will put an undue strain upon you, then I think it best I remove forthwith to the local inn.’
For answer he slammed the door closed, and went stalking over to the decanters. Katherine heard the chink of glass, and could almost feel those brown orbs firing angry darts into the back of her head.
Swiftly suppressing a smile, she concentrated for a moment on threading her needle. ‘I can appreciate that we all give vent to our emotions from time to time. And I am no exception.’
‘Ha! An understatement if ever there was one!’
She ignored the muttered interruption. ‘Even so, unlike you, I do attempt to maintain some control, whereas the rein you hold over your temper possesses no more strength than this sewing yarn.’
A sigh of pure exasperation floated across to the hearth. ‘If my outburst … my very understandable outburst, I might add, offended your delicate sensibilities, then you must appreciate that I have not spent the past few years making polite conversation in fashionable drawing-rooms.’
‘That is patently obvious,’ she swiftly returned, attaining a deal of wicked satisfaction in pointing this out. ‘If, however, you have any desire to be included in polite society, you must swiftly acquire at least a few basic manners. Which reminds me, Mrs Cranford hasn’t received a reply yet to the invitation she sent you, and particularly requested me to remind you of the party being held at her house next week.’
The hand raising the glass to Daniel’s lips checked for a moment. ‘So you did go over to your grandfather’s old house.’
‘Yes,’ she admitted. ‘I didn’t intend to walk so far. I had hoped to be back before you returned.’ Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him lower his tall frame into a nearby chair. His expression betrayed clearly enough that he remained in no good humour, but at least he was no longer looking as black as thunder. ‘Did you enjoy your visit to your uncle?’
The heavy frown descended once more. ‘No, damn it, I did not! My uncle’s as deaf as a post. And I cannot abide insipid female conversation.’ He paused to sample the contents of his glass. Which evidently had a soothing effect on his temper, for he sounded far more composed as he added, ‘I quite enjoyed the time I spent with the boy, though.’
Katherine raised her head at this. ‘Your late cousin’s son?’ Receiving only a nod in response she added, ‘Janet seems to think he’s something of a sickly child.’
‘Rubbish! Julia fusses too much.’ Disapproval was clearly back in his voice. ‘There’s nothing wrong with little Geoffrey. He’s a stout little fellow who’ll no doubt live to a ripe old age … At least, I sincerely hope he does. I have no desire to step into his shoes.’
Katherine did not doubt the truth of this. She knew Daniel well enough to be sure that possessing a title would mean little to him. She also realised now that whatever feelings he still retained for Julia Ross love did not number among them, and could not help feeling that it might have been better, at least for her sake, if it had, for he couldn’t have made it clearer by his attitude over her recent absence that he was not indifferent to her.
‘Well, if it’s any consolation,’ she remarked, swiftly channelling her thoughts in a new direction, ‘I came away from my visit with mixed feelings too. I thought Mrs Cranford most charming. She insisted I return here in their carriage, and she also invited me to the party next week.’ She frowned slightly. ‘I’m not too sure about her husband, though. I found his regard faintly unnerving.’
Daniel studied her for a moment over the rim of his glass. ‘In what way?’
‘Oh, I don’t know. He just kept staring at me. It made me feel a little uncomfortable,’ she admitted, just as the door opened, and Janet entered to inform them that a Mr Ashcroft had arrived and was wishful to see them.
‘Ashcroft …?’ Daniel’s brows snapped together again. ‘Never heard of the fellow! Probably here trying to sell me something. Tell him to take himself off!’
‘No, wait!’ Katherine, placing her sewing to one side, didn’t hesitate to countermand the order. ‘If it’s the person I think it is, I most certainly wish to see him. Ask him to come in, Janet.’
When Daniel watched the slight, middle-aged man, who bore all the appearance of a downtrodden and overworked lawyer’s clerk, enter a few moments later, he thought his suspicions were correct, until Katherine darted forward to clasp the man’s bony fingers.
‘Oh, it is you, Mr Ashcroft! How happy I am to see that you arrived back safely.’
‘And I you, Miss O’Malley,’ he assured her, before darting a wary glance at the tall figure who now stood staring frowningly down at him from a position in front of the hearth.
‘Are you acquainted with Major Ross, sir?’ Katherine enquired, drawing the diffident, middle-aged man forward.
‘No, I’ve not had the pleasure,’ he admitted, extending a nervous hand in the direction of the tall man who continued to regard him with faintly hostile eyes. ‘But I’ve heard a great deal about you, sir, from Sir Giles.’
‘Ha! Have you, by gad!’
Mr Ashcroft not surprisingly appeared faintly unnerved by the gruff response, and so Katherine hurriedly intervened. ‘Do not pay Major Ross any mind, dear sir. He’s in a bad humour, but will recover presently, I assure you.’
Ignoring Daniel’s muttered oath, Katherine invited their visitor to take a seat. ‘Can I offer you some refreshment? A glass of wine, perhaps?’
‘No, thank you, dear young lady. And I must not stay. I came here only to pass on a message from Sir Giles.’ Mr Ashcroft risked a fleeting look up at Daniel once again, before fixing his gaze on Katherine’s far more amiable countenance. ‘You are to stay here with Major Ross, and attend the party Mr and Mrs Cranford are holding on Friday next. I am to pay a brief visit to Mr Cranford as soon as I leave here to apprise him of the situation. Unfortunately he had left London before news of your safe arrival reached us.’
‘Ah!’ Katherine exclaimed, enlightenment dawning. ‘So Sir Giles and Mr Cranford are engaged in the same work, are they?’
‘Er—in a manner of speaking, yes, miss,’ he admitted, casting yet a further tentative glance in the general direction of the hearth. ‘Sir Giles has every intention of making your presence known in the—er—right quarter, as you might say, at the appropriate time, and has taken the precaution of sending two of his best men down here to look after you.’
Betraying great fortitude, he then turned his attention to Daniel. ‘Sir Giles wishes me to assure you, sir, that the young lady will be in no danger. You are to make use of the two men who travelled with me from the capital in any capacity you think fit. There will be others arriving soon in the locale, and my sister and I shall ourselves be putting up at the local inn. Needless to say, there must be no contact between us once I leave here.’
‘Evidently Sir Giles expects the traitor to act as soon as he knows of Katherine’s safe arrival,’ Daniel remarked, after tossing the remaining contents of his glass down his throat.
‘Sir Giles knows how to play the game, sir. He’s refining every detail at this very moment. The men he’s sent down are merely a precaution, sir, nothing more,’ Mr Ashcroft didn’t hesitate to assure him. ‘Sir Giles knew you’d expect nothing less. The traitor will be given insufficient time to act before next Friday. He’ll need to make contact with his associates. But Sir Giles is convinced that if an attempt to … to abduct Miss O’Malley will be made, it will occur on the day of the party, perhaps even at the event itself. Time is not on the traitor’s side, sir. He must prevent Sir Giles from escorting Miss O’Malley to London.’
Daniel appeared decidedly grim, and Katherine was experiencing certain misgivings now that all the scheming and planning were showing signs of achieving a result, but steadfastly refused to betray her feelings of unease. ‘Then we must all be patient and wait for events to unfold.’
‘Believe