Page 29 of The Wise Daughter
“Eventually? Have you come here looking for me before?”
He was caught. “I’ve come here a few times hoping to see you. I was sure you would want to see that your horse is none the worse for carrying my weight.” He was pleased to see his jest earn a small smile.
“Yes, well, you were right about that. I’ve missed her.” Her expression took on a look of mild chastisement. “Though, I wish you would not come upon me unawares, Your Grace. This is the second time, you know.”
Why, he wondered, would she not use his given name? “Truthfully, this is not my preferred way of meeting either.” He would have much preferred she accept his invitations to dine with him and tour his estate.
Aaron silently cursed when she frowned and looked away. He searched his thoughts for something to fill the silence when a cheerful whistle rose from behind them. Aaron didn’t know whether to curse again or thank his good fortune. In the back of the stable, Ruthers stomped unceremoniously with two clanking pails in hand.
“Your Grace!” He stopped and hurriedly placed the pails near the stall of a glossy chestnut horse, pushing them further away with his feet. He then wiped his hands on his pants. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here this morning.” Turning to Nora, he dipped into a ridiculously low bow. “How may I be of service to you both?”
Aaron pulled him upright and gave him a friendly shove. “No need to demonstrate your acting abilities.” Turning to Nora, he explained, “Thomas Ruthers is my stablemaster and trusted friend. Ruthers, I’d like to introduce my intended, Miss Honora Lacy.”
“Very, very charmed.” Ruthers removed his cap and bowed again to Nora, then swatted Aaron in the side with it. “What’s this? A man gets engaged, and he’s too busy being the mysterious duke to tell his friend? I had to hear the news from one of the maids! I should wallop you for every day you’ve kept this hidden.” He looked like he was about to offer another playful blow, but when he looked again at Nora, staring with wide eyes, he straightened his back and cleared his throat. “What I mean is, ahem, congratulations.”
“Thank you. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Ruthers.” Nora’s face was difficult to read. The only thing Aaron could tell for certain was that she was maintaining her guard.
“Ah, you can drop the Mister. Ruthers will do just fine.”
“Ruthers, then.” Nora confirmed. “Do I detect a Birmingham accent?”
“Indeed! Are you familiar with the place?”
“My grandmother was from Birmingham. We visited her there often when I was younger.”
Ruthers jabbed his elbow into Aaron’s side, adding to the bruise that was already there. “Don’t let this lovely lady escape.” If Aaron didn’t trust Ruthers completely, he wouldn’t have liked the conspiratorial way he leaned close to Nora and rasped, “If he gives you any trouble or neglects to be a perfect gentleman, you bring him to me. I know how to handle ol’ Derricott. And if you find him erring on the side of being too gentlemanly, I’ll help him with that too, though I reckon all he would need is a little encouragement from you.”
“Oh.” Nora’s cheeks grew red enough to match the roses in the garden, making Aaron want to shove Ruthers into the empty horse stall behind him.
Before Ruthers could say anything else, Aaron settled for pushing him to the side. “All right. Enough of that. Now you’ve met, and you can carry on with your work. We don’t require any assistance.”
Ruthers held his hands up in a defenseless posture. “Easy, Derricott. I’m a sensitive man. I only want to be helpful, but I know when I’m not wanted.” He gave them another dramatic bow, reached for something near his pails by the hay, and left, finally leaving Aaron alone with Nora once again.
“I know he may not appear very genteel, but of all the people at Holmrook Castle, Ruthers is among the most trustworthy.”
Nora quirked a brow. “He certainly appears at ease with you, much more than your other servants.”
There was a question in her observation, but now was not the time to get lost in his history with Ruthers. “Yes, well, should any danger arise, you can absolutely turn to him for help, though I doubt we’ll have the last problem he insinuated.”
The flush in her cheeks deepened down to her neck. “Well, thank you for caring for Locket. She appears quite at ease here.”
Aaron risked a step closer. “I hope you will soon feel at ease here as well.”
The only answer she gave was a sad smile before rubbing her horse’s neck. Not the most encouraging reaction. Aaron took a turn rubbing the horse’s soft nose, and tried a different subject. “Why do you call her Locket?”
A real smile broke forth this time. What a difference it made, lighting up Nora’s entire countenance.
“Because she keeps all my secrets. Never once has she betrayed my trust.”
“Are you certain? Locket told me a great many things about you while she carried me.” It was another risk, but he was willing to guess she would rise to the jest.
Her blue eyes sparked. “You cannot fool me, Your Grace. Locket has more decorum than to speak so openly to a stranger.”
“I would never attempt to fool you, Nora. You underestimate the bond that occurred between Locket and me that night.” He rubbed Locket’s nose again and offered her an apple from a nearby feed pail. “She instinctively knew to trust me as I trusted her when she conveyed me back here. I told her a great many secrets as well.”
Nora paused, taking his bait. “Really? Like what?”
Aaron had said some stupid things that morning, but he knew an opportunity when it presented itself. “For one thing, I told Locket that I was eager to become better acquainted with you when you arrived at the castle.”
