Page 64 of Mending the Baron's Sins
“And your reason for calling, sir?” Horace said, standing and trying to seem unaffected by the news of the man’s name.
“I am here to ask for an audience with your healer, my lord. Miss Orla Byrne.”
Horace felt like he had been kicked in the gut. He said nothing as he stared across the room, trying to come up with an excuse to say no.
“Of course you can,” Lavinia called to the butler. “Would you fetch Miss Byrne, please?”
“Lavinia,” Horace hissed in warning. She shrugged, clearly trying to brush him off as she stood from the table. Horace walked around in haste to follow his sister before he caught Adam’s eye.
Adam gave an ever so slight shake of his head. It was a friendlier warning. Adam also waved a hand at him.
Keep my cool. Yes.
Horace nodded. He knew well enough that though they had never spoken of it, Adam must have sensed something between him and Orla the day that they had visited the cotton mills together.
Lavinia tried to draw Mr. Baker into conversation, but the man was resistant, standing reservedly by the door. Horace approached behind his sister, aware that Adam had stood from the table and now followed too. Mr. Baker’s eyes rested on Horace in particular.
Does he know? Am I glaring at him that much that he suspects me of caring for Orla?
Then she appeared behind Mr. Baker in the hallway. Her face blanched, her skin turning whiter than milk as she stared at him.
“Ah, there you are, Miss Byrne,” Lavinia declared and beckoned her into the room. “As you can see, you have a visitor.” She smiled, glancing back at Horace.
Horace could have cursed. He knew in that moment at Lavinia’s look that Adam was not the only one to have noticed the closeness between him and Orla. Lavinia had noticed it too and seemed rather eager to push Orla toward Mr. Baker.
“Mr. Baker,” Orla said coolly to him. He stepped toward her at once, trying to take her hand, but Orla walked away. She circled him and came to stand somewhere between Horace and Adam, protectively. Horace took a step forward, showing he had no intention of letting Mr. Baker any nearer to her. To his relief, Adam did the same thing.
“Orla, we must speak,” Mr. Baker said implacably.
“Very well, then I shall speak.” Orla adopted a polite look and spoke quickly. “Thank you for your visit, but you are not asked to stay any longer. Please leave.”
Mr. Baker’s jaw dropped. Clearly, he was unaccustomed to being refused for something he asked.
“Orla, all I ask is for a few minutes to talk in private.”
“No, thank you,” she said hurriedly.
“Orla.” His voice was sharper this time, more demanding, and it made Horace’s gut tighten horribly. He longed to reach out and thread an arm around Orla’s waist protectively, but he could not without ruining her reputation. “We must speak.”
“You have had Miss Byrne’s instruction.” Horace stepped in, unable to just watch any longer. Lavinia glowered at him, as if he had made a grave error indeed. “You will leave now.”
Mr. Baker could not refuse this instruction. He took a step back, his expression hardening.
Orla spun on her heel and marched out of the room. She hurried off so quickly that Horace didn’t even see what way she went. Momentarily, Mr. Baker looked intent on following her.
“You will now leave my house.” Horace’s voice was as cold as ice.
Mr. Baker bowed, though it was not so deep this time. He replaced his top hat to his head and swept out of the room, hurrying to the front door.
“What on earth was that about?” Lavinia asked, turning on the spot in alarm.
Horace didn’t answer. Instead, he ran after Mr. Baker.
“Horace!” Lavinia shouted, trying to call him back. Horace saw out of the corner of his eye that Adam encouraged her to stay put. He would have to thank Adam for that intervention later.
Horace burst out of the front door of the house, following Mr. Baker through the front garden and toward where Mr. Baker’s horse awaited him.
“Mr. Baker?” Horace called to him. The man halted and turned back. He looked briefly excited to see Horace again and hurried back toward him.
