Chapter Ten #3
“No,” Boyde provided. A look of confusion crossed his brother’s features. “His hat was pulled down low.”
“On horse or on foot?” Aaran pressed.
“Foot,” his brother provided.
“Did you see which way he went?”
“Not completely,” his brother admitted. “He was near the bottom of the hill, and the next time I looked back at him, he was headed off towards the woodland between here and the manor house.” Boyde’s face took on a look of panic. “Is Mother in danger?”
Unconsciously, Aaran squeezed the back of Lady Freya’s hand in assurance.
He told her, “I must investigate. Permit Boyde to see you home. I am going to track the person who did this to learn if they are still nearby. One of us will call at the vicarage, later, after I report this incident to the local sheriff.”
“Be careful, my lord,” she said with a mist of tears in her eyes.
“I will,” he replied while resisting the desire to kiss her in parting.
Lord Boyde Graham had walked her back to the vicarage, his horse trailing them.
Finally, she said, “I would not wish to worry my aunt and uncle unnecessarily until we know what actually occurred today. The shooter could simply have been a poacher. We will explain my unkempt appearance with the truth. Your stepfather’s bull chased me before you came along and lured the animal away.
I slipped in my descent from the tree. You chose to walk me home.
” There was no time for the young lord’s agreement or denial, for her aunt spotted them and screeched in dismay.
“What in the world happened to you?” her aunt called as she left her garden behind and rushed forward to meet them.
Freya needed a moment to compose her thoughts. “I am fine, just a bit ruffled. Before I make my explanation, permit me to give you the acquaintance of Lord Rayland’s stepson, Lord Boyde Graham, Lord Pitcairn.”
Her aunt curtsied before saying, “You must forgive my appearance, my lord. We were not expecting company from Lord Rayland’s household.”
“Nonsense,” young Graham said with an easy smile. “I am simply glad to have your acquaintance and to know my stepfather’s bull caused no great harm to Lady Freya.”
“Bull?” her aunt exclaimed.
“I did not see the animal,” Freya explained, “for I was looking at the large oak you described earlier. I must have disturbed his courtship,” she said with a blush. “I used the bench to reach a tree limb.” She motioned to her clothes. “I was not so graceful climbing down.”
“I see,” her aunt said with a suspicious lift of her brows.
“Let us have you inside.” She turned to the younger Lord Graham.
“Please say you will join us for tea, my lord. Mr. Turner has recently broken his ankle, but he is keen for company. Freya, dear, go above and change into something more appropriate.”
“Yes, aunt. Pardon me, my lord.”
She turned to leave, but her aunt called, “Tell Marcus I require him to tend His Lordship’s horse.”
Freya thought the animal well-trained enough to stay where it was, but she said, “Yes, aunt. I shall see you both in a few minutes.”
Aaran easily found the trail of the shooter, but his mind was equally as well occupied by thoughts of Lady Freya.
“You must step away from the lady,” he told himself as he awkwardly bent to note the size of a footprint.
It was smaller than he had expected, but such fit perfectly with Thompson’s recent observations that their initial assumptions regarding Duncan’s shooter had been inaccurate.
He used several handfuls of larger rocks to mark off the shape of the imprint and stuck a large stick in the ground to make it easier to find a second time.
He knew Duncan and the others would want to view the area.
As he stood again, his worry returned to Lady Freya.
“You cannot place her in danger. No involvement,” he told himself aloud.
“No kissing her. Reaching for her. No hand holding.” Rolling his shoulders in place to seal his determination, he carefully placed his steps to continue following the bent over grass marking the shooter’s retreat, while not disturbing the tracks.
After a relatively short walk, through the patch of woods, the Rayland manor house came into view.
“Interesting,” he murmured. “Why would Rayland be involved in this business with Duncan’s shooter?
Assuredly, today’s incident involved the same man,” he surmised aloud.
“Rayland is a relatively insignificant baron. Of course, the new Lady Rayland does have a grudge of sorts against Duncan, for His Lordship’s manipulation placed me above Boyde in the line of succession.
I should determine when Her Ladyship first agreed to marry Rayland.
Perhaps their courtship overlaps with Duncan’s attack.
I do not like to think Lady Rayland’s venomous nature could have infected her new husband and have forced His Lordship to take action against Duncan.
I think it best if I return to Thom Manor and share what occurred today before I call upon my father’s former wife. ”