Chapter 9

Lucian wasn’t truly concerned something had happened to Eliza when it was reported that she entered the stables and did not come out. But it was an excuse to see her.

He knew when she was in her home and when she was on the terrace, but that was all. He’d have guards posted about the property if she would but allow it. Not to watch her comings and goings but to protect her from a danger she dismissed.

She took a seat at a table in the shade and Lucian joined her, even though he had not been asked.

“Please bring us tea, Stella.” Eliza then smiled at Garretson. “To what do I owe this visit?”

“Have you received any further missives?”

“Would you not know if I have?”

“I do not go through your post.” Was she aware that Saul was reporting to him?

“Your gardeners have certainly been busy.” She glanced over at Wyndhill Park. “Certainly, there are other parts of your estate that need attention.”

“You would not let me loan you additional footmen for protection.”

“Instead, your gardeners spy on me.”

“No, they are watching for danger.”

Eliza blew out a sigh. “It is unnerving to be out and have them about. It is bad enough that I may have been watched by a stranger but seeing them is just as bad. I might as well be in a prison.”

“They are for your safety,” Lucian reminded her as the tea was delivered.

“It is not your responsibility to see to my safety.” Eliza’s voice rose with irritation.

“I have been asked to do so by your brother. He is currently in Edinburgh and cannot return for at least another fortnight. Thus, he tasked me with looking after you.”

Eliza’s mouth opened as she stared at him. “You wrote to my brother?” she demanded.

“As you would not allow your servants to do so, I took it upon myself.”

“It is none of your concern.”

“Perhaps, but I would never forgive myself if something happened to you when I could have prevented it.”

“Nothing is going to happen to me, Lord Garretson. There has not been another missive. In fact, nothing strange has occurred in the past sennight except your gardeners have taken an unusual interest in this side of your estate.”

“The necklace,” Stella said from just inside.

Eliza’s jaw tightened as she closed her eyes for a moment. Likely trying to control her anger.

“What necklace?” Lucian asked.

“One given to her by her brother. It has gone missing.”

“I had difficulty with the clasp. No doubt it fell and will be located in the house, or in these gardens.”

“That is not all, Lord Garretson,” Stella said as she stepped outside. “A stocking, glove, and handkerchief have gone missing since we arrived.”

“It is not unusual for any of those items to be misplaced,” Eliza argued.

“Is it your fear that the person may have been in the cottage and taken them?” he asked Stella.

“Yes,” Stella answered just as Eliza said, “No.”

Eliza was correct in that these lost items were not unusual. He had lost several gloves in his life as well as handkerchiefs. Was Stella now just overly fearful or was Eliza not being cautious enough?

“I can assure you that nobody has been inside this cottage other than Stella, Saul, myself, and occasionally you.”

She was likely correct, but Lucian had been unable to shake his unease since he had read the missive. The fact that Eliza was showing no concern was alarming.

She reached forward to lift her teacup and winced before setting it back down and stretching out her hand, making a fist, and stretching again. “I will not be writing anymore today and the reason I have come outside.”

“Are you in pain?”

“I fear it is a symptom of my profession. I can only write so long before I begin having difficulty.”

“Is there a poultice or cream that would help?” Lucian asked.

“Not that I have found.”

“Perhaps you should hire a secretary who could write for you,” Lucian suggested.

“I have engaged Stella in that very position in the past. She has excellent penmanship and can keep up with me as I dictate the words.”

“I assume that she was unable to be of assistance today?” Lucian asked.

“I am currently rewriting and making edits to a story that I wrote long ago, and it is tedious. If I was working on a new novel, then I would have her set laundry aside.”

He’d had to make changes to his official correspondence, writing a novel must require several. Though, how she could keep the story in her mind as she wrote an entire book was beyond him.

“How come it was not published if it is an earlier book?” he asked.

“I did not know how it would end,” she answered with a smile. “I had to wait until I knew.”

“Do you now know?”

Eliza tilted her chin and smiled at him. “I have an idea.”

Lucian had always assumed when an author sat down to write a story that they knew what the ending would be and what would happen from beginning to end. Apparently, that did not occur.

“Lord Garretson, I do appreciate your concern for my well-being, but it is not necessary.”

He stared into her silver eyes. Eliza really was not worried.

Perhaps he was overreacting as much as Stella.

“I will pull back some of the gardeners,” he finally offered.

“All of them,” she insisted.

“Some,” Lucian returned with a grin because she had no control over where he had his servants perform their duties.

Why did she have to be so blasted independent, stubborn, and beautiful?

Why was he so bloody attracted to her when there was nobody less suited for him than Eliza Weston?

