they left early, heavy moisture still on the leaves and grass. In less than twenty minutes, Reyn had rolled through the posts at Hazel Grange. Maris’s house sat on a little rise, square and neat. As soon as his carriage was spotted on the drive, Stephen Prall lumbered out from her stable and one of the footmen—bearing his own name now—stepped down from the portico.
“Good morning, Lady Kelby. We’re so glad you’ve returned safe and sound.”
“I’m so sorry to give you all worry, Phillip. What with the storm, Miss Durant insisted I stay the night, and the captain was kind enough to drive me back.”
“You have a visitor, my lady. The Earl of Kelby arrived just after you left yesterday. Told him you were dining with the neighbors. We put him in the blue room when he wouldn’t leave. He was in a temper to not find you home.”
Maris turned white. Reyn could do nothing to calm her that would not arouse suspicion.
“I hope he did not give you a lot of trouble,” Maris said faintly.
“No more than he ever did, my lady. He did get into the best port. Me and Aloysius figured it might be the best way to disarm him.”
“W-where is he now?”
“Still abed, my lady. I reckon he’s got a head on him this morning.”
Maris turned to Reyn. “You’d better go.”
“I’m not going to leave you alone with that villain.”
Maris squeezed his hand as he helped her descend from the carriage. “But you must! He knows I spent the night at Merrywood, but may not even know it is you who lives there. If he sees us together, it will only fuel his ire.”
“You weren’t expecting him?”
“Of course not! David always comes and goes as he pleases. Somehow he thinks I will be waiting like a docile schoolgirl so he can scold and bully me.” She tried to smile and waggled a finger at him. “Don’t worry, I’ll stand up for myself and send him packing soon enough after a decent breakfast. At least he has no need to bleed me for money any more. The Kelby coffers are at his disposal, even if the title is in limbo. Maybe you can get a message to Mr. Swift to pay me a visit this morning. He seemed to annoy David quite a lot when they met before.”
“I think I should stay,” Reyn said, unable to overcome the stubborn feeling that he should remain by Maris’s side. What if Kelby tried to hurt her with something other than his tongue? Reyn had never been able to shake the feeling that somehow the man was responsible for the earl’s death that dark night, though he would never confess his misgivings to Maris. She didn’t need to be frightened any more than she was already.
According to the doctor, there had been no signs of foul play. But one didn’t have to raise a fist to a sick old man when one could verbally goad him beyond bearing. Reyn would put nothing past David Kelby.
He had blackmailed Maris for years, keeping her off balance, destroying her peace of mind, and casting a dark shadow on the last years she’d had with her husband. Maris had made a terrible mistake ever trusting him, but her punishment was far more severe than her crime.
“I’m staying.”
“You must not!” If possible, she was even paler than she’d been when the footman Phillip told her of her uninvited guest.
“I’m headed for your stables, Countess. Isn’t it true that you are looking to acquire more horses? I’m particular about where I sell my stock. Call me peculiar, even. I think I’ll just inspect your accommodations. If you have need of me, you know where to find me.”
“Oh, Reyn.” She spoke softly enough that Phillip and Stephen wouldn’t hear her. “All right. But I think it’s unnecessary.”
“I do hope so. You there! Stephen, isn’t it?” Reyn called to the man who held the carriage horse still. “I’m going to take a look at the countess’s stables. She’s thinking of making some renovations before she purchases some new horses and wants my opinion. Shall we have a look?”
Maris shot him a warning glance, and then disappeared up the steps.
Reyn spent the next quarter hour poking into every corner of every box, asking what he hoped were pertinent questions of Stephen when his mind was really on Maris and whatever indignities David Kelby planned for her. He struggled to keep the bees from buzzing too loudly in his head,