something that could be useful as evidence. He had still wanted to keep her in custody for questioning. It was Wyvern who had said that they could not so insult his steward as to interrogate Harley’s fiancée.
What did it all mean? Harley asked himself at last. It made no sense to think what he was thinking. Or did it? Certainly he knew what he wanted to believe. Wanted quite desperately to believe. It would be wonderful. It would get rid of Wyvern and leave Harley free to continue as before under his new employers, Sir Hector Webb and Lady Stella. And it might also get rid of the blacksmith. Then Harley could watch Ceris suffer.
He wanted to see her suffer.
He wanted them all to suffer.
But how could he prove it?
Chapter 24
IT was destined to be a wholly turbulent day, Geraint realized soon after Aled had left. His friend had been satisfied that Ceris Williams’s name had been cleared and that there was no fear of her being arrested again. He had been less satisfied with the alibi that had been presented to clear her. Geraint had not realized before last night that there was a romantic attachment between the two of them. Neither had he realized that Aled had been shot the night before. It seemed that Ceris had dressed the wound and that there was no sign of inflammation this morning. But Aled had been in pain. That had been obvious from the paleness of his face.
There had been no time for Geraint to mull over in his mind the events of last night. Or the events of the morning. It had been a close-run thing. Ceris Williams’s courage had been unexpected, Harley’s lies in order to provide an alibi more so. Why had he lied? Because he loved Ceris? There appeared to be a love triangle at work in that situation, something that might yet cause trouble.
And there had been Marged’s visit and her rash and altogether characteristic attempt to save Ceris by taking her place. And her offer of herself to him if that was what it would take to win her friend’s freedom—an offer he had found rather unpalatable. And yet he could not help feeling a fierce pride in her and an almost agonized love of her. It had been a real agony this morning to play the part of the Earl of Wyvern, to be cold, to feel her touch and show no reaction to it. And yet his body—and his emotions—were still feeling the effects of several hours of lovemaking with her that had been both tender and passionate.
He wondered if there was going to be any way out of the pit he had dug for himself.
But he was not to have time to think further. His butler arrived with a visitor’s card on a tray. After one glance at it, Geraint brightened and directed that Mr. Thomas Campbell Foster of The Times be shown in. This was the journalist to whom he had written, a man he knew personally and respected for his work. The man on whom he pinned much hope.
“Thomas.” He crossed the library to his visitor, right hand extended, as soon as the latter was shown into the room. “This is a singular surprise, though a very welcome one. What brings you to this forsaken corner of the British Isles?” He must not forget that it was Rebecca who had written to Foster, not the Earl of Wyvern.
“Wyvern.” Foster made him a half bow and grinned. “I had been expecting barren wasteland and wild savages, I must confess. It has been a pleasant surprise to find lovely scenery and a language that sounds very musical even if it is unintelligible.”
Geraint crossed to a sideboard to pour his friend a drink and motioned him to a leather chair at one side of the fireplace. “Have a seat,” he said, “and tell me what brings you here. Is it business or pleasure?”
“Business actually,” Foster said after seating himself and accepting the offered glass. “I had an eloquent and impassioned letter from Rebecca inviting me down here to witness at first hand what is happening.”
“Ah,” Geraint said, sitting down opposite the journalist. “Rebecca.”
“I do not know how to contact him,” Foster said. “I suppose he will contact me when he hears of my arrival. In the meantime I thought to speak with all the landowners in the area to hear their version of events. I suppose the two versions will conflict. But