Abandoned to the Prodigal - Mary Lancaster Page 0,30
too, but she only left London when she discovered I had. I think she’s glad to end their feud. I suspect he is, too, though he’ll never admit it. It’s my aunts who are infuriated by her appearance.”
“Because she is further competition for the estate?”
Dan shifted restlessly. “I told him he should will it to all his daughters on condition they sell the place and divide the proceeds equally.”
Juliet swallowed her piece of cheese and found the apple. “Do you still have your knife to cut it?”
Obligingly, Dan cut the apple in two and twisted out the core for her. She smiled her thanks, and he felt a fresh jolt of awareness. She really was incredibly beautiful when she smiled. Several seconds too late, he realized she was gazing at him expectantly, and he tried to remember what he had been talking about before cutting the apple.
“Do you no longer think equal division is the way to go?” She bit into the apple, and he looked hastily away.
“It probably would,” he said, dragging his mind back to the conversation. “It would be fairest. And whoever bought the estate would surely look after it better than my grandfather, which has to be good for the people and the land. Only…”
“Only what?” she prompted.
He shifted restlessly. “I don’t really know. It seems a shame to remove it from the family. My mother has strong feelings for the place.”
“As do you,” she guessed, wiping her mouth on the napkin.
He shrugged. “Not strong feelings,” he disputed. “I can count on one hand the number of times I was ever here. But yes, I suppose I do feel something. Still, it isn’t up to me, is it? The old man will play his games and do as he wishes. Though perhaps I can get him to listen to reason before that.”
“Reason about what?” she asked curiously.
“The state of the land and the improvements that could and should be made.”
She blinked. “I did not know you were interested in agricultural matters.”
He grinned self-consciously. “I wasn’t before yesterday. It’s my new obsession. I’m subject to them, you know. Why didn’t you think I would come this morning?
She colored, looking even more adorable. “Because I sensed you didn’t really want to. And I had forgotten that while you are my only friend outside of the house, I am not yours.”
“Actually, you are.” He picked up the remaining half apple. “And as I recall, it was my idea we should meet again.” He raised his gaze from the apple to her face. “I’m not used to considering right and wrong, let alone taking responsibility for it. But if you are seen with me, it won’t be good. I don’t want you to suffer because of me.”
“I won’t. But I would hate you to feel obliged to come and see me out of pity.”
“Pity?” He stared at her.
“Well, you do pity me, out of the goodness of your heart. You had never even met me before, but you believed me at once without a quibble and have been nothing but kind ever since.”
“I do sound quite a paragon of virtue when you put it like that.”
She smiled. “And you make me laugh.”
“I endeavor to please.” He lay back on the blanket and put his hands behind his head while he gazed up at the sky and the clouds. “Oh, before I forget. The woman from the stagecoach who was looking for her runaway daughter. What was her name?”
“Mrs. Harper? Or the daughter?”
“The daughter.”
“Susan. Why?”
“It’s probably too convenient, but do you remember the couple we saw yesterday? The girl is one of my grandfather’s housemaids. Her name, apparently, is Susan Smith. Which immediately made me suspicious, on account of having so recently met another Miss Smith.”
She stuck her tongue out at him, a childish gesture that made him laugh, though she said quickly, “You think she might be Mrs. Harper’s daughter?”
“I didn’t get the chance to speak to her. I was on my way out, and she was under the close supervision of the cook. I’ll talk to her again.”
“She ran away with a soldier,” Juliet confided.
“Then she’s in good company at Myerly. Except that fellow yesterday looked more like a farmer than a soldier.”
“He is.”
“Hmm.”
“But we should definitely find out because the poor woman is worried sick about her.”
Dan nodded just as Gun reappeared and licked his face in passing. Dan spluttered and got to his feet, wiping his face, while Juliet laughed and made a fuss of the dog.