Page 45 of The Wise Daughter
“Which is why I’ve asked Mr. Carver to make the list, but there is a person whose absence I would have thought you’d notice.”
He looked around again, though the room was now almost empty. “I have no idea who you could be referring to. Who was missing?”
“Your friend, Mr. Ruthers.”
Chapter 17
Aaron stared blankly at Nora. He wanted to honor her efforts to discover the thieves, but they had already discussed this. He could never believe Ruthers would steal from him. Ruthers was his trusted friend.
“The fleeing man had a similar height and build. Aaron, you know Ruthers was involved when Mr. Rowe was falsely accused.”
He didn’t want to ignore such facts or argue with her, so he changed the subject. “Let us wait to talk until we are outside. We’re still riding today, are we not?”
“Yes, but I’ll need a moment to ready myself.”
After she rushed off, Carver returned with the list of servants who had not attended Nora’s spontaneous meeting.
“Here is the list, Your Grace. I hope this is what you wanted.” Carver arched a brow, holding the paper by the tips of his fingers as if he could hardly tolerate touching it.
Aaron caught every layer of disapproval beneath his steward’s words as he took the list and neatly folded it. He made sure to meet Carver’s eye. “Yes, Carver. This is exactly what I wanted.”
Carver’s barely contained frown made it clear he had not missed Aaron’s meaning.
Aaron wanted a wife who was involved in the affairs of the castle, who cared about things like whether his servants felt appreciated. He wanted a wife who was not afraid to take action and do what she thought was best, even if it was inconvenient. A duchess who fell under everyone’s scrutiny would need such confidence in herself. Nora possessed confidence in abundance.
When Carver stomped off, Aaron reviewed the names on the list. In Carver’s neat, precise hand, six names were written as well as where in the castle they worked. Sure enough, Ruthers’s name was on the list.
Blast.
It doesn’t mean anything.There was another explanation. Ruthers had nothing to do with the thieving.Nora does not know him as I do,which was not her fault, but even Aaron could not deny the odds were stacking up against his friend.
Several minutes later, Nora descended the staircase in one of his mother’s old riding habits. It was strange seeing those clothes on Nora whose grace and beauty brought a new life to them, but remembering his mother sent a pressure to his chest he could never quite be rid of.
Nora didn’t seem to notice as she took his arm. “This is the way to the stables, is it not?” She pointed toward the corridor that would take them out to the back of the castle, the fastest way there.
“You’ve learned your way quickly, my darling.”
Her eyes darted to his, then immediately away, making him feel as if he had made a mistake.
“It’s too early for endearments, isn’t it?”
She pressed her lips together before answering. “There’s nothing wrong withdarling, Aaron, but it doesn’t feel like me.”
He mustered a smile and tried not to feel discouraged. “Well, I give you my hearty consent to call meyour dukeif you wish.” He had liked it the moment it left her lips. “And I’ll keep searching for the right endearment for you.” He bumped her shoulder with his and was rewarded with her lovely smile. He cleared his throat, knowing whathe had to say next would likely remove that smile. “Nora, I am quite certain Ruthers is not our thief.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because he is my friend, and I have good reason to trust him. Can we not leave it at that?” He hoped she would not press him for details.
Instead, she frowned.
“Nora, not every servant can come at a moment’s notice. There is work to be done. It might not have made sense for him to leave his post. Perhaps he could not have done so responsibly. He might have been in the fields when word of your summons reached him. He might not have had time to venture all the way to the castle.”
Nora did not look satisfied with any of those possibilities. “Then we shall ask him about it when we reach the stables.”
“And settle the matter,” he added with his own dose of finality.
“I hope so.”
