Chapter Twelve #2
“But he helpfully handed me a vase of water to wash it out, so it is not too bad now. May I take that gun, lest it go off?”
Poppy had hardly realized she still held the gun. “Gracious, yes,” she said, handing it over.
“You were very brave to retrieve the pistol so quickly,” Mr. Lelander said. “Those rogues were quite undone without their weapon.”
“I believe you are the brave one, though,” Poppy said. “To think, you were lying in wait and prepared to stay up all night to protect us.”
“Of course I would protect you. That is not even a question.”
Poppy was sure she blushed furiously over the comment. She also found it a very comforting thought. He was so brave and would protect her. It was not even a question, he said.
The great hall had become crowded, with family wandering in all directions and news being exchanged.
Smuckers had come back with plenty of rope and the two criminals were tied to chairs in the dining room, those being the easiest to secure a person to.
Hemmings and the viscount were to take the first watch, and then Lady Mulholland ordered everybody else straight to bed.
Poppy did not know how she would sleep a wink. So much had happened. They had been in a very dangerous situation. Mr. Lelander would protect her though. That was not even to be a question.
What was to happen next? It should not be complicated. She admired him. He admired her. She thought he would ask. At least, she desperately hoped so. There should be nothing complicated in it.
Except, it was complicated. Mr. Lelander and Lord Burkhart had made it complicated.
But then, those two gentlemen had somehow been able to work together this night. That must say something. Mustn’t it?
While Burkhart had been suspicious of the baron being one of the rogues that had robbed Miss Millthorpe, and while he had known there was a second man involved, he could not have foreseen how the night had unfolded.
Miss Pansy had put herself in grave danger. Had the steps not been iced by the butler, which had been very enterprising, the men probably would have got away, taking the ladies with them.
He imagined their plan had been to put some distance between themselves and Chemsworth Hall and then let the ladies go. But, he could not say for certain that was their plan and, in any case, so much could have gone wrong.
If anything could have solidified his intentions toward Miss Pansy Granger, it had been seeing her led out into the cold and dark at pistol point.
Unarmed, he’d felt helpless to save her. He realized he wished to protect her all his life.
Though, there were complications to that idea. He was sure Miss Pansy favored him. He was not so sure she favored him so much that she’d be willing to give up a sister.
In fact, if what he’d viewed this night had been anything to measure by, he rather thought she would not.
The rogue Gennings had only intended to take Miss Poppy, and then Miss Pansy had insisted on going with her sister.
The lady was willing to offer herself up to grave danger rather than allow her sister to face it alone.
What did that say to the idea that she might be willing to separate herself from that sister?
But then, what was to be done about it? Lelander’s interest in Miss Poppy was clear enough. Burkhart assumed he was intending on asking the question.
Their houses were enemies though, and they did not mix.
Burkhart thought that both he and Lelander were racing toward a conclusion that could not work in their favor. Had it been any other two ladies, neither might have minded the separation of their houses. Miss Pansy and Miss Poppy were a very different situation.
Where did that leave him? What could be done about it?
There had to be something he could do to smooth over the awkwardness of it all. Something that would reassure the ladies that all would be well.
Except that to say all would be well would be a lie that would soon be discovered. He would not lie to the lady.
Smith had been chattering on about the doings of the night and how all the servants claimed they had suspected the baron of being a fraud right from the beginning. The housekeeper, Mrs. Featherstone, was delighted. She had predicted disaster all along and was found right.
Burkhart did not know if the servants had actually suspected the man or whether there was just now a lot of posturing below stairs. He did not particularly care.
“I think it was just Smuckers that was on to him, personally,” Smith said. “Mrs. Featherstone is the sort of lady who likes to predict disaster round every turn, so just a lucky guess for her.”
Burkhart did not answer and Smith went on.
“Well, I think the most interesting thing to come out of it was you and Mr. Lelander working together. I would not have seen that coming. It was a veritable peace treaty for the evening.”
Burkhart’s head snapped up. Peace treaty? Was that what was needed? Was it possible? It would need to be more expansive than just between him and Lelander. It would have to involve both his earl and Lelander’s viscount.
Such a thing had never been considered. It felt impossible. It would be extraordinary.
But did not this situation call for something impossible and extraordinary?
Smith finished with his neckcloth and got his coat on. He was brushing the shoulders when Burkhart walked away from him and left the room. He had an enemy to see.
He strode down the corridor to Lelander’s room and knocked sharply.
Lelander’s uppity valet answered and Burkhart determinedly kept the annoyance from his features.
“It is Lord Burkhart, if you can believe it,” the valet said, calling over his shoulder.
Lelander, himself, appeared and looked at him questioningly.
“We have something to discuss, meet me in the library,” he said. Then he turned on his heel and walked off.