Page 40 of The Wise Daughter

Nora walked to the stables as quickly as she could.

Time was slipping away, time to think, time to solve, time to choose.

Though nothing had been reported stolen the past few days, she caught herself looking over her shoulder while walking down corridors and listening a moment before entering any rooms. Who had started that fire?

It was a question frequently on her mind, but still, she found herself worrying over Lady Ellen, who was tall and pretty and probably looked more the part of a duchess than she did.

Oh, confound it! Nora didn’t have time to waste on silly jealousy, but mostly, she didn’t have any time at all. How long until the thieves finally cornered her? How long until they hurt Aaron?

She shuddered, unwilling to think any further along that line. All she knew was that she had to do more. Quietly observing was no longer enough. It was time to make her own strike. If only she knew how.

Ruthers. Bilford. Carver.

Their names rolled through her thoughts as she sifted through their possible motives for stealing from Aaron.

Even Chuff was under her suspicion, though after careful observation, she didn’t think he had any part in the thieving.

Ruthers, however, was hiding something. That much was obvious, and though Aaron claimed to trust him, she could clearly see that something had changed in the last while.

A new tension existed between them. Lord Bilford had the most obvious reasons for wanting to stop Aaron from marrying Nora, and Carver, with no obvious motivation other than money, merely had circumstances stacked against him.

Was it possible all these men were allied in their thefts?

Or was there someone else entirely slipping beneath her notice?

I will solve this mystery, so help me!

Even with the details scrambling through her mind, she inevitably turned to one thought that kept repeating itself whether she wanted it to or not.

I kissed Aaron.

That kiss finally made her engagement real. With that kiss, she was committed. Without it, she wouldn’t have been able to talk to Lady Ellen with such surety. Without those moments of finally feeling like Aaron was meant for her, she might not have fumed about there being a Lady Ellen at all.

That kiss marked the beginning of losing her heart to Aaron. Though, if she were being honest with herself, he had stolen pieces of it ever since meeting him on the riverbank.

She mindlessly reached to twist the signet ring around her thumb only to remember nothing was there.

Since placing it with her hairpins the other day, she hadn’t been able to find it again, though she had searched her entire room for it.

What would Aaron say when she told him it was missing?

She didn’t think she could face his disappointment until she shared her troubles with Locket.

Outside, the morning air wiggled its way through her shawl, but she ignored the chill and pressed her way to the stables.

The gardens and curves of the path were now entirely familiar.

Just outside the slightly open doors to the stables, she heard two men exchanging quick words, their voices tense.

Nora knew better than to listen in on others’ conversations, but she also knew better than to ignore such an opportunity.

She drew back and held as still as stone.

“Ruthers, I’ve had enough of this nonsense.” Mr. Carver’s voice was easy to recognize, though he assumed an air of authority she never heard him use around Aaron. “I don’t want to hear any more of it.”

“Nonsense? It’s the truth. The foal was delivered right here mere days ago.”

“Did you deliver it?”

“I believe the mother did that part on her own. I only helped catch the creature.”

Nora covered a snicker.

“You have no clear evidence beside your word–”

“And John’s and Bodin’s. They were both here when the foal was born. And there’s the recovering mare–”

“As I was saying, it is your word against Mr. Gaines's. I see no point in wasting time by disrupting his work or his herd.”

“His herd of cows? Since when did cows give birth to foals?”

Again, Nora snickered.

“The foal will stay where it currently is. I have authority in these matters. Every time we argue with Mr. Gaines, it costs him work, and it wastes my time. I have better things to do than track livestock. The duke is not lacking horses, so this matter is irrelevant. We shall leave it as settled.”

Ruthers sounded as if he spoke through clenched teeth. “The duke will hear about this.”

“He certainly will.”

Several seconds of silence passed. Nora pressed against the wall of the stables, wondering whether to flee before anyone saw her, when Mr. Carver stepped into the sunlight. She held very still, but it was useless. His eyes immediately landed on her.

With her heart in a gallop, Nora lifted the end of her shawl and pretended to be unraveling a tangle of fringes.

“Oh, good morning Mr. Carver.”

