He flipped the boy a coin and asked him to water the cob while he walked Miss Moorely to the house.
She could see from his behavior that he meant to try and make it up with her. Everything about him was presently solicitous. Politely he remarked, “Watch the bottom step … there …”
She noticed the crack in well-worn step and said, “What then? Should I hop over it?”
His eyes sparkled with amusement. “I only meant step light.”
She was already on solid ground, but she looked up at him and said, “La, would you not have caught me if the step broke and I was thrown into a fall?”
He bent closer to her ear and murmured, “I would have caught you and more, my beauty, do you doubt it?”
“As I don’t have your measure, yes, I suppose I do,” she countered and saw hi
s blue eyes alive with amusement.
“Ah, Serena, if only …”
“If only what?” she asked, surprised by the sudden sincerity of his tone.
“Nothing. I have been a beast.”
“Indeed, a horrible beast. You kissed me,” she said, shocked at herself. “You kissed me and then slapped me for kissing you back. That, my lord, is odious and ungentlemanly behavior.”
He threw back his head and laughed before he took her chin and gave it a squeeze. “You are so very right. I do beg your forgiveness.”
“Very well,” she said begrudgingly though secretly relieved to get things on a safer, more comfortable footing.
“I do want to speak to you about something that has me exceedingly worried,” he said, suddenly serious.
She stopped and turned fully toward him. “Of course,” she said, her brows drawing together.
“I know that you and my nevvy have been drawn into a situation that will lead you both into danger. I also know that this was not your fault, but I would like to keep both Freddy and you quite out of it.”
“What, my lord, do you mean?”
“You know precisely what I mean.” He frowned. “Apparently Tuthill and Lewis Tucker are friends, and I know a great deal.”
She sighed. “All we did was agree to put it about that we saw … witnessed—”
He cut her off sharply. “What in thunder were you thinking?”
“Well, I must say, this is awkward. It was most indiscreet of Jasper’s brother to go blabbering about—”
“That is neither here nor there,” he said, cutting her short. “Are you telling me that Tuthill has put you both not in an awkward position but in a highly dangerous one?”
Serena eyed him. He hadn’t known the entire story. She had obviously just made him aware of it. Well, that was neither here nor there. “We have merely agreed to say that we caught a glimpse of the villain’s profile while he was on horseback and that we might be able to identify him. We hope to draw him into the open.”
“Damnation, woman!” he said vehemently. “I do beg your pardon, but this scheme you have put together with the magistrate is unacceptable. The man is a murderer. You have put yourselves in his line of fire.”
Serena sighed. “Something must be done to draw him out. Or are you thinking we should allow the New Forest to be used as a den for thieves and cutthroats?”
“Of course I don’t think any such thing. However, nor do I think you and Freddy should be the ones to draw a cold-blooded killer out.” He shook his head. “To put a delicately nurtured female and a young cub in the blackguard’s way is not what I think will serve to do anything but cause harm.”
“I do not mean to put myself in his way … and I am sure Freddy does not either,” Serena offered calmly.
“But that is what you and Freddy have done—made yourselves targets for a villain.” He frowned at her. “Tell me, has Tuthill arranged for your safety? Of course not. I have seen no one lurking about, guarding you from afar either at Moorely or at our backs when we were out and about. It is why Jasper suggested I take a little-known road back to Moorely. I noticed the fork in the road and asked Newton about it, and he told me we could get through.”
“Oh,” she said, impressed. “Yes, well, there isn’t too much I can do about it at this stage of—”