A Bound Of Honour Part 7

"Andre, what be ye doing in here?" rebuked a motherly voice. "Your papa has been deathly ill and I wouldna' be surprised if yer mama was on our hands before this be done. Between Leora and yer pap she has slept little these four days past.

"Sit quietly while I add to the fire. They both need all the sleep they can sum up." The rustle of skirts and thump of logs followed. "Come." Lord Adrian felt Andre being lifted and then heavy steps went out of the room.

So, Adrian thought, the auburn one beside him was a dedicated nurse. More interesting she hailedfrom Rouen. What had he heard of happenings there? Trying to recall, his thoughts began to swirl.Slowly he dropped back into an uneasy sleep. * * * *

Downstairs, Meg placed breakfast before her family. "Let's be keepin' the gagglin' down," she admonished as Ned clanged his spoon into his empty bowl. "Her ladys.h.i.+p needs her rest.

"Ye should see her-sleepin' like a lamb, the dear soul. From the looks o' her man, he'll soon be in fine fettle again. 'Tis a piece o' reason I'd like to be givin' him then."

"That Lady Juliane is far differn' any o' them ladies o' Quality we've heard tell of," said Ned reflecting the deep respect and affection all held for Lady Juliane.

"None o' them puttin' on airs, 'cause she be bettern' us neither."

Alva came down the stairs leading Andre, now fully dressed.

"Well Master Andre, do ye 'ave appet.i.te or no this morn?" asked Meg sternly.

"I am very hungry, Mrs. Meg," he answered with a bright smile.

"Then to the table with ye. Alva-" The sounds of horses in the yard interrupted Meg. First she glanced a question at Jove and then tried to see who it was.

"They'll be a comin' to the door, woman. I'll see to 'em," Jove told her. He pulled on his heavy cloak

and went outside where he found six men. Four were checking over Lord Tretain's phaeton, which his sons had brought to the yard only two days earlier.

Peeking around the door, Meg watched. Two of the man she knew-Jacob and Tom from Time's

Crossin', an inn not far from the fork where her folk had found Lord Adrian's phaeton. She was pleased

when she saw Jem leading them to the cottage.

"Warm brew-woman, be quick now. Pardon, yer honour, this be the best we have," Jove said to the man directly behind him.

"Never mind that. What other information can you give about these people?" demanded Squire Preston.

"Nothin', sir. All we know I've told ye. They be Lord Tretain, his wife, and young un's. There was an

accident-his carriage tipped over. They got lost tryin' to find the Time's Crossin' and strayed here. That were five days since and froze near to death they be then."

"I must speak with Lord Tretain."

"Beggin' yer pardon, yer honours," interrupted Meg, "but his lords.h.i.+p just pa.s.sed the peak o' a fever

last night. He and his lady be sleepin' and well needin' it. Could ye talk to his man?"

The squire had pulled off his left glove. He slapped it irritably in his right palm. "I suppose so," he agreed with distaste.

"Ned," Meg jerked her head, a clear order for him to summon the valet.

Ned allowed Mallatt no time to fully awaken before he dragged him before the squire. Mallatt was, after

all, fully clothed, and his mum would be rare put out if Lady Juliane had to be got up.

Mallatt valiantly tried to martial his intellect to the fore as he took in Squire Preston's stiff pose. His only thought was to ask why he might be heading for gaol.

"You are Lord Tretain's man?"

"Yes," he thought to err on the side of flattery, "my lord. Mallatt."

"You may address me as sir," the squire tossed as an aside. "How is it you came to be here?" Preston

asked. He motioned to the surroundings with distaste.

Trying to garner a clue as to his intent, Mallatt looked at the others in the room. They seemed as puzzled as he.

"There was a mishap, sir. We found our way here quite by accident."

"Where was Lord Tretain bound?"

"We were going to Trees, the earl's country estate, to visit his mother. She is not well."

"Is it not rather odd to choose that particular carriage for travel with his family?" Squire Preston inquired

diligently. "How did Lord Tretain's phaeton come to mishap?"

Mallatt became increasingly uncomfortable. If only he knew the lay of the questioning. "My lord is somewhat ... impulsive. He wished to travel speedily. It is not for me to question," he finished coldly.

"Yes, yes." The squire dismissed this with a wave of his hand. He had no wish to offend Lord Tretain, whom he knew by reputation only. The country estate was well known, for it laid less than a day's travel from here. He had not thought Lord Tretain to be married, nor to have children, but then one never knew about these young bucks.

