Page 24 of Her Wily Duke

“Come to the point, Wiggins,” said the Duke.

“Perhaps it’s one of your rivals at Boodle’s,” he said. “As improbable as that sounds, it’s an unlikely situation we’re dealing with! No doubt some young dandy is jealous of Your Grace’s position, and wishes to ruin you.”

“I’ve considered it,” said the Duke with a wave of his hand. “No one who is a member at Boodle’s lives in this, or the neighbouring counties, and it would be madness to live a vagabond’s existence in the woods at this time of year. Which is why, as I’ve said a hundred times already, the Rider must be someone with access to this estate, someone who knows our plans and conspires against us, who gives money to our tenants, who returns here when his night’s mischief is accomplished.”

At those words, they regarded each other glumly, for, when put that way, it did seem the most likely explanation.

*****

The next day, Adam decided that he should begin arriving at Emme’s home on the days when she was scheduled to teach Lady Caroline, to collect her, and deliver her to Foxridge Park. He saw no reason that she should have to walk in the bitter weather, when he had the time and the means to provide her with transport.

He explained his reasoning when she greeted him with a smile, and a questioning look.

“It’s cold enough now that to let you walk alone in this weather would be murder.”

She nodded, and accepted his words, happily coming forward to step up into the carriage. He did, however, fail to mention the fact that, when the Duke had been stranded in the village the night before, Adam had taken his time about coming to collect him.

The thought brought a smile to his face for a moment, before he pushed it aside and concentrated on assisting Emme into the carriage. As they set off, he related to Emme all that had transpired during his conversation with his brother and the others the night before.

“He seems to think that the Rider is one of the staff,” he said as they drove through a world which felt frozen to its roots. “That he might even live at Foxridge Park.”

“But… where would he keep his horse? Surely, if it was in the stables at Foxridge Park, someone would have noticed?”

“That is very true, and certainly, there is no horse at Foxridge Park which fits the description of the highwayman’s horse. But maybe he has it hidden away in a secret spot in the woods – at an old woodsman’s hut, perhaps.”

“That would be possible, I suppose. And, anyway, if he lives at Foxridge Park, it should be easy enough to catch him,” said Emme. “Just guard all of the entrances during the next robbery, and see who comes running in under cover of darkness. Oh! But you can’t be sure when the next robbery is happening, so that would mean guarding all of the entrances from the moment that Wiggins left to go to the bank, each time.”

“That might work,” said Adam. “Only I fear that he is too clever for that. And, knowing the support that he has amongst the local people - everyone other than the Duke, it seems – if he does live at Foxridge Park, it’s likely that he’s being helped by one or more people inside the house. They could easily cover for him, and Frederick would be none the wiser.”

Beside him, Emme was silent, her brow furrowed as she thought about what he had said. After a short while, she spoke again, her voice hesitant.

“But… why do the local people support him? Is it just that he defies the Duke, a man none of them like, or is it something more? What do the villagers gain from him remaining free?”

Adam thought, again, about just how intelligent Emme was, and considered his next words carefully.

“I have been told, by some of the servants, that the tenants are able to pay the rent lately, because, regularly, they have come in from working to find a pouch or a basket on their table, and in that pouch or basket, a substantial sum of money. There is nothing to indicate where it came from, but they are all well capable of coming to conclusions…”

“Oh my! So you think that the highwayman is stealing from the Duke, only to give the funds to the tenants? That puts a whole new complexion on the situation, doesn’t it? And if that’s true… wouldn’t that be wonderfully exciting? If he really is one of the staff, perhaps I shall meet him. Perhaps I’ve met him already!”

Adam’s eyes twinkled with mischief.

“You’re more excited by the prospect of meeting this stranger than you’ve ever been to see me, I do believe. I, who have driven all over the county and back, just to pick you up and drop you off!”

“Am I sensing some jealousy?”

Emme’s eyes were like lamps in the half-darkness.

“Me, jealous?” said Adam. “Of course not!”

But he didn’t stop grinning the whole way to Foxridge Park.

*****

Emme thought hard, all the way to Foxridge Park, about what Adam had told her. The more she considered it, the more likely all of his suppositions seemed, when she considered everything which had happened. Today, she would be looking at everyone at Foxridge Park with new eyes, considering whether they might have the ability to do the things that the highwayman had done.

But, more than that, she would be thinking about the way that Adam had spoken – was he jealous? Did he value her regard highly enough to feel that way?

The possibility of that made her feel all warm inside, and gave birth to a seed of very foolish hope – for he was a Lord, and she just a commoner’s daughter.