Abandoned to the Prodigal - Mary Lancaster Page 0,76

surprised,” Mrs. Ames said apologetically. “It’s true he doesn’t like Hugh, but he’s as likely to choose him just to annoy Colin as the other way about…”

It had struck Juliet already that someone in the family could actually have shot at Dan. Her mind still rather boggled at the idea—unless it was a moment of frustration, designed simply to frighten? Well, she was frightened, however Dan felt.

On the other hand, she couldn’t actually imagine the very proper Colin or the dandy Hugh, let alone Hugh’s ineffectual father, risking murder for the dubious pleasure of inheriting a neglected estate hundreds of miles from London.

“Oh, dear,” Hetty murmured as they heard the sounds of voices and footfalls approaching the drawing room.

Tabetha cast her a glance of annoyance and squared her shoulders. They really were frightened of their father. And yet, they stayed here when they had his leave to depart.

“Be easy,” Hugh said blandly, entering the room just ahead of Colin, who appeared to be lecturing Dan. “His lordship has retired without apology. Waits and Griffin are heaving him up to his chambers.”

“Hugh,” his mother protested. “Don’t be so flippant, my love.”

Hugh went over to pat her shoulder. Mrs. Cornwell stood up, and Colin sat smoothly in her place. To Juliet, it almost seemed rehearsed—and in fact, had something very similar not happened at Hornby? She laughed at herself for imagining such a thing. He certainly seemed to have nothing important to say, for he made mere small talk for the first ten minutes, and Juliet’s eyelids grew heavy. She had not slept last night, and she began to fear she would give offense by dozing off.

Fortunately, Dan sat at the ancient harpsichord by the window, idly testing how far out of tune each note sounded. The discords were enough to keep her on the edge of her seat.

Then, when the others were distant enough not to overhear either, Colin said quietly, “You were out for a long time with Daniel.”

“And Gun,” she reminded him.

“He is a large dog,” Colin allowed with a quiver of distaste. “I imagine he requires a good deal of exercise. But that is Daniel’s business, you know. You need not accompany him. In fact, I did want to just drop a word of warning.”

“About what?” she asked, keeping her voice pleasant while she hoped he read the quelling message in her eyes.

He didn’t. “About Daniel. I would hate your reputation to suffer while you are our guest. And it is unconscionable of him to put you in this position.”

“What position?”

“Of imagining yourself beholden to him or any of us. It is obvious he has made himself agreeable to you since coming to Yorkshire, but I imagine you know nothing of his previous life. He does not really move in our circles.”

“So I believe,” she said, allowing boredom into her voice.

“But you should know, my lady, he is not at all the thing.”

She smiled brittlely. “I have become bored by the thing.”

He smiled as though acknowledging a child’s attempt at a joke. “Truly, ma’am, he is my cousin, and I am the first to admit he can be amusing and charming. But I cannot in conscience let you live in ignorance of his true character.”

Ignoring her freezing gaze, he leaned closer. “I imagine he did not tell you how he lost his only respectable position as a tutor? He…er…compromised his pupil’s sister. Barely sixteen years old. The girl had to be sent abroad, and that is why no one else will employ him. I don’t tell you this to be cruel but to warn you not to trust him, especially not in the difficult situation you currently find yourself. You have no parent in this house to look after you, but I beg you will look on my mother and myself as your friends and protectors.”

“Thank you.” She jumped to her feet only because she couldn’t be still in the face of his disturbing revelations. “You are very kind.” She flitted across to the window and pulled the curtain back as though gazing out at the night. In fact, she merely wanted to be away from Colin, though it was not so easy to escape her agitating thoughts.

She could not believe Colin’s tale, and yet, had Dan not hinted at something unsavory about his dismissal from his post? At their very first meeting at the Golden Cross in London?

No, she could not imagine Dan behaving in such a criminally careless way… Which did not mean the seduction never