"Did you see anything out of the ordinary as you travelled?"

"Why, no, sir. Why do you ask?"

"A devilish foul deed has been done, my man. A postilion and a lady's maid were found murdered not far from the fork. The postilion had come over three days travel and so was not known in these parts.

Neither was the woman. The woman's baggage and the interior of the coach were torn apart as if the killers were searching for something of great import to them. Also I have had two reports of strangers

being seen in the area, and," he emphasized, "the reports indicate they are French." He let this tidbit of knowledge settle in.

"As magistrate it is my duty to investigate, but I have sent to London for a runner to a.s.sist me.

"How much longer do you stay here? Well, man, answer me," snapped the squire, apparently unaware

of the effect of his news on Mallatt.

Lost in thought, Mallatt rouse himself. "Stay here? Most likely not more than another day or two. As soon as my lord is ready and well enough to travel we shall go. His mother will be quite concerned."

The squire had, by this time, drained the mug of warm brew Meg had handed him before his exchange with Mallatt. He looked at Jove and his sons. "Have you seen strangers near here?"

The latter shook their heads negatively. "No, yer honour" Jove told him.

"Keep your eyes open for any. I have no idea what this business is about. Perhaps this is all there will be to it." He turned and stalked out.

For a moment there was stark silence. Then everyone began to babble.

"Murder! And not far from here!"

"Did ye pa.s.s that coach?" they asked Mallatt.

"What be the world comin' to? A body's not safe anywhere in this wild world of ours," Meg groused. Mallatt remained singularly silent throughout this. Certain that it was Lady Juliane's maid who had been days.

How was Lady Juliane concerned in this, if, indeed, she was? She had feared going back from whence she came and the boy's name was French. What had he gotten the earl into?

Mallatt drew a deep breath. Lady Juliane was not a nefarious being, he a.s.sured himself. He had worked too closely with her to misjudge that. But, he decided, he had better get the rights of the matter and do so before the squire returned with more questions.

All at once the valet became aware that Meg and Jove scrutinized him mutely.

"This will be very upsetting this will for Lady Juliane," he offered in explanation. "How does my lord fare this morning?"

"I was up a short time ago and both were sleepin' like babes," smiled Meg. "There's little reason to go a frightenin' Lady Juliane with such tales. Let be for now.

"Come, join Master Andre and partake of some porridge."

Mallatt hurried to do so. He needed time to think, to sort out what he should do next. * * * *

In the chamber above, Lord Adrian had been roused from his fitful rest by the tramp and stir of the horses in the yard. He recalled where he was and the information he had garnered from the boy Andre. Tretain turned to his side, gently removed Juliane's arm, and studied her as she tucked the hand he had moved beneath her pillow.

Gazing down the length of the bed, he guessed her to be tall. He would not top her by more than a few inches. It was difficult to tell, what with the coverlets, but he judged her neither too thin nor too plump. Her face interested him greatly. Tanned beyond what was seemly for a lady, it had an air of honesty about it. Her auburn hair was loose and wispy around her features, softening them. Her mouth turned in a half smile intrigued him.

Not beautiful and yet she is, he mused. Asleep, there was candour in her face. Certainly not the look, or ah, size, of your usual bit o' muslin. It will be most interesting to ... to become acquainted with the, er, lady, he thought pleasantly.

For many weeks Lord Adrian had not had time to relax. He was bone weary. Perhaps this was the type of diversion he needed, he thought with a smile. That type of dalliance admirably suited his acquaintances in London, and certainly the "lady" was willing. Why else would she be here beside him now?

Tretain knew he could well afford to make it worth her while to return to London with him after he spent a few days at Trees. With two children she should be most grateful for his "protection."

One or two things nagged at him, however. She wore the high-necked, long-sleeved flannel gown of virtuous misses. It was hardly conducive to seduction. The boy had an air about him that bespoke the Quality, not an urchin of the street. And what had Andre said? Mallatt had a great deal to explain.

The earl continued to contemplate the young woman's features. Snug and comfortable he found she was not unpleasant to view.

As if suddenly aware of someone observing her, Juliane stiffened and opened her eyes.

Spice brown stared into cool grey.

She relaxed imperceptibly, closed her eyes, and then, just as quickly, sat bolt upright. "My lord, you are

awake," she said blankly.