Page 26 of The Wise Daughter

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 with darling, 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 me your duke if 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 what he 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.”

“As do I.”

“Then we are in agreement.”

Aaron chuckled. “Must you always have the final word?”

A playful half-smile lit her face. “Only when I am right.”

Life with Nora, he was certain, would never be dull. They walked together in silence until they were under a blue sky brushed with thin streaks of clouds. Aaron sensed something unspoken still weighing on her mind.

“What else is troubling you, my dar–” He cleared his throat. “My Nora?”

When she looked at him again, her eyes were flashing hurt. “Was the meeting with my father and Mr. Cornell everything you hoped it would be?”

What was that tone? What was that look? Wasn’t he doing the honorable thing by making their engagement official? It protected her as well as him.

“Yes. I’m very well satisfied.” He waited to see whether she would clarify what was so upsetting to her.

They weaved their way through the gardens toward the paddock. They were almost to the stables, and still Nora hadn’t said anything more on the subject.

“Nora. I wish I could guess at your thoughts, but in this instance, I don’t dare. Won’t you explain to me what you are unhappy about?”

She lifted a shoulder as if it were a small matter. “You and my father were discussing my future with a solicitor I’d never met before while I was left roaming the corridors.”

“Nora, you’ve placed your life in my hands. I take that responsibility very seriously. My only aim was to protect you. I was trying to be a gentleman.”

“I would like to know what that marriage settlement says. I have no dowry, nothing of any value, but you certainly do. Naturally, you need a marriage settlement to protect yourself as well.”

He didn’t know what to say to that. He followed her around the paddock where a stablehand was walking the mare with the bulging belly.

“Nora, can‘t a marriage settlement protect us both? We can bring the solicitor back if there is anything we need to amend. Because of the unusual nature of our engagement, I had to be very precise about what you and your father will receive if you ultimately refuse me.” He couldn’t entirely keep the bitterness out of those last words.

He hated acknowledging that she was still making up her mind about their engagement, or more precisely, about him, but it was the truth.

She baffled him by turning cherry-red and covering her face with her hand.

“What did I say, Nora?”

“Nothing. Only, I wish to be consulted when my future is at stake.”

Aaron ran his hand down his face. Why was this such a mess?

He didn’t think she had meant to convey the desperation in her words, just as he hadn’t meant the bitterness in his.

Of course, she would feel this way. She was always so composed and graceful, so strong, that he sometimes forgot how much the changes in her life must have hurt.

“I think I understand now, Nora. You’ve recently lost your home.

You were dragged here by your father. Our engagement was arranged with hardly any time to think about it.

Little wonder you feel robbed of choice, but I want you to understand, I have no notions of controlling your future. I leave it entirely in your hands.”

At first, she only stared at him. Then her eyes pinched shut as if she would cry. She covered her mouth, and perhaps inwardly, she did cry, but no tears fell. Instinct told him to hold perfectly still, to let her have this moment. Even the breezes hushed, and the leaves stopped rustling.

“Thank you, Aaron. That means a great deal to me.” She inhaled deeply. Her features smoothed, and the determination Aaron had come to expect from her returned. “Let us waste no more time. I’m ready for our ride. Thieves can’t hide forever.”

Yet again, he wondered why she was so intent on solving his thieving problems.

From the paddock, they soon reached the stables where Locket and Aaron’s horse were waiting for them. A stablehand Aaron recognized from the meeting rushed forward.

“Hello again, Hill.” Nora offered a smile. “I was expecting to see our friend, Mr. Ruthers. Is he here?”

Aaron had to admire her for remembering the stablehand’s name. He only remembered it after she used it, despite having met the man less than an hour ago.

“I’m sorry, Miss Lacy. Ruthers asked me to take care of things. I’m not sure where he is at the moment.”

“Was that before or after the meeting I called?”

Hill hesitated. “He asked me to take care of things not long before your summons came. He didn’t say much. Seemed to be in something of a hurry. I’ll be sure to tell him everything he missed.”

“Thank you, Hill.”

Aaron ignored the significant look Nora flashed his way.

He knew exactly what she was thinking. Hill and another stablehand whose name also escaped Aaron’s memory went to work preparing their horses.

Hill brought out a stepping block for Nora, but Aaron stepped forward, insisting on helping her into her saddle himself.

Before long, they were rambling along the trail leaving the castle and heading toward the main road.

“About here is where I saw a man leaving the castle.” Aaron pointed to the place where he had spotted him.

“Where were you when you saw him?”

“I was actually hiding over there.” He pointed to a cluster of trees and bushes.

He watched her gaze climb from the trees to his study’s window. Could she somehow detect the hidden footholds he had used to climb down that night?

“You just happened to be waiting behind the trees?”

He shrugged. “No one ever seems to see anything. So I took matters into my own hands. I guessed a thief might follow this path.”

“Why this path?”

“Because it runs mostly along the outskirts of the village to the main road. It seemed like the best route to make a quick escape.”

Nora nodded. Aaron liked the way her eyes grew keen, her pink lips pressing into a serious line, and he liked watching her ride. She was graceful and confident on Locket, and the exercise brought the loveliest flush to her cheeks.