst into the room.

Salinger drew up abruptly inside the doorway, his chest heaving and his breath coming as hard and fast as if he’d been running. “Thank God,” he said, his face ashen as he stared at his younger son. “Percy. Why?”

Percy hung his head. “I... I am sorry, Father. But I needed to talk to Lord Devlin, and I was afraid you’d stop me again, like you did before.”

Salinger crossed the space between them in two swift strides and hugged the boy to him, his eyes squeezing shut for a moment. “I thought someone must have taken you,” he said gruffly. Then he looked up, his gaze meeting Sebastian’s. “Thank you.”

Sebastian nodded. “Percy tells me you plan to leave for Priestly Priory. I think that’s an excellent idea.”

“Yes, as soon as the funerals are over. And I swear, if I have to lock these two up until then, I will.” To Percy, he said, “Apologize to Lord and Lady Devlin for inconveniencing them like this, and then come along.”

The boy hung his head and looked sheepish. “I do beg your pardon, sir—and you, too, Lady Devlin.” Then his head came up. “But you will think about what I said, won’t you, my lord?”

“I will, yes. Now go home and stay there.”

Percy flashed him a grin and allowed himself to be led away by his father.

Sebastian went to stand beside Hero as Salinger loaded his son into the barouche, then paused to speak to his coachman before bounding up the carriage steps himself. “Thank heavens whoever has been watching those children didn’t see Percy leave the house to come here,” said Hero quietly.

Sebastian reached out to take her hand in his as the carriage pulled away from the kerb. “Percy and Arabella were both extraordinarily lucky today. Hopefully, Salinger can keep the two of them safe from now on.”

Hero laced her fingers with his. “Did you learn anything—anything at all—from Major Finch when you talked to him?”

“I did, actually. He claims his argument with Laura was over Sir Ivo’s habit of leaving bruises on her body. He also says she knew her husband was involved with his wealthy young widow, and she had promised to leave England with Finch as soon as Emma and Thisbe were wed.”

Hero looked over at him. “Suggestive—if true.”

“Yes, I thought so.” His gaze drifted back to the empty street. “As long as one ignores these blasted attacks on Arabella and Percy.”

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