Page 95 of Pursued Beyond Treachery
The man’s bushy eyebrows furrowed. “I know nothing of that. Only my wife’s dealings with Mr. Wallace.”
A light tap at the door announced the butler before he opened it. “Excuse me, but Lady Stanford has sent me to fetch Sir Nathaniel.” Then taking in the room's occupants, the man said, “Mr. Guthrie. I had not realized you had attended your daughter here. Would you like her to await you in the vestibule?”
“My daughter?”
“Yes, she is nearly finished speaking with Miss Wayland and asked that her things be fetched.”
Johnathan stood, anxiety clawing at his throat. If Miss Guthrie had come to cause any more harm to Susannah… He marched out of the room, Mr. Guthrie struggling to follow.
“Where are they?” he asked the butler who scurried to keep up.
“In the sitting room. I am sorry, my lord, I had not thought it—”
“Never mind your apologies.”
Johnathan turned briskly into the indicated room and pulled up short. Susannah sat on the settee, smiling. Across from her was not Miss Guthrie, but Miss Martha.
“Martha?” Mr. Guthrie asked from behind him.
The woman’s blue eyes widened. “Father?” She pulled a timepiece from her pocket and gasped. “I have been here far longer than I intended.”
“Do not trouble yourself,” Susannah said. “I have enjoyed our visit. It has been very enlightening.”
Miss Martha glanced at her father. “Even so, I have been saying I am on my way out for quite some time. I should hold through with my promise.”
Both women rose and briefly embraced. The sight caught Johnathan so off guard that no words would form. No malice remained in the air, something he’d not expected to find when he’d charged down the hall.
Miss Martha crossed to her father and Johnathan moved close to Susannah.
“Are you alright?” he whispered.
Her warm brown eyes sparkled in the morning light and she nodded.
Mr. Guthrie cleared his throat. “Lord Newhurst, I want you to know that no more ill shall come your way, at least not from the women in my household. As for myself, please accept my apologies and well wishes for your future.”
Then the man unexpectedly turned to Susannah. “I am sorry, my dear, for the harm my wife has caused you. I am not as aware as I should be of her comings and goings, but I promise to be more watchful.”
Susannah cast him a gentle smile. “Thank you, Uncle Guthrie.” She shifted from one foot to the other and Johnathan felt the awkwardness of the moment. He’d expected to have to threaten the man and perhaps demand an apology, but Mr. Guthrie had offered his help without reservation.
“I do have one question,” Susannah finally said.
“What is that?”
“How much are my father’s debts?”
“Your father’s debts?” Johnathan echoed Mr. Guthrie’s question.
The man looked to him in confusion and then as if the sun had risen in his mind, his eyes widened. Johnathan’s realization took a moment longer, but when it struck a slow smile formed on his face.
Mr. Guthrie spoke first. “Am I to assume that my wife indicated your father had many debts?”
Susannah nodded. “She threatened to have them called up.”
Johnathan rubbed his upper lip to cover his smile. “It is difficult to call up debts a man does not have.”
“But, our house. You have seen the furniture. And the lack of proper servants.”
Susannah’s doe-like eyes burrowed into him and the concern and disbelief he saw there tamped down his amusement. She’d truly thought her father one step from social ruin.
