Page 60 of Needs Must
If they somehow also managed to prove that Ian had killed her husband, then she would be much obliged to Cal and would not repay him by having her sullied reputation bring disgrace upon his noble family name. People were quick to judge, to reach erroneous conclusions based on the flimsiest of evidence, and she was not prepared to tarnish the standing of a man whom she had come to hold in the highest possible regard.
Miriam planted her fists on her hips. ‘Even so.’
Donna sighed. ‘Very well,’ she said, giving way with good grace. ‘Have it your way.’
She made her way upstairs and found a row of gowns hanging neatly in her new bedchamber.
‘I had no idea you brought so many with us,’ she said, fingering the fine silks and satins with a smile and pang of guilty pleasure. ‘I said essentials only.’
‘These are essential, lamb. They show the world that you are a lady to be reckoned with. Now, which one would you like to wear? There’s a nip in the air.’
Donna selected damask muslin; a gown that she’d always liked but had had no use for in the Caribbean heat.
‘Good choice.’ Miriam nodded her approval, disappeared and returned almost immediately with a ewer of hot water.
‘Wash the dust off your hands, love, and I’ll do your hair for you.’
A short time later, Donna was impeccably turned out. In the unlikely event of running into the dowager countess, she need not feel embarrassed about her appearance, she thought with a flash of defiance.
Willow, having recovered his energy, leapt around them as they made the short walk to the gatehouse. Donna’s heart momentarily stalled when Cal opened the door before they could reach it. He filled the aperture with a presence that made her swallow with appreciation and sent her mind on the type of detour it had no business following. He gave a slow, approving nod at her attire and Donna basked in the warmth of his appreciation.
‘Good morning, ladies. I gather you have not been idle this morning and are already settling into your new abode.’
‘Miriam has worked wonders,’ Donna replied, suddenly shy and unable to meet his gaze. It was as though that kiss had formed a barrier between them – which perhaps was just as well. She absolutely did not need a man in her life, she reminded herself, and would be well advised to concentrate her thoughts on the forthcoming confrontation with Aykroyd rather than permitting her mind to take inappropriate detours.
‘I have no doubt.’ He stepped aside. ‘Come along in.’ Willow barked and preceded them into the sitting room, wagging his tail and breaking the tension with his antics. ‘Aykroyd will be here directly.’
No sooner had Cal made that announcement than the sound of approaching voices reached their ears. Donna tensed as she took a chair. Miriam squeezed her hand and faded into the background. She would not, Donna knew, leave the room. Instead she would listen keenly to whatever was said and make her objections heard, earl or no earl, if she felt that any decisions that were taken would needlessly endanger Donna.
‘Your visitor, my lord,’ Mr Hardy said, opening the door and ushering Aykroyd through it. He was dressed in his Sunday best but looked shabby against Cal and Mr Hardy. His eyes widened when he observed Donna, although he could not have been surprised to see her there.
‘Allow me to introduce the Earl of Arndale,’ Mr Hardy told him. ‘Be sure to mind your manners.’
Aykroyd removed his hat and made a sweeping bow, but his gaze lingered on Donna. ‘It’s a pleasure to see you again, Mrs Harte,’ he said.
‘I wish I could say that the feeling was mutual,’ she replied archly.
Aykroyd looked awkward, clearly unsure if he should take a seat or wait to be invited. Cal took his time seating himself in the chair directly across from Donna, then allowed a significant pause before indicating the one that had been placed some distance back between them. Seemingly undaunted, Aykroyd lowered himself into it. Mr Hardy, Donna noticed, had taken a position at the back of the room and stood beside Miriam; two guardians protecting their respective employer’s interests.
‘Let’s not beat about the bush,’ Cal said in a superior tone that Donna had never heard him use before. ‘We are aware that you have been sent here by Ian Harte to procure letters that are in Mrs Harte’s possession. And perhaps to abduct Mrs Harte herself.’ Cal leaned back in his chair and fixed Aykroyd with a quelling look. ‘We would like to know why you have not done either of those things.’
Aykroyd looked startled and momentarily lost of words.
‘Speak up, man!’ Mr Hardy snapped. ‘We don’t have all day.’
‘Well, the thing is …’ Aykroyd rubbed the side of his hand across his lips and glanced at Donna, clearly unable to decide how much of the truth to admit to without painting himself in a bad light. Donna decided to give him a push.
‘You deliberately let me see you but did not approach me,’ she said. ‘Why?’
She ignored Cal when he scowled at her. He had asked her to leave the talking to him, but she had not actually agreed to take a back seat and had no plan to do so. He had arrogantly assumed that she would, simply because he was accustomed to his orders being obeyed. Unfortunately for him, Donna had had quite enough of being controlled by men and was not in an obliging mood. This was her future, her livelihood, her reputation they were discussing. She didn’t completely trust a gentleman with whom she was barely acquainted to have her best interests at heart. A small voice at the back of her head wanted to ask why she had agreed to him putting himself to so much trouble on her behalf if that was the case, but she chose to ignore it and instead concentrated her attention upon Aykroyd.
‘I will explain everything,’ he said, appearing to have reached the only decision available to him insofar as he could never hope to carry out Ian’s wishes, not now that the earl had called him to account. ‘It’s very simple. Ian Harte commissioned me to track down Mrs Harte.’
‘Which you did, presumably by making enquiries at the docks,’ Cal said.
‘Precisely.’
Cal grunted. ‘And what did he require you to do once you’d found her?’
