Melinda Hammond (14 page)

* * * *

 It was a few more days before the rain cleared, but as soon as the yard was dry Verity made her way to the stables to check on the mare. She found Luke there, talking to Brigg, but at her approach he dismissed the groom, who walked quickly away without looking at Miss Shore.

 'Good morning, Cousin. I am riding into Derringden, do you have an errand for me?'

 'No, thank you. I have all I need.'

 He looked hard at her. 'You are not riding today, I trust?'

 'Not in this dress.' Verity glanced down at her flowered muslin gown with a wry smile. 'My riding habit was so torn when I came off that I have had to throw it away. Your Mama has asked Madam Juliet to make me a new one. No, I have come to see how Delphi goes on.'

 'Come and see for yourself.'

 As they crossed the yard Verity she saw a tow-headed young man coming out of the barn that housed the carriages.

 'Is that Mr Gatley's young relative?' she asked.

 Luke nodded.

 'Yes. Will Barber. He's a good worker, seems to know his job. Brigg says he's a quiet lad.'

 She thought of Brigg's taciturn manner and smiled, but said nothing. Luke walked with Verity into the stable and opened the door of the mare's loose-box, standing back for her to precede him.

 'The lads are keeping her exercised on a leading rein, but I think she's missing you.' He grinned as the mare snuffled against Verity's shoulder.

 'Poor lady,' she murmured, running her hand over the smooth neck, then on to the animal's back, stopping at the large patch of dried blood.

 'We thought it best not to put a saddle on her yet.' Luke was standing behind her, and as he spoke he reached past her to cover her hand with his own. 'What do you know of this cut on her back, Cousin?'

 She swallowed.

 'There was a barb under the saddle. That is why Delphi bolted. It - it could not have been an accident…'

 His fingers tightened over her hand.

 'And who do you suspect?' She shook her head and he continued roughly, 'Do you mean you do not know, or that you do not want to face it?'

 'Pray, Luke, do not ask me.'

 'You could have been killed, Verity. Think, who would gain from that?'

 His free hand moved around her waist, pulling her back against him.

 'Marry me, Cousin.' She felt his breath on her cheek. 'As my wife you would be safe. I could take care of you.'

 For a heartbeat she considered his offer. The thought of being cared for was an attractive one. She longed to lean back against him, to share her worries, but even in that brief moment she knew that she would be marrying Luke for the wrong reasons. Stifling a sigh she gently released herself from his clasp.

 'You are very kind, Luke, and I am sincerely attached to you, but -'

 'You will not marry me.'

 'No.'

 There was a clatter of hoofs in the yard and Verity looked round to see Rafe Bannerman leading his horse into the stable. Verity sprang away from Luke, blushing furiously.

 'I appear to be very much
de trop
,' he murmured.

 'I - um - we were not expecting you.' Verity muttered.

 'That much is evident. I did send word of my coming, but perhaps you have not seen Ditton this morning.'

 'No, not since breakfast.' She tried to sound unconcerned as she stepped out of the loose-box. Luke followed her.

 'Have you come to remove the mare, Bannerman?' he asked, 'After all, your horses have not proved very lucky for our family, have they?'

 Verity became aware of the sudden tension. A glance at Rafe Bannerman showed her the blazing anger in his face. However, when he spoke his voice was cool enough.

 'I believe Miss Shore is still in need of a horse. However, it occurred to me that you might like me to send over one of my lads to lend a hand in the stables…'

 'Thank you but we already have an extra boy.' Luke interrupted him. 'Will Barber, a relative of Gabriel Gatley - he's a handy lad in the stables and seems to know his job.'

 Mr Bannerman shrugged. 'As you wish. Miss Shore, may I escort you to the house?'

 'I'll come with you!' put in Luke.

 Verity shook her head at him.

 'There is no need. You are going out, are you not? And I have already delayed you.'

 Luke hesitated. 'Very well,' he said at last. 'Remember, Cousin, Brigg is in the yard if you need him.' He turned towards Mr Bannerman. 'If you will excuse me, I am riding over to the Greenwoods,' he muttered, straining to be civil. 'If you leave your horse here, Rafe, I'll get Will to unsaddle him for you.'

 'Shall we see you at dinner, Luke?' asked Verity.

