Page 83 of The Lady Needs a Rogue
“The old man did not pose a threat. He seemed frightened. Perhaps even distraught.”
“He had good reason to be,” Mrs. Johnstone nodded. “I understand he spoke to ye.”
“He appeared to be out of his senses. His words were quite peculiar,” Macie said. “We understand that he might have been poisoned. That could explain his mental state.”
“That is possible. Or perhaps he was desperate because knew his time was short.” Mrs. Johnstone’s mouth went taut, and she seemed to hesitate. “Do ye have any idea what the man was searching for?”
Macie swallowed against a sudden tightness in her throat. Mrs. Johnstone’s tone bore a distinct urgency. Had something else happened? Something dreadful?
“I’ve no idea. He was rummaging through all sorts of books. There seemed to be no reason to it.”
“Until we determine what Professor Smythson was searching for, we won’t know the true nature of the threat,” Mrs. Johnstone said. “If thereissomething in the house that someone was willing to kill for, we cannot assume they will stop at the professor.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Willing to killfor.
Mrs. Johnstone’s grim warning unleashed a chill along the length of Macie’s spine. As she laced her fingers into a loose knot, Finn came to stand behind her chair. His touch upon her shoulders was firm, so gently reassuring.
“I am sorry to be the bearer of a distressing truth,” Mrs. Johnstone went on. “Rest assured we will take whatever precautions are needed to protect ye.”
The professor’s murmured word echoed in her memory.Murder. His voice had been weak. Yet filled with desperation.
“After I came upon the old man, he tried to warn me. At the time, I thought he was delirious. He told me to leave.” She pulled in a calming breath. “He said someone would come after me.”
“He may have wanted to protect ye,” Mrs. Johnstone said. “Well, then, it’s a very good thing I’m here.”
Macie pulled in a low breath, calming herself as Mrs. Johnstone’s words triggered a fresh warning. Before she could utter the question that sprang to mind, Mrs. Tuttle bustled in with a tea service on a silver tray.
“A good thing, eh?” the housekeeper scoffed, crinkling her nose as she placed a delicate cup before their guest and filled it with piping hot tea. “Are you thinking to bash the villain in the noggin with that enormous brolly of yours?”
“Thatisone of its uses,” Mrs. Johnstone said with an enigmatic smile.
“Mrs. Tuttle, please,” Macie implored her tart-tongued housekeeper to be civil, then turned back to Mrs. Johnstone. “You mentioned that Amelia asked you to come here. Precisely what do you have in mind?”
“Quite simply, I am here to assist in yer defense until the danger has passed.”
Macie’s attention wandered to the oversized parasol propped against the chair. She didn’t want to admit it, but she was inclined to agree with Mrs. Tuttle’s skepticism. “I’m sorry, but I don’t entirely understand.”
“Ye will. In time.” Mrs. Johnstone added a splash of milk to her tea. “First, ye need time to quiet yer thoughts after this morning’s unpleasant news.”
Mrs. Tuttle frowned. “If there’s a maniac running about the city with his eyes on our Macie, she needs to be heading home to the country, far from this place.”
“There is no maniac running about,” Macie said. “I have no intention of leaving London.”
“Your mum and your papa would think otherwise,” the housekeeper said. “They’d want you to come home.”
Macie gave her head a little shake. “I shall be cautious.”
Mrs. Tuttle frowned. “I’m not sure you know the meaning of the word.”
“I shall be exceedingly vigilant.” Macie flashed a little smile at the protective woman who’d helped bandage her scrapes and bruises when she was a girl in braids. “I give you my word. Now, will you stop your worrying?”
“I’m not sure I know how to do that.” Mrs. Tuttle folded her arms and regarded Finn for a long moment. “You will watch over her, won’t you?”
“I will protect her.” Finn’s amber-brown gaze locked with Macie’s, solemn and determined. “With every fiber of my being.”
*
