Forsaking the Prize (The Wild Randalls 2)

“How can you be so sure?”

“I am sure of it.” Leopold picked up his paper. “Oh, and by the way, Lady Venables is leaving us today. Despite her promises to Mercy, she must have had the same need to get away from the wedding plans as you.”

“What?” Devil take it! He hadn’t meant to scare her away. “Why? What did you say to her?”

Leopold shook out the paper. “I said nothing. She had a letter just now, she said, and is returning to Walden Hall immediately.”

Damn it. Leopold might not be worried about the situation, but Tobias was. Letter or not, he was likely to blame for Blythe’s hasty decision to leave Romsey Abbey. “What was the letter about?”

Leopold’s shoulders lifted as he shrugged. “I have no idea. Lady Venables does not share the contents of her correspondence with me. She said she had to go and rushed out. She may have told Mercy.”

Damn, Tobias hoped Blythe did not confide the details of that kiss to Mercy. Mercy would inform Leopold and then Tobias’ life expectancy would take a downward turn again. He should be used to that feeling, but after weeks at home, he’d become somewhat optimistic about his future. He was now certain he had a life worth hanging onto.

He shoved his book under the cushion of the nearest chair and strode out into the entrance hall. Voices carried to him from the front stairs and he wrenched the door open just as an enclosed carriage drew to a halt.

Blythe embraced her sister without a word and then climbed inside.

Mercy leaned close to the carriage window to speak, but Tobias still heard. “Blythe, it may not be as bad as you fear. I’ll make him apologize if necessary.”

Damn and blast, he had driven her away.

“No, it will be worse. Walden Hall,” Blythe called to the driver. The carriage moved off and withi

n moments Blythe was gone without a backward glance.

Mercy trudged up the stairs, her brows drawn together. “Foolishness,” she muttered. When she saw him, her frown grew.

Tobias swallowed nervously. Maybe he could smooth the situation over before Leopold ever learned of his indiscretion and changed his mind about letting him live at Harrowdale. “Is there a problem?”

“Yes, but it is nothing any of us can help with.” She smiled. “Were you looking for me?”

Blythe hadn’t told her.

“Ah, yes,” Tobias stuttered as he scrambled for something to account for his presence on the front steps. He’d come to speak with Blythe and reassure her that he wouldn’t impose on her, but he’d been too late to prevent her leaving. “I was curious about supper tonight. What time are we dining?”

“Eight, as always. Why?”

Eight would give him ample time to fix things with Blythe without Leopold being any the wiser. “Wonderful. I, ah, thought I might take a walk in the woods. Stretch my legs, that sort of thing.”

Mercy tilted her head to the side. “I had a feeling that you were still uneasy about living here. Are we simply boring you instead, Tobias?”

He laughed. Tobias did like her direct approach. “Having the freedom to come and go appeals to me. I am not a man to sit still for long. I need to expend some energy in the outdoors.” He leaned toward her. “And besides, Leopold may have a heart seizure if he catches me scaling the walls of the abbey again so I had better do something else instead. Walking the estate seemed an appropriately harmless exercise.”

“He’s not alone in being terrified of your fearlessness,” Mercy grumbled. “It is a dangerous thing you do even if you say it is fun.”

“I wouldn’t climb if I had any doubts I could get back down safely again.”

Mercy poked her fingertip into his chest. “I will hold you to that, Tobias Randall. Where are you going to be strolling to? Leopold will want to know.”

Tobias ducked back out of her reach and waved his arm in the direction of Harrowdale. “That way I think.”

“To your former home?”

He nodded again. That wasn’t really where he was going to go right now and he hoped she didn’t suggest Leopold join him.

Thankfully, she only patted his arm. “Enjoy your walk. Don’t be too late to return or Leopold will worry unnecessarily.”

Mercy stepped back into the abbey and, after a long, assessing stare from Wilcox, the main door closed. Again, the butler’s behavior gave Tobias a bad feeling. For a moment he was tempted not to go at all. However, he could not leave things as they were with Blythe and be easy. Tobias rocked on the spot, letting the sun warm his face, and then set out in the direction of his former home.