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“I know the villagers in Shoring would adore it,” Belmont said, coming out from the backstage area. “There is a real push now to make the place into a popular spa town. As our reputation grows, the young ladies might find themselves meeting any number of grand personages in our social circle.”

“Well,” the viscount said, turning an approving gaze upon Merritt, “suddenly your choice makes a great deal of sense. “What do you say, my dear?” He nudged his wife. “We don’t want to disappoint Pearl. Merritt will see her straight, and with a man like Belmont taking an interest in the school, she’ll be safe as houses. ”

“Yes, of course,” the viscountess agreed. “If you are sure you won’t mind, Merritt?”

“We shall be happy to have her,” Merritt answered.

“That’s settled,” Belmont said with satisfaction. “Lovely to meet the pair of you, but I have estate business to attend to.” He bowed. “Lady Merritt, should you need anything, don’t hesitate to call on me.”

“That is a gracious offer, indeed, Your Grace, but I believe we shall be fine.”

The duke bent over her hand, and Merritt tensed as, unseen by the others, he looked up at her, all mischief and unspoken promise that they would continue where they had left off.

He strolled away then and mounted the stairs at a fast pace. She watched his lovely exit, admiring it, and him, even as she felt like she might have had a lucky escape.

*

For several days, Cart stayed away. He kept himself busy with ledgers and reports, and endless replays of that almost kiss. With the recollection of Lady Merritt’s raspy laugh and the image of her brilliant, beckoning eyes going dark and hooded with want.

Damn.

He’d never been so dazed by a woman or dazzled by her bright beauty and sharp wit. Damnation, but he’d been enjoying himself, allowing himself to slip back into the land of the living, out of the foggy doldrums where he’d been wallowing.

But then she’d gone and shown herself. Given him another glimpse into the depths of her.

She wanted to prepare those girls for what came after marriage, did she?

It raised the question—what had happened after hers?

Part of him had no wish to find out. To keep their interactions light and flirty.

Perhaps he just needed to kiss her and move on.

The other part knew better. And so he stayed away. Until, on the third morning, he awoke, aroused and hot, from a dream of her writhing beneath him.

Blast . He rolled out of bed and went to the window, trying to erase the image from his mind.

That was when he heard the dog barking. He frowned. Dawn was but a smudge on the horizon. He wasn’t sure even the kitchens would be up. Pulling on his breeches, boots, a loose shirt, and a long coat, he crept downstairs and out toward the stables.

The barns were locked up, the stable doors in the square closed tight.

The barking had stopped, but he knew which one to approach.

He could hear Daisy whining from behind it.

She was a hound bitch who had bonded with his elder brother’s favorite broodmare.

They were inseparable, and Daisy slept in with Elsa every night.

Right now she was scratching to be let out.

Cart opened the top of the stall first, and she greeted him with a whine, standing on her hind legs to scrabble at the half door.

He opened it, and she streaked out. Nose down, she circled, then huffed and followed a trail to the edge of the stable yard.

Cart followed and bent down to find her sniffing a couple of ends of cigarillos.

Instantly, he stood, casting about. All of his grooms and stable men knew better than to smoke near the barns and stables, or even the house.

It wasn’t allowed, not since his father had lost men and a favored mount in a barn fire.

There were designated spots where the servants were to smoke.

So—if not the servants, it must be an outsider. Had Allard sent someone out here, at last?

Daisy followed her nose to a corner of the main house. More partially smoked stubs had been left beneath a parlor window. The dog headed toward the trail that led to the coastal path, but she came back, tail wagging, before she made it far.

Cart took that to mean whoever had been snooping about was no longer nearby. He decided to dress and go into the village, and do a little snooping of his own.

As it was so early, he went to the Peacock’s Tail first. The dining room of the tavern was the most likely spot to find a bit of gossip to go with his breakfast. He was surprised to find Colonel Gillows there before him. “Whiskers! What are you doing up and about so early?”

His godfather grunted. “I am old. I am always up early—and I come for a plateful of Mrs. Langdon’s hash at least once a week.” The old man eyed Cart as he sopped his plate with a hunk of fresh bread. “What are you up to, my boy?”

“I came for breakfast and small talk,” Cart said, signaling a serving girl. He looked around. “As have a few others, I see. Is something noteworthy going on in Shoring? Anyone new about?”

“Aside from your new neighbor and her gaggle of young girls?”

“Gaggle?”

“Word is that Lady Merritt has her sister and a packet of other young beauties at Cliffstone.”

“I saw one extra chit,” Cart admitted. “Wilmer’s daughter. Met him there when I stopped in to welcome the lady to the neighborhood.”

Whiskers gave a cackle. “Heard you were taking an interest there. Odds are even as to whether it’s down to the widow or one of her goslings.”

“Two extra girls are hardly a gaggle.”

“Your information is out of date. There are at least three more now,” the colonel said as the girl placed a full plate in front of Cart.

“Not like you to be a slow top, boy. You’d best catch up.

Word is you might have a rival. Chesil means to recruit the rich widow to help with his plans for the village, but whispers say he also means to take her to wife. ”

“As if he’d have a chance,” Cart scoffed, eating quickly. Damn if the hash wasn’t good.

“You never know, where women are concerned.”

He didn’t like the darkness that twisted in his chest at the thought, so Cart brushed it away.

“It’s not women I meant to inquire about, in any case.

” He lowered his voice. “I’ve seen signs of a lurker at Breakwater.

Is there any word of a strange man in the village?

A quiet bloke, most likely? One who keeps to himself? ”

The colonel’s gaze sharpened. “Trouble follow you from Town, boy?”

“Perhaps.”

Whiskers considered. “Hard to tell, with all of Chesil’s workmen underfoot. You’d best keep a sharp eye out.”

“I intend to.” Cart had just inhaled his last rasher of bacon when someone slapped him on the back. Choking, he glared as Chesil took the next seat.

“Belmont, there you are. I’ve been hoping to see you. Both of you, of course,” he said heartily. “I wanted to personally invite you to our groundbreaking ceremony tomorrow.”

“Breaking ground on what?” Whiskers demanded.

“Shoring’s new assembly rooms,” Chesil said proudly.

“It’s to be just at the end of the high street, and won’t it be grand?

We’ll have a ballroom, of course, but also rooms to let for card parties and other gatherings, and even gardens, eventually.

We are celebrating the start with an outdoor party.

Speeches, food, music, that sort of thing.

” He looked meaningfully at Cart. “I have investors attending, and it would mean a great deal to have you there. You’ll come, won’t you? ”

Cart imagined Lady Merritt at such a gathering, all charm and wit, fascinating everyone with her bright ways.

“Of course,” he told Chesil. “But for now, I have to get back to Breakwater. I’ve a land agent coming to discuss repairs to some of the estates.

” Standing, he gripped the colonel’s shoulder.

“You’ll consider the matter we discussed? ”

“I shall get back to you, should I learn anything,” the old man promised.

Bidding them goodbye, Cart set out along the coastal road and took the first opportunity to descend to the shore.

He could walk to Cliffstone from here and climb up from below.

He wanted to warn Linwood and Lady Merritt about a possible watcher, but he didn’t wish to be seen visiting.

He also wanted, quite fiercely, to finish the job and kiss Merritt thoroughly, but her safety must come first.

He suspected the widow had seen trouble enough in her life, and he’d be damned before he let Allard bring her any more.