anywhere searching the castle grounds by themselves. It was too much for two men to cover alone, so they were going to fetch a half-dozen of Haslemere’s burliest footmen and bring them back to Darlington Castle.
They’d been chasing a phantom long enough. Gideon wanted this thing done, but he didn’t want to discuss the White Lady with Cecilia. Not yet. For now, the less Cecilia knew about her, the better. “Lord Haslemere’s sister, the Duchess of Kenilworth, and her son arrived at Haslemere House yesterday. They sent word to Lord Haslemere last night, and naturally he wants to see them.”
It wasn’t a lie, exactly. Her Grace had made frequent and unexpected visits to her brother’s estate this winter. Haslemere was uncharacteristically closemouthed about the reasons why, but Gideon had begun to wonder if it had something to do with the duke.
Cecilia searched his face, her dark eyes intent. “Is there some reason it would be unsafe for us to venture outside the castle walls?”
Yes. Something wicked was gliding through the darkness. Not a ghost, but something more sinister. Gideon didn’t say so, however. He said only, “It’s cold, and threatening to snow. I’d rather you remain indoors today.”
Her face fell, and her eyes dropped away. “I see.”
It wasn’t the answer she’d hoped for. Gideon closed the distance between them and took her hand. Just her hand. He wouldn’t risk touching any other part of her while his bed was mere steps away from where they stood. “It’s just for today, Cecilia, while Haslemere and I are gone. I’ll take you and Isabella for a walk in the kitchen gardens myself tomorrow.”
Cecilia nodded. “I suppose we can find some other way to amuse ourselves.”
“Thank you.” Gideon couldn’t resist raising her hand to his lips. Her eyes darkened as his mouth brushed her knuckles, and he had to bite back a moan. “We can spend all of tomorrow afternoon in the kitchen gardens, if you like. I promise it.”
“Tomorrow, then.” Cecilia’s gaze dropped to their entwined fingers, then she gently drew her hand away.
* * * *
All day long, Cecilia had to remind herself she was relieved Gideon was away from Darlington Castle for the day. Each time she recalled he was gone her heart sank in her chest, and she’d have to scold herself back into equanimity again.
It was a long, frustrating day. Instead of the snow she’d expected, the sun struggled through the clouds for the first time in days. Its feeble rays touched the frosted grounds, transforming them into a sparkling garden of diamonds, mocking Cecilia with their beauty.
Isabella soon grew bored and restless, and teased with a child’s mercilessness for a visit to the garden. Cecilia was as tempted to venture outdoors as Isabella was, and it wouldn’t have been the first time she’d disregarded Gideon’s wishes. But she remained firm in her refusal, as it turned out to be much easier to ignore a command from the arrogant Marquess of Darlington than it was a request from Gideon, softly spoken, his blue eyes pleading.
By the time Isabella’s bedtime arrived, the poor child had succumbed to a storm of frustrated tears. After she’d cried herself into an exhausted sleep at last Cecilia, who’d forgone her dinner to soothe her fetched Amy, then ventured down to the kitchens to see what tidbit she might forage.
She found Mrs. Briggs at the table, having a nip of sherry. “You look worn to the bones, you do.” Mrs. Briggs fetched another glass, poured a measure for Cecilia, and put a plate of bread and cold ham before her. “Isabella was in a bit of a state today. She missed Lord Darlington, I daresay, the poor lamb.”
We both did.
Cecilia raised the sherry glass to her lips, considering Mrs. Briggs as she sipped at it. All of Gideon’s servants were tight-lipped about the doings at Darlington Castle, particularly anything to do with Lady Cassandra’s death.
Mrs. Briggs was the most tight-lipped of the lot, perhaps because of all the servants, she knew the most. She’d known Nathanial and Lady Leanora, had rejoiced in Isabella’s birth, and celebrated Lady Cassandra’s and Gideon’s marriage. She’d mourned Nathanial’s tragic death along with the rest of the family, and she’d been here when Cassandra drew her final breath, and she and her stillborn infant were placed in the cold ground.
Mrs. Briggs knew everything. It would be a tricky business to pry it out of her, but while Mrs. Briggs never gossiped, she could be coaxed into reminiscing.
After reading Lady