Bought for Revenge. Sarah Mallory

she turned to the fishing rods fixed to the wall. They rested on their hooks as if they had been placed ready for another day’s fishing, which had never come. Now they were grey with age and dust. One rod was much smaller than the rest and she pointed to it.

      ‘That must be for a child.’

      ‘Yes.’ He took it down and weighed it between his hands. He looked towards the glass doors. ‘Father and son, enjoying a rare moment of peace together, fishing.’

      Belle smiled at the image. ‘Is that how you see it, sir?’

      ‘Oh, yes. They would sit here in companionable silence…’

       You and your father should spend more time together, Lucas, so I will not come with you. But be sure to bring me back a fish for my dinner!

      ‘I do not think my father ever enjoyed the sport. He certainly never took my brother fishing. Edwin liked that little rod. He was going to take it home and put a new line on it.’

      Lucas pushed aside the memories that were crowding him and carefully put the rod back in its place on the wall.

      ‘So why didn’t he take it?’

      ‘I said we should ask Papa before we disturbed anything here.’ Belle shivered and went back to the door. ‘We should go. Clegg will be growing anxious.’

      ‘And did your father object to your brother taking the rod?’ he asked the question as he followed her down the steps.

      ‘No.’

      ‘Then why is it still there? Belle?’ she began to hurry away from him, but he ran to catch up with her. He saw the tear on her cheek before she dashed it away. He said gently, ‘What happened?’

      She stopped. ‘We were caught in a heavy shower of rain that day, on the way home. Edwin became ill. Inflammation of the lungs. He never recovered.’

      ‘I see. How old was he?’

      ‘Just eleven years old.’

      He watched as she looked into the past, such desolation about her that he wanted to reach out and pull her into his arms, but that was impossible. He of all people could not give her sympathy.

      ‘I am very sorry,’ he said at last.

      ‘It was such a time ago, but I still feel his loss, greatly.’

      ‘I know. The pain never goes away.’

      ‘I am sorry,’ she said. ‘About your parents.’ She stood for a moment, looking out over the water. Then with a sigh she tucked her arm in his. ‘We have become very maudlin, Mr Monserrat. Let us move on now. There is still a great deal to see, including the hermitage.’

      He recognised her attempt to distract him and responded in kind. ‘A hermitage? That is something I did not know about. That will put me in the very kick of fashion!’

      She chuckled. ‘Unfortunately, it is not a grotto but a natural formation of the rocks, but Edwin and I thought it would be the perfect habitat for a hermit.’

      ‘Then take me to it, Miss Havenham!’

      He helped her back across the bridge and this time she did not pull her hand away, but allowed him to draw it onto his arm as they strolled back to where Clegg was waiting with the horses.

      ‘Let me help you to mount.’

      Belle met his eyes for a fleeting moment, remembering the first time he had thrown her into the saddle. Did he recall it, too? How differently she had felt then. It would not be wise to mention it in front of Clegg, however. He was already looking disapproving about her being alone and out of sight with Lucas for so long, and if he knew of that first encounter he would most likely deliver a long homily upon the consequences of a young lady’s venturing forth without her groom. So she allowed Lucas to assist her and tried to look unconcerned while a storm of conflicting thoughts and feelings raged inside her. His touch, his nearness, both frightened and excited her. Instinct told her to beware this man, yet some power beyond her control drew her to him. He seemed to understand her love for this place and she wanted to share with him her memories, the happy days she had enjoyed running free in the woods and glades. She tried to explain it as they rode away from the lake.

      ‘Even after Edwin was gone I still liked to come here. Often I would ride my pony through the woods, exploring.’ She chuckled. ‘It was a chance to escape from my governess for a while. I liked being alone here, especially if I was unhappy, or there was some little problem I wanted to think about.’

      ‘I hope you still feel you can do that, Miss Havenham.’

      She shook her head. ‘No. It is your land now, sir.’ She urged Apollo on. ‘We need to press on, if we are to see much more today.’

      The Home Wood was extensive and they had not covered the half of it when Clegg drew her attention to the sun, which was sinking low towards the horizon. Belle looked about her, surprised. Had they really been riding for so long?

      ‘We should be turning back,’ she said. ‘Papa will worry if I am late.’

      ‘I hope you have enjoyed your time with me, Miss Havenham.’

      ‘I have, very much.’ Heavens, he would think her far too friendly! ‘But I would have enjoyed pointing out the hidden valleys and bubbling springs to anyone who showed such interest.’ Now she was too casual and felt compelled to compliment him. ‘You are a good student, Mr Monserrat, and you already know a great deal about Morwood.’

      ‘I have made it my business to study the ground plan and talk to the locals,’ he told her. ‘Those who are not afraid of the ghosts.’

      She knew he was teasing her and chuckled. ‘If there are ghosts here they are friendly ones, for I have never felt in the least uneasy, even in the ruins of the house itself. But I have never seen anyone from Stanton here, which is why I am surprised they know so much about it.’

      ‘Ah, but I pick up a great deal of information from the taproom of the Red Lion, so perhaps the people I have spoken with make more, er, nocturnal visits.’

      ‘You mean poachers! That is much more likely. I hope you are not planning any dark nefarious deeds of your own, sir!’

      Instead of the laugh she expected, his face darkened and there was a dangerous glitter in his eyes. It was gone in a moment and Annabelle wondered if she had imagined it. Mayhap it had been a cloud passing across the sun, because now he was smiling at her again.

      ‘We have not seen the half of the Morwood estate yet, Miss Havenham. I would like to ride out with you again, if you will?’

      ‘Why, yes, if you wish—and if the weather holds.’

      She gave him a shy smile. Again Lucas felt that uncomfortable prickle of conscience. He shrugged it aside. He meant the chit no real harm, after all.