Page 28 of The Recluse of Wolfeton House (Ladies of Devon 4)

Chapter 10

Hattie stood beside the carriage on the front drive as the groom held the horses’ heads and a footman loaded Papa’s trunk onto the boot. She felt an odd sense of foreboding and looked over her shoulder to find Lucy approaching, Jeffrey at her side. Their clothes made them look as though they had just stepped out for a fashionable stroll down London’s Bond Street as opposed to a casual day in Devon. Jeffrey had never been so meticulous about his clothing before he met Lucy, but Hattie owned that some things were bound to change when a person wed. Only, Hattie wasn’t certain if the bright green waistcoat and dangerously high shirt points were positive changes.

A thin layer of fog sat upon the earth, slowly dissipating as the sun peeked over the horizon. Hopefully, the rest would burn off before Papa got too far on his journey.

“How terrible that Papa must leave only a fortnight after our arrival,” Lucy said, jutting her lower lip forth.

Jeffrey cast her a glance. “We did know of his plans.”

Hattie wanted to inquire why they were still here if Papa’s impending absence was no surprise, but she bit her tongue. This was just as much Jeffrey’s home as hers. Less so, Lucy’s.

She tried for a more tactful approach. “You needn’t remain if you’d prefer to go home. I certainly wouldn’t wish for bad weather to set upon us and force you to remain here longer than you’d intended.”

“How very thoughtful of you,” Jeffrey said dryly.

She thought so, but it sounded as though Jeffrey did not mean his words.

Papa came outside, followed closely by his dogs, a wide smile stretching over his mouth. “I will miss my girl,” he said, pulling Hattie close as Rosie and Daisy danced restlessly at their feet. Hattie wrapped her arms around him, returning his warm embrace. She never liked when he left, and this time was no different.

Horse hooves clopped over the gravel as a man in vaguely familiar livery pulled up to the carriage. “Miss Green?” he questioned, straightening his powdered wig.

“Yes,” she said, stepping forward.

He took a small folded letter from his pocket and stretched toward her, allowing Hattie to take it from him. She sensed the note was from the duke, and she stepped away from the servant and her family in order to read it.

Miss Green—

Romeo has at last deigned to make an appearance. Unfortunately, now we are having trouble enticing him to leave the house. My footman has sustained injuries in his attempts to convince the cat to do so, and I have decided that his indignant scratches are not something I am willing to risk.

We are left with two options: first, Romeo will now and forevermore be known as a member of Wolfeton House’s staff, and I will put him to work keeping rodents from the attic. Second, you may come fetch the beast yourself. I would prefer, of course, that you do not send a man, for I value my privacy, as I am sure you are abundantly aware. But moreover, if that option is the favorable of the two, I would humbly request that you contrive to visit alone.

This situation is far from natural, as I am certain you must agree, but I have a mind to speak to you about things pertaining to our last encounter and believe it will be much more comfortable for all parties were we not forced to curb our tongues.

You must not feel the strain of an immediate response. I look forward to learning where our dear little friend will be living from here on out.

Yours,

B.

Swallowing, Hattie folded up the letter and pressed it between her fingers and thumb, reinforcing the creases as her mind worked the problem over. It would be difficult to get away from the house without Lucy’s notice, but she believed her sister-in-law was the person Bentley wanted to keep away from Wolfeton House.

Nodding to the duke’s liveried servant, she said, “That will be all.”

He turned about and rode off, surely taking her meaning. She could not reply verbally in the presence of her entire family, and she needed time to think.

“What is it?” Papa said gruffly, his thick gray eyebrows pulling together. “Is someone hurt?”

Startled, she stepped back. However did he get to that conclusion? “Heavens, no. It is nothing. The duke found my cat.”

“Oh, what a relief,” Lucy said, her hand fluttering over her heart. “I’ve been so worried.”

That could not be further from the truth. Hattie stepped forward and placed a kiss on Papa’s cheek. “Safe travels. Give Aunt Sadler a kiss from me, and please be mindful of the weather on your return.”

His eyes sparkled with danger and mischief, and she knew her plea fell on deaf ears. If anything, inclement weather would be more of a reason for Papa to travel home, for he quite liked doing the opposite of what should be expected of him. She was very much like him in that regard, but while the feature was admissible in herself, it was quite vexing in another.

“Bah.” Papa climbed into the carriage, shooting her a wink.

“Give our love to Aunt Sadler,” Jeffrey added.

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