Mistress of Sins (Dredthorne Hall #3) - Hazel Hunter Page 0,29

you sit here like a lump? I must see you enjoy yourself. Allow me to find a partner for you.”

Jennet caught her hand as Catherine started to rise, and then had to catch her as she reeled. “I think the time for you to go home has arrived, my dear.”

“Truly?” Her friend made a face and pressed a hand to her brow. “Oh, dear. Perhaps I should. Presently my head wishes to waltz by itself.”

Putting an arm around her, Jennet walked her from the ballroom out to the front entry, where she had the footman summon her carriage. When it arrived, she walked the very unsteady Catherine out and helped her inside.

“Why do you stand out there?” her friend asked. “Get in.”

“I must speak to Mr. Pickering before I leave.” That was a lie, but she needed more time to collect herself before she returned home. Fortunately, many of her neighbors remained in attendance; she would beg a ride to Reed Park from one of them. “I will call on you tomorrow afternoon to return the gown. Good-night.”

“Your dear mama will be very cross with me,” Catherine predicted, and then almost fell over as the carriage started down the drive.

Chapter 13

Greystone heard someone approaching the stables and looked out expecting to see Foray or Pickering. Instead a short gentleman dressed as a humble shepherd came to the doors. When he stepped out the man seemed unsurprised to see him.

“Mr. Gerard, I– Forgive me, Baron Greystone,” the shepherd said, his pleasant tenor giving away his identity. He bowed and added, “When I inquired, our host said that I might find you here.”

“Mr. Branwen.” Suspecting Pickering was having another joke at his expense. He returned the bow. “How may I be of service?”

“I should like to have a word with you before I leave for the night. I confess that my wife and I do not keep late hours.” He removed his mask and turned it in his hands. “For that reason, I promise to be brief. It is about Miss Reed.”

Greystone suddenly had the sense of being a boy about to be scolded.

“As it happens I spoke with her earlier about you.” Jeffrey’s brow furrowed. “I worried she might be in some distress over the possibility of meeting you again. That is presumptuous, I admit, but as she has no father to watch over her, I feel somewhat obligated.”

“Miss Reed and I did meet earlier.” He resisted touching his still-throbbing nose. “I believe everything between us has been settled amicably.”

“I would take your word for that, of course, had I not witnessed your meeting Miss Reed earlier.” He made a surprisingly savage gesture in the general direction of the gardens. “You kissed her, and then you carried her off. I saw it all from the window.”

Greystone rubbed his brow. “Mr. Branwen, I can appreciate your concern–”

“You cannot possibly, sir.” The little vicar squared his shoulders as if preparing for a fight.

“–but this is none of your business,” he finished before he thought better of it.

“On the contrary, my lord. You made it mine long before tonight.” Jeffrey marched up to him and poked a finger at his chest. “You did not come to the church at the appointed hour for your wedding. You offered no warning, or explanation, or apology. You vanished without a word to anyone. By doing so you broke a solemn promise you made, not only to Miss Reed, but to God. You were not there to see the consequences. I was. I have been, these seven years.”

What could he say in his defense? Nothing, thanks to the other solemn promise he had made.

The vicar stepped back and visibly tried to compose himself. “Forgive me. I rarely lose my temper, but when I do my ability to minister to others suffers.”

“What have you said that I do not deserve?” Greystone asked. “I am sorry that I upset you, Mr. Branwen. I will be gone from here tonight, and I have no plans to return.”

“If there are consequences for Miss Reed after tonight, you will,” Jeffrey said flatly. “You will come back to Renwick and do right by that young woman. You will stand up with her in my church, before God, and marry her.” He leaned closer, his gaze intent. “And if I must travel to London to drag you back here to do so, sir, rest assured I will.”

Consequences.

Greystone watched as Jeffrey turned and stalked back to the house. Only when he was out of earshot did