Page 72 of Suddenly a Bride
Edmund ignored his old steward as well as the rumblings of dismay from the servants. “Geoff, I cannot believe someone would do such a thing deliberately. More likely an accident happened and the culprit is too ashamed to step forward. We shall set guards patrolling the sheds and barns. Come talk with me about scheduling it.”
He drew Geoff closer to the hearth and lowered his voice. “You know what I really think, do you not?”
Geoff nodded, and the two of them looked casually over the great hall. Most people had gone about their business. Gwyneth did not hide her interest in their conversation, but she didn’t attempt to join them.
“Such a thing doesn’t happen accidentally, Edmund. Why would someone do this?”
“There’s more you might not know about. Some linens and garments disappeared after laundry day, and then household money.”
“A thief?”
“I thought so at first, but now I don’t know.”
“You cannot think the great Earl Langston would stoop to something so trivial.”
“I never would have thought so, but the incidents are intensifying, are they not? And I’m worried about Gwyneth.”
Geoff rolled his eyes. “I saw you kissing her. You can’t still think she’s involved.”
“Sheisinvolved—because she’s married to me. I’m worried she’s in danger from that fact alone. Do not think the earl would hesitate to harm her just because they’re cousins. Let us just be ever vigilant, even if it means more soldiers patrolling. I’d rather the villagers wonder what was going on than be left unprotected.”
“Very well.”
Geoff’s smile was forced, and Edmund had never seen his unflappable friend so uneasy.
Gwyneth watched Edmund and Geoffrey until they separated to approach the tables laid out for dinner. She didn’t know what they’d said, but she knew neither of them thought the holes in the sheds appeared by accident. Was Edmund’s pride too great to allow him to show his worries to his wife?
She sat down beside him at the head table, pleased that he was eating with his people. The servants brought platters of meat for his choosing, and she waited to speak until he’d filled his plate and begun to eat.
“Edmund, ’tis a shame my father has not arrived by now. He could help.”
“What?” he said distractedly.
When his eyes finally focused on her, she was pleased to see that he was staring at her mouth. She moistened her lips with her tongue.
“My father has spent many years guarding the wares of merchants in London. He has great experience in matters such as these.”
“Such as what?”
“Whoever is chopping holes in sheds and stealing money.”
He took another bite of lamb and chewed as he watched her. “Let it go, Gwyneth. Nothing is deliberate here.”
She was almost angry that he was shutting her out, but all she said was, “Is it not?”
He smiled, and the pleasure of looking at his face mollified her. She leaned closer to him.
He sipped his beer. “So you think your father can ferret out some kind of truth here?”
She nodded with confidence.
“You seem to believe everyone in your family is skilled in some area.”
“They are,” she said slowly, not quite sure where he was going with this conversation.
“So what are you good at?”
She suppressed a little shiver at the way his low voice moved through her. In her mind she relived his kiss that morning and the way he’d promised to see her that night. “I am competent at many things.”
