Engaging the Enemy (The Wild Randalls 1)

She leaned into his touch and kissed his palm. “I will not sleep a wink while you are gone and will expect to see you first thing in the morning to prove you are safe.”

“As you wish, Your Grace.”

A door clicked closed.

Leopold sighed. “Now Wilcox knows for certain that we are involved.”

“I do not care, and you know it.”

Leopold sighed again, dug into his pocket, and held out his small pistol. “Keep this with you at all times. Fire only should it become absolutely necessary.” He moved toward the door. “Go about your day as usual, but stay within the abbey. We will all be watching over you and Edwin.”

When he hurried away, Mercy let her tears fall down her cheeks. Now she would worry about him the whole of the day, if he intended to keep a distance. She scrubbed at her cheeks and drew in a deep breath. She had to get through today, get through tonight, and then she would tie Leopold Randall to a chair if necessary and demand he fall in love with her before it was too late.

There simply was no other acceptable way to go on.

Chapter Twenty-One

Leopold finished stacking the table with firearms and looked at them grimly. To think his life had turned so far around that he might be required to defend the Duke of Romsey with his own life. The old bastard had known his character well when he’d sent him to Mercy’s bed. He’d never harm his own child and never turn his back if he were in danger. He was soft where family was concerned and the old bastard had counted on it.

He cursed under his breath and wiped at his stinging eyes. Weariness tugged at his senses but he couldn’t sleep. He had to finish this task, check on Wilcox minding Mercy, and then he could catch a few hours rest before night fell.

Methodically, he cleaned each weapon and readied them for firing, thinking about where he could place them around the abbey; several to the drawing room and library, one behind the potted plant on the staircase, another within the suit of armor at the top. All logical choices, all places a servant might stumble on and start asking questions. He’d have to get more creative than this.

He needed more men. He needed people he trusted at his side to guard Mercy and the boy. He wracked his brain for someone in the district with unquestioned loyalty to him and to Mercy. Eamon Murphy sprang to mind immediately. The man might be the biggest gossip known to mankind, but he was loyal and that made him perfect for Leopold’s needs. He jotted a quick note to him, summoning him to the abbey as quick as he could come, and stepped out into the hall to see it delivered. He did not want to draw the other servants’ attention to the arsenal of weapons he was preparing in case they tipped off the madman.

When the messenger had departed, Leopold locked the study door, and then crept down the hall to check on Mercy and Edwin. Wilcox nodded all was well inside and moved away. Their voices carried through the closed door of the playroom and he eased it open. Mercy and Edwin were romping on the floor again, absorbed in the toys around them. His heart tripped over at the happy pair they made. He wished he could join them and play with Edwin’s toy armies again. Leopold found Edwin’s delight fascinating to watch and very hard to stay away from.

He leaned closer to the gap to listen to them talk.

Edwin knocked his armies flying. “Where is Mr. Randall, Mama?”

A sad smile crossed Mercy’s face. “He had some business to take care of for the estate. I’m sure he will come and visit with you later.”

Edwin moved his toys around. “I like him,” he said suddenly.

Leopold closed his eyes.

“I am very sure he likes you too, Edwin,” Mercy said.

His heart couldn’t take much more of this.

“Can we go see him soon?” Edwin asked. “I want to show him my general.”

Leopold opened his eyes to see Mercy ruffle her son’s hair. “I’m sure he would enjoy that.”

More than she realized. His son made him so proud, not that he could safely acknowledge those feelings. He had to bury them deep before he blurted out the truth. He closed the door quietly and hurried away. He was here to do a job, not get too personally involved with Edwin. He had to maintain a distance to keep his sanity.

He had just finished hiding the last of the weapons about the abbey when Eamon arrived. The poor fellow looked so discomforted by being surrounded by the opulence of the entrance hall that Leopold ushered him quickly into the study, a simply decorated masculine room, and closed the door behind them.

Eamon’s shoulders eased. “You wanted to see me, Mr. Randall.”

“I did Eamon.” It was a huge risk bringing Eamon into his confidence like this since he tended toward gossip, but there simply was no help for it. “Have you noticed any strangers in the district?”

Eamon shook his head. “Just you and that valet of yours.”

“No peddlers that anyone mentioned gave them a bad feeling. No travelers lingering where they ought not to be? There is always someone on the road. It’s important.”

Eamon screwed his face up as he thought. “Now, there was someone who mentioned seeing a figure hugging the trees.” He held his finger up. “Someone over by your old families place. In the woods behind, if I remember correctly.”