 'Pray give my apologies to Mama - I am promised to dine with Sam Greenwood - we have business to discuss.' With a curt nod, Luke strode away. Verity stared after him, a faint crease on her brow.

 'Your cousin spends a great deal of time with young Mr Greenwood,' observed Mr Bannerman.

 'And why not, when they are of an age?'

 Verity turned to walk back towards the house and Mr Bannerman fell into step beside her.

 'Why not indeed, except that one is the idle son of a wealthy wool-trader, the other a young man who should be attending to his estates.'

 'My cousin works very hard at Highclough.'

 'Put away the claws, Miss Shore, I have no criticism of the way he runs your property: it is his own inheritance that he is neglecting.'

 Verity bit back a retort, knowing there was some justification in his words. After a moment, Mr Bannerman spoke again.

 'Today, however, I am glad he is gone, for it gives me the opportunity to talk to you, alone.' She tensed as she heard the serious note in his voice. 'What have you done with the arrowhead?'

 Verity stopped. Her heart jumped to her throat, but she managed a shaky laugh.

 'I should have expected a direct attack from you. How did you know?'

 'Jed Gatley described the barb he found wedged beneath Delphi's saddle. And before you ask, I have no doubt that it is mine. All the archery equipment is stored in the stable block.' He turned towards her, holding her gaze with his own hard stare. 'Do you really think I tried to kill you?'

 She looked away. 'I don't know.'

 'Honest, if not complimentary. How little you regard me.'

 Hot tears burned her eyelids. Fighting for control, she began to hurry towards the house.

 'Now I have hurt you. Damnation!' he caught her arm. 'Verity, look at me. Look at me!' he swung her round, gripping her shoulders.
'I did not
plant that barb.'

 Blinking away her tears, Verity lifted her eyes to his face. At last she relaxed slightly, and a faint sigh escaped her.

 'No, I don't believe you did.'

 'Thank God.' He released her shoulders, but only to take her arm as they continued towards the house. 'Since Jed told me what had happened I have been in daily expectation of receiving a letter from you, forbidding me to come to Highclough.'

 'Under the terms of my grandfather's will that would make things very difficult. Besides,' her irrepressible humour peeped through. 'I could not believe you would use such a clumsy method of dispatching me.'

 'Nor such an unreliable one.'

 She threw another quick glance at him and decided to risk another question.

 'Sir, what did Luke mean when he said that your horses were unlucky for the family?'

 For a moment she thought he would not answer her but after a long pause he spoke, as if forcing the words out.

 'Your uncle Evelyn was riding one of my horses when he had his accident.' He felt her instinctive recoil and immediately released her arm, although they continued to walk on together. 'His own horse had cast a shoe on the road to Newlands, so we put his saddle on one of my hunters. We had been out less than an hour when Evelyn was unseated and took a tumble. It looked no worse than either of us had experienced before, but on this occasion Evelyn … broke his neck.'

 'I am very sorry.' Verity replied at last. 'I think you told me once that you and my uncle were close friends. How much worse then that you should feel responsible for his death.'

 'Your cousin would like you to believe there is a pattern.' The anger in his voice was not lost on Verity. She slipped her hand through his arm again, wanting to comfort him.

 'Luke? No, I am sure you are wrong. I know he is impetuous and, and perhaps a little over-protective of me! I think -' she broke off, frowning.

 'Yes, Miss Shore? What do you think? Tell me.'

 Verity bit her lip, unwilling to voice her fears. At last she said, 'I think it was Brigg who put the barb under my saddle. After all, he was in the stable block all the time I was at Newlands, and his horse went lame so conveniently on the homeward stretch.'

 'And why should he want to harm you, Miss Shore?'

 She wrinkled her nose.

 'I'm not quite sure, but I suspect that he is - jealous of me. He always seems ill at ease when he is with me, and he is devoted to my cousin. I think he does not like me, you see. I have not mentioned it before, but now I have put it into words, it seems a valid explanation.'

 'So what will you do?'

 'I shall talk to Luke about it as soon as he returns this evening.'

 They had reached the house and Mr Bannerman held the door for his companion to enter.

 'Just one thing,' he said quietly as she moved passed him. 'Take care never to be alone, Miss Shore.'

