Page 18 of The Gift of Patience
“I would prefer if one of us were to accompany you until this situation is resolved,” Colonel Renforth said.
“I thought it was resolved.” She feigned innocence with drawn brows. Would they just tell her what was going on?
“We hope that is the case, but until we are certain, it is best to be safe.”
“Oh, of course.” Drat. Now she would be a prisoner again herself. “Did the man not give you any clues what he was about?”
She could see Renforth exchange glances with Major Stuart. He was not very talkative, unfortunately.
“If you need a female to have a go at him, I am told I can be very persuasive.” She spoke light-heartedly, but the idea was a good one. Unfortunately, that caused all of them to laugh as though she’d uttered the wittiest witticism ever spoken.Her cheeks threatened to blush, but with anger more than embarrassment.
“What is so amusing?” Westwood asked as he entered the room.
“Miss Whitford has been giving us advice.”
Dominic raised his brows at her with curiosity.
She waved her hand as though it did not bear repeating.
“Did I see you out with Xander this morning?” he asked.
“Miss Whitford decided it was safe to take a walk.” Major Stuart would tattle.
“I was not alone. I took Peter with me. We only walked down the path and back. Not even to the bridge.”
“Did you see anything new?”
“As a matter of fact, I had not noticed the boards on the large chestnut tree. Was that a favourite place for you as a youth?”
“Indeed, it was,” Westwood said fondly, then frowned. “Though I cannot think it would be safe to climb those steps any longer. They are quite old.”
“I found them to be sturdy enough for me.”
“You climbed the tree?” Baines asked with disbelief.
“Of course she did,” Stuart drawled.
“I do not see what the harm is. I checked my weight on it before I climbed. I never realized how high that area was above the estate. The view from there was quite spectacular. If only I’d had a looking glass, there is no telling what I might’ve seen. As it was, I had an excellent view of the river, the docks, and even the ball on the observatory.”
Renforth stood suddenly. “I beg your pardon, but Stuart, I think you’d best take me there now.”
“Yes, sir.” He stood and tossed his napkin on the table. Surprisingly, the others stood and excused themselves to go along.
“You certainly know how to clear a room,” Dominic mused.
“What did I say?”
“I believe it is more what you saw that caused their precipitous exit.”
She looked at him in confusion.
“None of us thought to climb the tree and look,” he explained.
“So you think the man was watching something from there?”
“Very likely. Now we must discover what he was looking at.”
They all tookturns climbing up to the vantage point in the tree, and Ashley could only curse himself for not thinking to do so himself—or remembering the view. It had changed over the years, especially with the expansion of the docks to accommodate all of the increased traffic in the Thames.
