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“Thank you." She cut him off as well.

The first shock was the grandeur of the entrance hall. The second shock was that on the far side of it, in front of a ridiculously large fireplace, stood West. But instead of making her feel nervous, the sight of him instantly made her relax. Of all the things that she had thought about him, she hadn’t thought that he made her feel… safe.

He was talking to three soldiers—officers. All four men stopped talking and bowed. But as she drew closer, she saw that West looked… dreadful. Beneath a tan, his face was drawn with exhaustion. A red line on his forehead marked what must be a recent cut. And there was something more, too. He had an air of deep strain and worry. There was a line between his eyebrows that hadn't been there even two months ago. And it was all too obvious that moments before she’d walked in, he’d been on the verge of losing patience with the soldiers.

“Your gra-ace!” She drew out the word, pasted a gracious smile on her face and came toward him, holding out both her hands. “We made such excellent time on the road that I am here hours before you must have expected me! But what a charming surprise! I had no notion that we were expecting guests.”

He opened his mouth, began to speak and caught himself. “Your grace.” He inclined his head and cleared his throat. “We… er… we had spoken of you arriving tomorrow.”

“I preferred not to spend another night in an inn. You know how I feel about inns!” She was playacting as her own mother while her mind was racing ahead. Somehow, she must explain to West what was at stake before the soldiers could goad him into doing anything unwise.

Was it her imagination, or had his face relaxed a little? “Please, allow me to introduce Colonel Brown and Lieutenants Legarde and Rowland, of the Third Dragoons.”

All three men bowed. The colonel, a middle-aged man with bushy side whiskers, looked uncomfortable. “I—I beg your pardon, your grace. We had no notion that you were expected this evening, and that we, er… might be in the way.”

“In the way? Nonsense! His Majesty's loyal soldiers could never be in the way!" She dimpled at him. “But I confess that this is a surprise! Why, Castle March is so very out of the way that unless the Welsh are invading again I cannot conceive what could bring you and your gallant men to our quiet little corner of the country!”

“The colonel and his men seem to believe that there is some trouble here.” There was an edge in West’s voice. “I have been explaining to them that there is none.”

“Trouble? Here?" She trilled a laugh. "My goodness! Now I know that you have taken a wrong turn! But surely you are referring to the dreadful events at Manchester?”

West shot her a questioning look. The officers exchanged glances, and seemed not to know what to say. She forced another laugh. “Oh, la! You all look so surprised! Of course the news has reached my circles in London. Indeed, I must tell you that everyone has been most shocked to hear of how the soldiers abused those poor people.”

From the corner of her eye she saw West’s expression sharpen. The colonel’s face turned an even deeper shade of red. “I beg your pardon, Lady March. I believe that you and your friends may have… may have misunderstood the facts. The people of whom you speak were radical agitators. And the soldiers you mention were merely there to maintain order.”

“Radical agitators? Dear me!” She tsked. “Why, when women and children have become radical agitators, the country has reached a very shocking state indeed! Still, now that a score or two of them are dead, I hope that we may count ourselves a little safer.”

Had she gone too far? Her heart was hammering. But after all, if there was one thing that she’d learned from her mother, it was how to pretend to be stupid when it was to her advantage.

“I beg your pardon, Lady March.” The colonel was plainly annoyed. “These Jacobins and radicals are far more dangerous than you may think. You would not wish them to spring up amongst your own tenants.”

She forced another laugh. “Why colonel! You are quite the drollest man I have met this twelvemonth! Manchester is hundreds of miles away!"

“Seventy.” The colonel’s voice grated. “It is but seventy miles to Manchester, your grace.”

West's eyes were blazing. “Am I to understand that soldiers”—

“Oh, seventy, a hundred, two hundred!” Pomona interrupted before West could say anything inflammatory. “Distances are so difficult to judge—are they not? It is quite the most tiresome thing! But do let us speak of something more pleasant. Tell me, colonel—do you know my grandmother, Lady Sophronia—the Dowager Viscountess Alford? I am absolutely positive that I have seen you at one of her soirées. The Prince Regent always attends her entertainments, you know. She is such a favorite with him.”

He blinked, clearly caught off-guard by this abrupt change of topic. “I… I am afraid that I have not had the honor, your grace.”

“Are you certain? Your face is so familiar. It will bother me until I am able to place it!” She put a finger to her chin, pretending to think. “Well! You must pay us a longer call so that we may put our heads together and solve this little mystery! Shall we say two days hence? I cannot keep you any longer now. As it is, you will have a long dark ride back to… Where did you say that you are staying?”

“Oswestry.”

“Indeed? How lovely. Now, I shall not forget that you have promised to call, dear colonel! I shall hold you to it! Good evening!”

The colonel was now red with repressed rage. But he’d been dismissed by a duchess, and all he could do was leave. A footman was already holding the front door open.

The colonel made them a bow. “Good evening, your graces.” He turned on his heel and stamped away, followed by the two lieutenants.

The door shut behind them with a boom.

West was staring at her. “What on earth did you... You ran them off.” Outside in the courtyard the clatter of hooves and some barked orders made it clear that the soldiers were mounting up and riding out. “I was almost about to… And then you…” He broke off and shook his head. "You are here. You are really here."

Pomona's face heated. Somehow, she’d managed the colonel. But now that she was alone with her own husband, she scarcely knew what to say. “Never mind that. I came because”— She broke off. “It is best if we speak privately.”

His dark eyes searched her face for a moment. “Very well. Let us go into the study.”