“Miss Lacy? What are you doing out here? You don’t appear to be dressed for riding.”

She dropped the end of her shawl when his eyes narrowed. “I’m not planning on riding.” She kept her voice light. “I only had the notion to visit my horse today.”

Mr. Carver looked like he was sifting through a stash of possible criticisms, but after a few breaths, he nodded, and his features softened into something almost pitying.

“Miss Lacy, I’m actually pleased to catch you like this. I’ve been hoping for an opportunity to speak with you. You see, I owe you an apology, and with the castle in such upheaval these days, there never seems to be a good moment to offer it.”

“Oh.” Nora tried to clear her thoughts and receive this unexpected olive leaf. “Thank you, Mr. Carver, but there is no need.”

“Of course, there is. It’s no secret I’ve been less than welcoming to you and your father. Please, don’t pretend you haven’t noticed. I see how unhelpful that was, not to mention meddlesome. So I ask you to forgive me.”

“Most willingly.” Nora had to instruct her lips to smile before they obeyed. Humiliation for having been caught listening still burned in her skin. After a quick curtsey, she stepped to the side. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

Mr. Carver, however, blocked her way. “Thank you, Miss Lacy. Your generosity has lifted a burden from my shoulders. I’ve been trying to spare the duke from as much pain and heartache as I can while he hides his grief over his father.

I can’t fault him for that, but these irrational decisions of his will eventually catch up with him.

I’ve realized I must let the duke make his own mistakes.

” Mr. Carver let the word linger between them.

Mistakes.

Me. He is talking about me.

His pointed look told her she did not misunderstand him.

“I can’t blame you, Miss Lacy, for having an interest in his money when he is marrying you for the exact same reason.”

Her insides jolted. She didn’t have to ask to understand what he meant. Aaron could only have full access to his inheritance once he reached the age of thirty or married. It wasn’t new information, but it was a cold reminder of why he had proposed to her to begin with.

“I heard him speaking of his inheritance just the other day. Forgive me if I have upset you, Miss Lacy. I assumed you knew.” His face was nothing but satisfaction.

She straightened her spine. “I did.” At least she had the satisfaction of being able to truthfully answer.

“Good. Since we understand one another, I hope you will come to me with your concerns.”

“My concerns?” Since when did Mr. Carver understand her at all?

“No doubt you are frightened by the recent fire.” He glanced over his shoulder toward the castle. “If you discover any information about who the culprits are, promise you will come to me at once.”

“Certainly.” Though the moment the word left her mouth, she knew she had perjured herself. She would never turn to Mr. Carver with her concerns.

“I can at least offer you this one comfort, Miss Lacy. I will assist you and your father when the duke realizes his mistake.” He gave a low bow and headed toward the castle.

Nora stepped back, the air in her lungs gone.

The threat of tears stung her eyes, forcing her to blink several times to keep them back.

She leaned against the wall of the stables, pressing her palms against the wood and allowing her fingers to slide along the grains.

A sliver of wood caught in her finger, but the sharpness gave her something to focus on beside her staggering thoughts.

How many times had Aaron reassured her that the provision regarding his inheritance was nothing?

He was marrying her because he cared. She was convinced of that, but once they were married and Aaron had control over his inheritance, what then?

Would he grow bored with Nora, or worse disappointed?

What if she could not be the duchess he wanted her to be?

Would he wake up one day feeling like their marriage was a mistake?

Mr. Carver seemed confident he would. He had known Aaron much longer than she had.

But a marriage settlement had been drawn. Their union was guaranteed unless she broke it off. Even if money had shoved them into an engagement, it wasn’t important to either of them anymore.

Or was she merely trying to convince herself?

She closed her eyes and lifted her fingers to her lips, remembering the kiss Aaron had left there. She could still feel his lips urging her to believe she mattered to him, that he cared, that she was a worthy bride, but Mr. Carver’s words slithered under and around her hopes, refusing to come out.

After a deep breath, she went inside, finding the stables empty of anyone but the horses. In the back, Locket was tucked away in her stall, eating oats.

“My dear, Locket, how healthy you look this morning. No doubt, the duke is spoiling you.”

Locket swished her tail.