When Eliza opened her eyes and stretched to the ceiling, she noted that her hand pained her again today and realized that she might put off returning to her book until tomorrow. Except, what else would she do with herself? No doubt if she wanted to go into town and people watch, her neighbor might insist on going along for her protection.

She supposed she could read inside, except it was a warm day, and the room would be stifling before long. She could seek shade and hope for a breeze, except could she really relax while being watched by some of Garretson’s many servants?

She could also search another cave, except how to do so without anyone knowing was a problem, which was exactly what she put her mind to. The more difficult the challenge, the more she wanted to solve it and by the time she came downstairs to break her fast, Eliza had just the plan and informed Saul and Stella so that they could prepare. They were not happy about her intentions, but as they were the ones who alerted Garretson to the missive, which in turn had her watched, they had to join her in her quest.

As they stepped outside onto the terrace later that afternoon, Stella carried the blanket and Saul, a picnic basket, empty except for a flint and lantern.

“We are going to picnic in the woods where we cannot be watched,” she called out.

Hopefully because she was with her servants Garretson would not come after them.

“Did you lock all the doors and windows?” Stella asked Saul.

“Yes, and I double checked after you reminded me three times.”

Her maid had been on edge since that last missive and Eliza was wondering if Stella even slept at night. Unfortunately, it could not be helped and in time, she would relax and enjoy being in the country as much as Eliza.

When they reached the edge of the woods near the lake, Eliza peeked out first. There was nobody about so she retrieved the lantern and flint from the basket.

“You stay here. I won’t be long,” she told Saul and Stella.

“You are not going any further without one or both of us at your side.” Stella looked around and squinted her eyes toward the darkness, as she had done ever since they passed the stable behind the cottage.

“The next cave is not far and I cannot risk us being seen.”

“I cannot risk you being accosted because you are alone,” Saul insisted.

Eliza took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and slowly blew it out. Arguing with them would only waste valuable time with the likely same result in the end.

“Then do as I say. Stay to the shadows, do not speak, and walk lightly. I do not want to be caught.”

“We will,” Stella whispered, then placed her blanket on the ground. Saul set the basket aside as well.

She supposed there was no purpose in carrying them everywhere, since she had already removed the lantern and flint.

The two stuck close as she made her way to the next cave then stopped to light the lantern. Holding it high, she stepped inside. This one appeared to run deeper than the first.

“Will you be staying here or coming with me?” she asked her servants.

“We will keep watch here,” Stella answered before Saul could.

“Just be careful,” he added.

Eliza gave a quick nod and made her way deeper into the cave. It was wide, dark, and took longer to explore. Unfortunately, the only treasure to be found was a ball and a child’s wooden sword.

“We thought you were lost in there,” Stella chastised when Eliza emerged. “You were gone forever.”

“It was not that long,” she answered, then glanced about the area to make certain they were alone, then retreated to the woods and once again walked along the lake before disappearing on the path that would lead back to Greenhaven Cottage.

“We were gone longer than a picnic should take,” Stella murmured.

“How long should a picnic take?” Eliza asked. She’d not been on a picnic since she was much younger and she’d been having such an enjoyable time with her friends that she had not noted the time.

“Not much more than an hour and we were gone almost two hours.”

Eliza would never have guessed that it had taken them so long.

When they emerged from the woods, Eliza nearly groaned when she noted Garretson sitting on the terrace.

“Are there no other neighbors who you can visit?” she asked.

“I shall bring tea, Miss Weston,” Stella said as Saul unlocked the door before they entered the cottage.

Eliza followed because she’d had enough of being outdoors and removed her hat as she made her way to the sitting area of the parlor.

Garretson followed, but stood staring at her, face hard, eyes cold.

Her stomach knotted but she wasn’t certain why.

“When over an hour had passed without you and your servants returning from the picnic, the gardeners became concerned and alerted me. Therefore, I decided to make certain all was well. When I did not find you right away, I followed the path thinking you had walked further in and became more concerned because there was no space to place a blanket, let alone enjoy a lunch. Then, imagine my surprise when I found the blanket and basket on the ground where the path ended on my property. It was easy to follow where you had gone and then when I saw Stella and Saul standing outside one of the caves, I hid until you emerged again then returned here to wait.”

“Unfortunately, the only way to reach the caves was by crossing your property, which I did as swiftly as possible as I knew you would object.”

“You do realize that the caves are also on my property?”

She blinked at him. “Oh.” She would neither admit nor deny that she was already aware. “Regardless, given how often you feel free to come onto this property, I felt the same freedom to visit yours.”