“Well, then.”
They looked at each other. Hal felt awkward and looked down, cheeks warming. Ranvier was looking distant, as if he was seeing events in the past. Neither of them had mentioned the fact that Hal was heading up to Scotland to get married. Both of them seemed to know it nonetheless. Hal cleared his throat.
“Thank you, Father.”
“Let’s go and have lunch. I, for one, and starving.” He stood and stretched, showing that his tall frame was still powerful, though spare. He grinned at Hal tiredly. “Breakfast seems an age ago.”
“I think we’ll take lunch in the coach, Father,” Hal said. It was the only direct reference to Hestony he’d made.
His father grinned. “Yes. Take a picnic. And best if you set out now…you’ll want to get there before nightfall. I’ll send Mrs. Hamden off to follow you up. The stagecoach can’t be that slow.”
“Yes, Father.”
They looked at each other again. Hal saw a tenderness in his father’s gaze that surprised him. He had always had a suspicion that his father would rather have had Luke as his heir – he’d felt like something about him disappointed Ranvier. Now, though, he saw a gentle, approving look on his father’s face that touched him deeply.
“Thanks, Father,” he murmured awkwardly. His father just smiled.
“I’m glad you decided love was too rare and beautiful to pass by.”
Hal nodded. “Yes, Father. I’m glad, too.”
They looked at each other again, a brief acknowledgement passing between them. Hal felt his heart overflow with warmth. Then his father limped past him.
“I’ll have to get blasted Mr. Hall to look at these accounts with me,” he grumbled. “Why he can’t just tell me every month what the expenses are? I don’t know…some people.” He shook his head as he headed down the stairs, limping from his sore knee.
Hal bit his lip, hiding a grin. In some ways, it was a relief to have his father back to his old self.
He stood where he was a moment, letting the silence soothe him, the day settling into pale cloudiness behind the curtains. He felt his cheeks lift in a big grin. “I’d best go down to organize a picnic.”
In the hallway, he was taken aside by Mr. Hall. He frowned, noticing the butler looked more than usually awkward.
“Sir, um…you have a caller.”
“Yes, Hall?” Hal frowned at him. “What manner of caller? Where is he?”
“He’s in the grounds, under the pine tree. I told him to wait there. He seemed…distressed.” The man’s lips pursed in an expression of disapproval.
“Distressed.” Hal repeated the word.
“Yes. He was quite agitated. I thought it best if he went and returned tomorrow, but it seems he insists.”
“I see.” Hal frowned. He had a dreadful sense he knew who it was, but at the same time, he really had no idea. He wasn’t expecting any visitors. He looked into the butler’s distressed face and nodded briskly. “I’ll go down directly.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll be in the dining-room,” he added helpfully, as if Hal might be in need of assistance.
“Thank you.”
Hal went to the front door, taking a breath before going out. He wondered if he should take somebody with him. He shook his head. Whoever it was, this was best dealt with swiftly.
“Hello?”
The garden seemed deserted. His feet crunched over gravel. He could hear the steady hiss of somebody sweeping the path, and could see an older man in a wide-brimmed hat raking leaves. But otherwise, the place was silent under a cloud-filled sky.
“Hello?”
A shadow detached itself from the base of the pine-tree. Hal stiffened. He suddenly recalled Hestony’s tale of a highwaymen. This gentleman was dressed in sober dark velvet, a white shirt with a frothy cravat showing at the neck. He wore a top-hat. The semblance to a highwayman melted away as he stepped forward, resolving into a society gentleman. Hal shivered nonetheless, though – there was something very sinister about the way he had lurked under the trees.
“Good morning,” he said, keeping his voice level. “Can I be of help?”
The gentleman’s head came up. He was close enough to see clearly and Hal stiffened. The face that stared at him was harsh and drawn, the dark eyes flat and cold. A handsome face, it was nevertheless cold as carved stone. Hal felt instantly defensive.
“You had no business on my land, Carisbrooke.” The gentleman’s voice was cold, like his character. “You trespassed, and you did so wittingly. And you interfered in business that was mine.”
“You admit to that business?” Hal could hear how tense his own voice was. He involuntarily took a step back, shaking his head. “You ought to be prosecuted for what you did.”
“When entertaining guests is a crime, hang me first,” Lord Osburne said primly. “I have the right to court Lady Hestony, which is more than you have. Why would anyone give the rights to a nobody like you? Especially when they’re facing financial dire straits themselves.”
“How do you know about that?” Hal stared. He couldn’t imagine Hestony telling him anything!
“Lady Hartfield told me,” he said smoothly. Hal saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes, though, and wondered if that was right.
“Well, mayhap she did,” Hal said stiffly. “But you had no right to do what you did. And if I have a chance to tell anyone…”
“What?” Lord Osburne laughed harshly. “To tell them that you were creeping about on my land, spying on me? You saw a hunting-party, leaving the grounds.”
“I know that wasn’t a hunting-party,” Hal growled.
“That was what you saw,” Lord Osburne said smoothly. “Nobody is going to take you seriously if you tell them that.” He stepped forward, staring into Hal’s eyes. “You be very careful, baron’s pup. Don’t think you can interfere with me.”
“I’ll interfere with anyone who makes it their business to hurt and encroach on others,” Hal retorted.
“Do that,” Lord Osburne said, raising one shoulder in a casual shrug. “You’ll find me doing no such thing. But if you touch what is mine, remember I am the best shot in London.”
“I’ll remember you’re a crooked, cruel liar!” Hal hissed.
Lord Osburne’s eyes widened and narrowed and Hal took a step back. It was true, what he said, but what Osburne had said was also true – he was one of the most celebrated pistol-shots in the country. If Hal didn’t want to die – and he really didn’t – it would be best to go back indoors.