fact.”
She took another deep breath, knowing he was not going to like her next words. “Being aware of a problem and doing something about it are two separate matters. Your son is starved of motherly affection. You may tell me not to mention it. You can tell your son not to speak of it. But you cannot order him to stop feeling it.”
He stared at her, his rage evident in the crystalline blue of his eyes.
Was he going to hit her?
She’d hit him right back if he dared.
But he merely clenched his fists at his sides. “Bollocks, lass. Ye’ve got a mouth on ye, haven’t ye? Ye sound like a Sassenach, but I would no’ be surprised if ye were born a Scot.”
Heat rose in her cheeks. “I do not know who my parents were. I’m an orphan, but taken in by a very kind family when I was about your son’s age. I took on their family name out of respect for them since I had no information about my own. So I go by Ralston now. Taffy Ralston.”
“Och, Taffy. I’m sorry for snapping at ye again, lass.” He tucked a finger under her chin and held her gaze. His anger had melted away. “How did they come up with Taffy? Ye must admit, it is an unusual name.”
She nodded. “I liked sweets. The first few weeks after they brought me to their home, I wouldn’t eat anything but that. Treacle cake. Hot cross buns. Turkish taffy. They decided Taffy suited me.”
“Do ye know yer birth name?”
“No. They called me Raina at the orphanage because they found me on their doorstep in the pouring rain. One made up name is as good as another. And I did not wish to be called Raina Ralston.” She rolled her eyes. “It simply did not suit me. I liked Taffy Ralston better.”
He was back to smiling at her. “Let me take a turn through the house before the rest of the staff begin to stir. The scullery maids wake first, I believe. I’ll start with the kitchen and make my way back upstairs. Wait here for me, Taffy. I’ll return within the hour.”
“As you wish, my lord.”
He raked a hand through his hair. “If the boy is still asleep when I am done, I’ll tell ye about his mother.”
She dared not say anything to make him change his mind, so she simply nodded.
“One more thing, Taffy. Are ye handy with a pistol? I dinna like to leave ye here without any protection. Yesterday, ye asked me where I hid my weapons.”
“I would still like to know. But you needn’t worry about my being defenseless.” She decided to confide in him, hoping he would then be more amenable to confiding in her. “I carry a pistol on my person at all times.”
She showed him the hidden pocket and the weapon tucked in it. “But I’ve also made note of other potential weapons in the room. The fire iron and ash shovel. The candlesticks. The stool and small chairs. With your permission, I’d also like to show Master Rafe the servants’ stairs. I want him to be able to run and hide if necessary while I hold off the villain.”
He sucked in a breath. “Lass, I dinna know who ye are. But one thing is for certain, ye are not anyone’s housemaid.”
He took an intimidating step toward her.
“Who in bloody blazes are ye?”
CHAPTER THREE
GAVIN MADE HIS way downstairs to the scullery in the gray light of impending dawn and then methodically walked through every room in the house, checking doors and windows for any signs of tampering. He thought all his caution might be futile, for Hartland was too large and so many people walked in and out of its many doors throughout the day that anyone could slip in unnoticed, even with the staff on alert.
That no one had broken in last night was a small reprieve. But what was to prevent a determined villain from sneaking in at any point during the day? The man could easily lose himself in a house of this size, especially if he stole a footman’s livery. Who would look twice if he walked about in the elegant, dark blue coat and gold breeches they all wore?
By the time Gavin returned to his guest quarters, his mind was made up. He no longer cared who Taffy was, for he needed to confide in this surprisingly clever girl. If the Duke of Devon trusted her enough to engage