she could not believe the man who had assisted her was dangerous. Irritatingly self-assured, yes. Impudent, certainly. But not dangerous.
She had to tell Frobisher about the prisoner in the cave, of course, but was it really necessary to tell him about the man that walked her home? After all, he probably had nothing to do with it.
Bah! If anyone else came up with such a convenient reconstruction of events, she would treat them to a dose of scathing derision. Of course he was implicated. He was either involved in whatever was going on in that cavern, or…
He was following her. It annoyed her that the realization made her smile. But might he not merely be someone that Frobisher, or perhaps Rutherford, had sent to watch over her?
If they thought she was a little careless in going out for long walks unescorted and without servants, they might have taken matters into their own hands. It was a grating intrusion into her affairs, no matter how prudent it proved to be in retrospect. However, one thing recommended it to Eleanor: it would cast the man with the arctic blue eyes in the role of a protector, as he seemed to be, rather than a captor and a torturer.
The Marchioness Fenimore, whom Eleanor now called Rosamond, entered the parlour. She stood to greet her new friend and hostess.
“Eleanor, how refreshed and rosy your complexion is after your walk.”
Eleanor lifted a hand to her cheek. Looking too blooming would not do. She would have to apply more powder. “Thank you, Rosamond. You look lovely as ever. I believe marriage must agree with you.”
Rosamond’s smile was an array of gleaming pearls with which she must have bedazzled many a man. It reminded Eleanor of the brilliant white teeth of the man who had rescued her from Auchdun. Rescued her? Right, that was doing it a bit brown. She had to get a hold of herself.
“It does agree with me, even if my husband does not.”
Eleanor’s best sangfroid was called for. “Oh? Has he dared contradict you already?”
Rosamond rolled her eyes. “I suppose he is right, but I do not like it. I want to dress up as a commoner and go into the village to attend the wedding feast of John Pines and his new bride, Mary.”
Eleanor’s lips twitched. “Well, disguise is certainly not without precedent in your life.”
“I know. I miss it, and I want to stay in practice. This would be a perfectly harmless diversion. We are not attending the mass this morning—not that I mind that so much, but dinner and dancing would be a bit of fun.”
“And why does Frobisher disapprove?”
“To hear him tell it, propriety is a secondary concern to the possibility that I might be discovered and ruin their party. He says no one wants the lady of the manor hanging about.”
Eleanor lifted a brow. “It is astounding that he of all people has so little faith in your ability to deceive. I have not so quickly forgotten how you pulled the wool over our eyes, reading our palms while posing as Mr. Hatch. A very fine bit of trickery. You are an honour to the profession.” She said it humorously, but it was quite true. Rosamond’s work as a fraudster had been impressive.
Rosamond blushed girlishly at the praise, and to Eleanor’s astonishment, became even more beautiful as she replied, “Why thank you. I am glad you do not hold me a grudge for that.”
“Not at all. You are a marvellous fraud, and certainly deserve the noble title you attained by deceiving your husband into thinking you were a man.”
Rosamond laughed for several moments at this backhanded compliment. “My dear Eleanor, it is so charming to have you here with us.”
Eleanor smiled. “In truth, Rosamond, I have been meaning to thank you again for taking me in on such short notice. It is a boon to have your company, especially now that Lady Goodram has returned to London.”
“You have thanked me enough. Truly, you should think nothing of it. Frobisher and I were happy for an excuse to invite you.”
“Speaking of your husband, there is a little matter I should like to discuss with him. Shall he be joining us?”
“I am afraid we shall not see much of him today. He is off with one of his foreman discussing some business or other at the moment. Then he said he was planning to call on Rutherford at Blackwood.
“Ah. That is too bad.” Eleanor tried to sound as though it