Page 17 of Tempting a Lonely Lord
William exchanged a smile with Bella.
“Thank you for your understanding, Michael, but I hope to remedy the situation soon,” he said, patting his brother on the shoulder.
Michael nodded, beaming. He turned to gaze up at the horse, perhaps igniting a shared dream between the two of them. “Maybe one day I’ll even ride Winterborne.”
The pounding of horse’s hooves approached, and a rider swiftly dismounted. “My lord, an urgent message arrived at the manor house for you,” the rider said, pulling a sealed missive from his saddlebag.
“Thank you, Franklin,” William said, accepting the document and breaking the seal. After taking a moment to peruse it, he looked at Bella and Michael. “Michael, we need to get back to the house, immediately.”
The boy nodded. Then he turned and waved at the horse. “Winterborne, I will see you tomorrow.” The horse lowered his head, and Michael gave his nose a gentle pat.
“If it’s all right with you, William, I would be happy to bring Michael home in a couple of hours,” Bella said. “I thought he might like to meet Flo, the barn cat. She’s almost ready tohave kittens, and we are trying to get her comfortable. Michael might have a few good ideas for us.” She smiled.
Michael turned to his brother, his eyes hopeful. “I’d very much like to see Flo if you will permit it.”
“Are you certain you don’t mind bringing him home?” William asked Bella.
“I would be happy to. I’ll return him in a couple of hours.”
William knelt and gently squeezed his brother’s shoulder. “I want you to mind Bella, and don’t go wandering off anywhere.” He turned to her. “He loves animals, and they seem to respond favorably.” Looking down at Michael, he said again, “Listen to Lady Bella, Michael.”
“I pwomise, William,” the little boy said.
“Thank you, Bella,” William said with a smile.
Bella felt another rush of heat rising to her cheeks.Lord, I need to stop blushing every time he’s near.She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, hoping he hadn’t noticed.
Although she’d only met them a few days ago, she adored Michael’s sweet innocence and the way his curiosity lit up the world around him. And as for William… Well, he had a way of looking at her that made her pulse quicken and her thoughts scatter. But surely that was nothing more than… what, admiration? A bit of harmless infatuation?
She shook the thought away. Yet as she glanced in the direction that William had gone, a wistful thought tugged at her heart.
I wish I could have had more time with him.
~*~
William raced across the sprawling grounds, the manor house looming larger with each pounding step. His heartthundered in sync with the urgency of the message Franklin had handed him—a mystery demanding swift unraveling.
Time was critical. The bright afternoon sunlight pouring through the high windows of the manor would soon begin its descent, and its glow was essential for illuminating the fine details of his tools and the subtle patterns hidden within the cryptic message.
Bursting through the front door, he strode directly to his study. Unlocking the cabinet with practiced efficiency, he retrieved his cipher tools and laid them out on the great oak desk. The cipher wheel, a marvel of interlocking discs, glinted faintly in the sunlight, its precise mechanisms promising to reveal the message’s secrets. Beside it lay his cipher grid, meticulously crafted to uncover order in chaos, and his well-worn codebook, its pages filled with substitutions, encryptions, and his annotations—hours of study bound in ink and paper.
Deciphering messages for the Crown wasn’t just a duty, it was a fascinating hunt for the truth. Each encrypted note was a battle of wits, a silent contest between himself and the unseen adversaries weaving their schemes in the shadows. Smugglers, spies, traitors—they all left trails in their intricate webs of deceit, and it was his task to dismantle them, one thread at a time.
Within the encoded message lay the answers—a plan to thwart, a danger to prevent—and the clock was ticking. Unfortunately, the missive’s arrival had been ill-timed, pulling William away from Bella. He had gone to the stables not just to see her—though he couldn’t deny how much he enjoyed her company—but also to uncover more about her uncle. Something about the man’s demise gnawed at him, a quiet but persistent unease.
When he’d met Bella’s uncle three days prior, the man had struck him as deeply morose, as though weighed down by some inner turmoil. Yet his mood had shifted abruptly, hismelancholy giving way to an unsettling anger when he found Bella and the other women laughing and enjoying themselves. That reaction had been both curious and disturbing. What could inspire such bitterness, especially directed at his niece?
William couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to the man’s hostility than mere disapproval of frivolity. And while his instincts urged him to tread carefully, his growing fondness for Bella—and his sense of duty to protect her—made it impossible to ignore.
A knock sounded at the door, followed by Harlow stepping into the study. “My lord,” he said, carrying a tray. “Anticipating the importance of the missive, I asked the cook to prepare a tray of sandwiches, cheese, and fruit for you.”
“Mrs. Bradberry did a wonderful job,” William said with a grateful smile. “As usual, you have anticipated my needs perfectly, Harlow.” He often became absorbed in the intricate patterns of ciphers, losing all sense of time—often even forgetting to eat—as he delved deeper into his work. “Thank you,” he said. “By the way, Michael should be returning in a few hours. Lady Bella will be accompanying him.” A hint of anticipation laced his words. He hoped he might see her again if he was finished with his work.
“I will be attuned to their arrival,” Harlow said. “Let me know if there’s anything else you require, my lord,” he added with a respectful nod, exiting the room.
Hours passed, marked only by the dimming light outside. At last, William had deciphered the note before him. As the final letters fell into place, an icy shiver coursed through him.
Pied Piper is near.
