She was silent for a moment, then turned to Lady Butler with a sweet smile, saying, ‘Such a silly game bears no comparison with real music, of course. Perhaps we could persuade Judith to play for us. I love to listen to her—as I am sure you do.’
Lady Butler grunted, temporarily mollified at this request. ‘Well, to be sure, she had the best of teachers, and a great deal of money was spent on her education—but it is true that she performs excellently, although she gets little enough practice these days. Yes, dear Judith, do play for us—something soothing, perhaps—I believe we have had more than enough jollity for one evening!’
And so, when Sandford and Ridgeway made their appearance shortly afterwards, they perceived Lady Butler slumped fast asleep with her chin on her chest whilst an envious Harriet, standing beside the piano admiring her friend’s virtuosity, was the sole audience to Judith’s expensive musical education.
At their entrance Judith immediately stopped playing and rose from her seat. She came towards Sandford anxiously, with a finger to her lips as she motioned towards her sleeping mother.
‘What has kept you so long, Robert?’ she almost whispered, and he found himself replying in kind.
‘Sorry, Judith, we—got chatting and, well—you know how it is.’
Judith’s eyes flew to Ridgeway, whose face held a very shamefaced expression.
‘Is there something wrong? I do believe there is something that you are keeping from me …’
Sandford took hold of her hands and shook his head at her.
‘Judith, I promise you there is nothing for you to worry about. I told you that if there was a problem with Westpark—
‘Problem with Westpark!’ Lady Butler’s ringing tones interrupted him. ‘What problem with Westpark? Explain yourself, young man!’
Sandford controlled himself with difficulty. ‘As far as I am aware, your ladyship,’ he said carefully, ‘there are no problems at Westpark—as I was just trying to impress upon Judith. Why everyone insists upon inventing problems where none exist, I cannot imagine! Charles and I were discussing something quite other, I promise you—and I—we apologise unreservedly for our outrageously bad manners in having deserted you for so long.’
Ridgeway nodded his agreement. ‘It’s true, Judith—Lady Butler—there was absolutely no mention of Westpark in our conversation and I, too, apologise for our lengthy absence.’
Lady Butler gazed at them both with narrowed eyes, as if by doing so she could read their minds, then, collecting together her various belongings, she got heavily to her feet.
‘Hmm, well—I suppose you also wanted a little peace and quiet after that earlier boisterous display—frankly, I’m not surprised you stayed away for so long. However, it is now time for us to wish you goodnight—it is, as you see, very late.’
She stared pointedly towards the clock and Judith, looking at Ridgeway, gave an embarrassed little shrug, as he smiled in sympathy.
‘Lady Butler is quite right, Judith,’ he said, as he bent over her hand. ‘The time has flown so quickly and, indeed, I am very sorry that I didn’t spend more of it in your company—it would have been infinitely more enjoyable, I assure you.’
‘Couldn’t have put it better myself, sir,’ laughed Sandford, bowing to Lady Butler and kissing his sister-in-law’s cheek. ‘Many thanks, Judith. In spite of our prolonged absence, may I pronounce the evening a great success?’
Harriet, having also bidden her adieux, was escorted out to the waiting carriage by both men, but was surprised to find that it was Charles Ridgeway who stepped forward to hand her into her seat.
‘If ever you need my assistance,’ he said in a low voice, as he moved away from the door, ‘remember that I am always at your disposal,’ and, bowing, he walked off to collect his gig.
Harriet was still pondering over his words as Sandford climbed into the carriage and took his seat opposite her. It was too dark to see his face.
‘Have you told Mr Ridgeway how it was that we met?’ she asked him curiously.
‘Has he said so?’ Sandford sounded taken aback.
‘Not exactly—but he seemed—different, somehow, and you were away so long I wondered …’
‘I felt that it was time to take him into my confidence,’ admitted Sandford. ‘I am no nearer to tracking down your assailants than I was a week ago—I thought that he might have some new ideas …’
‘And has he?’ Harriet asked eagerly.
‘’Fraid not—he latched on to the Middletons, of course—just as I did—but now we’re agreed that everything seems to point to someone from the House.’
They were both silent for several minutes then Sandford spoke again. ‘Harriet?’
‘Yes, my lord?’
‘Oh, God! Not still?’ She heard the thud as he struck the cushion with his fist. ‘I beg your pardon?’
‘Harriet—we have to talk—preferably somewhere I can see your face. Will you come into the library when we get back?’
‘I am rather tired, sir,’ she said mutinously. ‘Can’t it wait until morning?’
‘No, it damned well cannot!’ Sandford exclaimed. ‘Do you want me to come over there and persuade you?’
‘I would prefer that you remained in your own seat, my lord,’ she said shakily. ‘If I may remind you that I am under your protection …’
She heard his gasp and waited in trepidation for his reply, but there was only a heavy silence in the darkness. All of a sudden an unaccountable sensation of longing welled up inside her.
‘Lord Sandford?’ Her voice was hesitant.
‘Miss Cordell?’ he answered patiently. He was hurt and angry, but determined not to rise to any further strictures she might cast at him.
‘I want you to know that I am very grateful for all the trouble you have taken on my behalf—no, please let me finish!’ She had heard his attempted protest. ‘It’s just that I’m sure that it must have crossed your mind that had I never come to Beldale—had you never picked me up—you would not have had to spend all your time trying to extricate me from these other mishaps—I realised this some days ago. What I am trying to say is that I want you to stop wasting any more of your time on this endeavour. My own feeling is that it has all been a series of unfortunate and disconnected incidents—no real harm has been done to me—obviously none was really intended, otherwise it could easily have been achieved … oh!’
Sandford had leapt across the space between them and had his arms tightly about her.
‘No, don’t say it,’ he said, his voice muffled in her hair. ‘I have had nightmares enough. I do not consider it to be a waste of time to find and punish anyone who has tried to hurt you—they will be lucky to escape with their lives!’
‘Sir! You must not say so!’ Harriet’s heart seemed to be leaping about inside her ribcage and she could hardly breathe. She tried to push him away, but her arms were trapped against him. ‘Please release me—I beg you—Robert—please!’
At once he loosened his hold and moved a little way from her, still keeping one arm around her shoulders. She could scarcely make out his silhouette in the gloom, but