The Lady's Second-Chance Suitor by Scott, Regina (christmas read aloud txt) 📗

to aseat near the hearth. Rob stationed himself close by, as Mrs. Denby andElizabeth took the sofa.

“We’ll have lemonade shortly,” she announced before lookingto his sister. “And how have you been enjoying yourself, Miss Peverell?”

“I’ve been reading some of the novels in our library here,”his sister confessed. “There’s one in particular I’d like your opinion on, butthere’s no need to bother Rob and Hester about the matter. We’ll just put ourheads together.” The two suited word to action.

Hester looked to Rob. “Colluding,” she whispered.

“Indeed,” he agreed, enjoying the way the light from thefire brought out the gold in her hair.

“What’s colluding?” Rebecca whispered, glancing betweenthem.

Hester blushed.

“When two or more people share a secret from others,” Robanswered for her. “Your mother and I have a feeling your grandmother and mysister are sharing a secret even now. Perhaps you’d like to go listen.”

Rebecca nodded, deposited Esmeralda on her chair, andventured closer to the pair on the sofa.

“You shouldn’t encourage her,” Hester told him. “Sheoverhears entirely too much as it is.”

“It’s only for a moment,” he promised her. “I’ve been givensome disturbing news, and I was hoping you could help me ferret out the truth.”

Immediately she was all attention. “What’s happened?”

“I have been informed that a ship is docking at my pier ondark nights. My steward and I suspect smugglers.”

She shuddered, color leaching from her cheeks. “I certainlyhope not. Lark, my brother, and his local Riding Officer, Alexander Chance, dotheir best to make sure we aren’t troubled by such criminals. And Abigail toldme Saturday that the French spies have been chased out of the area.”

“French spies?”

He must have raised his voice, for both her mother andElizabeth glanced his way. Rebecca frowned, as if she expected better of him.

He gave them his best smile.

“Forgive me,” he murmured to Hester. “You took me bysurprise. How did you and Abigail know there were French spies in the area?”

“Stories abound,” she said. “The two most recent fellowsfrequented the spa, hiding among the visitors. To think I actually danced withthem!” She shuddered again.

“Amazing,” he said. “The spa seems in all ways benevolent.”

“It is,” Hester said. “As is Grace-by-the-Sea and Upper Grace.But we have found it important to defend ourselves. The magistrate leads aMen’s Militia. Abigail Bennett and Jesslyn chartered one for the women.”

He started. “Grace-by-the-Sea has a Women’s Militia? Don’ttell Elizabeth. She’ll want to join.”

“She would be most welcome,” Hester told him. “And needed. Wehave seen more than our share of spies and smugglers ever since Napoleonstarted gathering his troops across the Channel. Some people claim they hide inabandoned homes: farmsteads left for the winter, the Castle, the Lodge.”

That set his skin to crawling. “I wish I could assure you noone was hiding in the Lodge, but we haven’t opened half the rooms. A Frenchbattalion could have taken up residence, and I wouldn’t know it until they cameto demand breakfast from our chef. Tell me, have you heard stories about a Lordof the Smugglers as well?”

She nodded. “Jesslyn and the villagers routed him monthsago. He and his gang were taken into custody.”

Was that what the magistrate had meant when Rob had talkedto him earlier? “You’re certain?” Rob pressed her.

“Absolutely,” she said. “It was in the Upper GraceGazette, and Mr. Peascoate is very careful toconfirm all stories before printing. Besides, Lark was more than delighted toregale us with the tale. He hadn’t been made Riding Surveyor yet, but he wasinvolved in Mr. Bascom’s capture.”

Rob blinked. “Bascom? Any relation to my footman?”

“His father,” she said. “And I must say it was very kind of you to hire young Ike. He hasn’t had an easy goof it, I understand.”

He hadn’t hired the fellow. Elizabeth had, and he wascertain she’d had no knowledge of the boy’s background. Yet he could notbelieve it a coincidence that the son of smugglers had started working at theLodge just as a gang of smugglers thought to make use of it.

Did Donner know about Bascom’s father? For that matter, whywas Donner claiming the Lord of the Smugglers still active when he’d beencaptured months ago? Surely the War Office wasn’t that far behind.

Either the intelligence agent was lying, or Grace-by-the-Seaand the Lodge were in more danger than the villagers knew.

~~~

Rob nodded to Hester’s praise, but his lovely hazel eyes hadgone unfocused, as if his mind raced ahead to something else. He did notcomment further, turning instead to inquire after her mother’s health andRebecca’s progress in school. He and Elizabeth drank the lemonade the maidserved, then took their leave, as polite as any other acquaintances. He hadcome for answers, and she had given them. As simple as that.

But the visit only raised expectations.

“So nice of them to call,” her mother enthused.

“He liked Esmeralda,” Rebecca said as if she were a proudmama.

“He liked your mother too,” her grandmother said with a lookto Hester.

Hester wasn’t so sure. With his questions about smugglers andspies, it still seemed a bit as if Rob had sought her out for entertainment.

But Rob was certainly the entertainment at the assemblyWednesday evening.

It was quieter than usual, mostly the members of the SpaCorporation Council and their families along with the Regulars and a fewNewcomers to the spa. Her brother Lark had returned from his sweep down thecoast as well. He didn’t have much of an opportunity to speak to her, because hermother, Jesslyn, and Rosemary kept grouping and regrouping to discuss thepreparations for the wedding tomorrow. Hester’s sister had been living withLark and Jesslyn since the announcement of her betrothal, but she intended to sleepin her old room in Upper Grace one last time tonight. Rebecca had been givenpermission to stay up and visit.

The attention to Rob quite eclipsed the upcoming nuptials.The vicar followed him about with puppylike adoration, Mr. and Mrs. Greercornered him, and Mr. Donner clung to his side so tightly Hester’s former devoteddance partner didn’t even take the opportunity to ask her out on the floor. Shewasn’t entirely surprised when Rob threw them all off, face hinting ofdesperation, and retreated to her side.

“Smile,” he instructed her as he sank onto the chair beside her.“Pretend you