Page 37 of Ravished

Dobbs was waiting for them at the entrance to the cavern He was accompanied by Owl, Gideon's extremely versatile butler.

Gideon had chosen Owl the same way he chose his horses, not for his looks or pleasant temperament, but for his loyalty, strength, and stamina. Owl had been making his living as a pugilist when Gideon had first met him.

Never a famous champion with an academy of his own like Jackson, Owl had managed to survive for years by giving exhibition matches. He had made a modest profit allowing the young bloods of the nobility to pay him to spar with them. The young bloods did not like to lose Owl had understood that simple business fact.

Owl's face bore the marks of his career a nose that had been broken numerous times, battered ears, and several missing teeth. He had the hulking build of a boxer and he never looked quite right in his butler's jacket, but Gideon did not mind. Owl was one of the few people on the face of the earth whom he trusted and the only one he felt he could talk to freely.

"What, ho I see the two of you survived the night." Dobbs raised his lamp at the sight of them. "All right and tight, I take if?"

"We are fine." Gideon glanced at Owl. "All is well?"

"Of course, my lord." Owl eyed Harriet with a baleful eye. "This is Miss Pomeroy, I assume? Her family is most upset. I spoke to the housekeeper, Mrs. Stone, who appeared to comprehend the gravity of the situation immediately."

"That does not surprise me," Gideon said calmly. "Miss Pomeroy, allow me to present my butler. His name is Owl and he is extremely useful on occasion, but he has absolutely no sense of humor. Miss Pomeroy and I are going to be married in the near future, Owl."

Owl's gaze would have done credit to a basilisk as he surveyed Harriet. "Very good, my lord."

Harriet tilted her head. "You do not sound as if you think it is a very good idea at all, Owl."

"It is not for me to say, Miss Pomeroy. My lord does as he pleases. Always has. No doubt always will."

"Don't mind him," Gideon said in an aside to Harriet. "You will grow accustomed to his ways. Dobbs, did you and Owl manage to catch Crane last night?"

"That we did, sir," Dobbs said cheerfully. "That we did. Pulled him out of the surf just before he went under for the last time. It was too late to go into the caves after you and Miss Pomeroy, though. Figured you'd make yer way to the big cavern and stay dry for the night."

"Yes." Gideon glanced at Harriet, who was standing much too quietly beside him. "Let us get Miss Pomeroy home. She has had an exhausting experience. There are some details of this situation that I wish to discuss with you, Dobbs."

"Understood, sir. Understood."

The small party made its way out of the cave and along the beach to the cliff path that led to the old rectory. At the top of the cliffs, Gideon took Harriet's arm. He dismissed Dobbs and Owl with a short nod.

"Come, Harriet," he said quietly. "I will see you to your door."

"It is not necessary," she muttered. "I can see myself to my own door."

He suppressed an irritated response. She was overset by recent events and her natural independence was seeking any avenue it could find to express itself. Gideon told himself he would have to be prepared for a certain lack of enthusiastic cooperation from Harriet for the immediate future. The important thing was that she realized she had no option but to accept the engagement.

The door of the rectory opened before Gideon and Harriet reached the front step. Felicity, looking simultaneously anxious and relieved, had obviously been watching from the window.

"Harriet, we have been so worried. Are you all right?"

"I am quite all right," Harriet assured her. "How is Aunt Effie?"

"Preparing for a funeral in the parlor, I believe. Mrs. Stone collapsed after Mr. Owl came by late last night to tell us what had happened. I have been reviving her oft and on for hours. " Felicity scowled at Gideon. "Well, sir, what have you to say for yourself?"

Gideon smiled coldly at the challenge. "I fear I do not have the time or inclination to say anything much at this particular moment. I will, however, return at three to speak with your aunt. Please tell her to expect me." He turned to Harriet. "Farewell for now, my dear. I will see you this afternoon. Try not to work yourself up into a state. You will feel much better after you have had a hot bath."

Harriet sniffed disdainfully. "I have no intention of working myself up into a state, as you call it. But I do believe I will have that hot bath."

She marched into the house and closed the door quite firmly in his face. Gideon walked back down the steps to join Dobbs and Owl.

"Miss Pomeroy don't appear in the best of tempers this mornin'," Dobbs observed, "Expect she's in a real takin' after what she's been through, A nice young lady like that, Yer lucky she didn't up and have hysterics on you, sir."

"My fiancée is not the type to have hysterics. Do not concern yourself with Miss Pomeroy's mood, Dobbs. We have other, more important matters to discuss."

"Yes, sir. And what would those matters be, yer lordship?"

Gideon glanced thoughtfully back over his shoulder at the cliffs. "The possibility that we have not got all of our thieves."

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