 'But why? That should not be necessary now.'

 'If you are abroad, make sure you are accompanied by Megs, or your maid - or that new man, Gatley's relative.'

 'But surely, once Luke has been told about Brigg -'

 He gripped her wrist.

 'Promise me.'

 Her eyes flew to his face, questioning, but he said no more. With a little sigh she nodded.

 'Very well, sir. I will try.'

 'Good girl. Now, I had best get to work. I will come and find you again before I leave.' He strode away, leaving Verity alone in the south passage, aware that her wrist was burning from his rough grasp.

* * * *

Luke did not return until late that night, so it was the following day before Verity could voice her concerns about Brigg. They were alone in the morning room, and she was not surprised at his incredulous reaction.

 'My dear cousin, Brigg has been with me for years. He is a loyal servant.'

 'Indeed, I have no doubt that he is loyal to
you
. But think, Luke. He was nowhere to be found shortly before the chimney stone fell into the garden - Rafe was obliged to take the horses to the stable himself. And as for the barb under Delphi's saddle, he would have seen Rafe putting away the archery targets so he knew where everything was stored. It would have been the work of a moment for him to pick up an arrowhead and put it under the saddle.' He saw his frown and added gently, 'I know you do not wish to believe it, but I think Brigg's devotion to you is too powerful. Perhaps he sees me as a threat to you.'

 'No, Cousin. I am sure you are wrong. You have no proof, no
real
proof.'

 'No, none, but I don't trust him: I cannot be easy while he is at Highclough!'

 She ended with an appeal, and seeing her earnest look he shrugged.

 'I think you are mistaken, Cousin, but if it will make you happy I will send him away. After all, Highclough will be yours shortly, and you must be assured of the loyalty of your servants. I will talk to him now.'

 'Will you dismiss him?'

 'No. I shall send him to Sowerby.' He summoned a smile and put his hand briefly on her arm. 'Don't look so anxious, Cousin. If his presence unnerves you, of course Brigg cannot stay here.'

 'Thank you.' She paused. 'Luke, what you said about Highclough being mine soon - in less than a month I shall have to take charge of the estate - you have been very helpful in guiding me about the area and introducing me to the tenants, but we have scarcely touched on the accounts.'

 'My poor cousin, are you so lost for occupation that you want to do so?' he laughed at her. 'Rest assured you will pick it up easily enough, and then wish the task on another, for it is mighty tedious!'

 He lounged out and she did not see him again until dinner time when he informed her that Brigg had quit Highclough. The servants had left the room and Megs, to whom Verity had confided her suspicions, shook her head as she helped herself to a slice of lamb.

 'A sad business. I suppose Brigg denies it?'

 'Of course, Mama, but the only other person with access to the stables that afternoon was Rafe Bannerman, and our cousin will not hear a word against him.'

 Verity frowned at this, but it was Mrs Worsthorne who answered.

 'Well of course he would never do such a thing, my son. Rafe Bannerman is no more capable of such an act than you would be. No, if Brigg is not involved, then I can only think it was a silly prank carried out by one of Rafe's stable hands.'

 The entry of Ditton and the footman with the next course put an end to their discussion, and Verity could not be sorry. She wanted only to put the whole incident behind her.

Chapter Thirteen

 Despite her conviction that Brigg had placed the barb in Delphi's saddle, Verity was aware of a feeling of anxiety when Mr Bannerman invited her to ride out with him a week later, and she was pleased to have the new groom, Will Barber, in attendance. They set out from Highclough under a clear April sky.

 Mr Bannerman's invitation had arrived the day after she received her new riding habit, and Verity's curiosity to learn how he had achieved such impeccable timing overcame the slight reserve she felt in the gentleman's presence In answer to her direct question he merely shrugged.

 'Since the seamstress sent the previous reckoning to me, she naturally assumed the same applied on this occasion.'

 'Oh, I had not thought -' she flushed. 'I understood the habit was to be a present from Megs.'

 'Your Cousin was certainly very willing to pay but I have assured her that your estate can stand the cost.' He ran an appraising eye over her. 'It's a good choice, Miss Shore, the blue suits you. It is a little plain, perhaps but you prefer the practical style, do you not?'