Whatever was bothering Anna and the earl, Sir Phineas only hoped it was the same ailment. In the meantime, a little exercise couldn’t hurt. Perhaps it would take some of the pinched look from her face.

He patted her knee and stepped back. “Have a lovely ride, dear.” She managed a quick smile, though Sir Phineas could tell her heart was not in it, before turning her mount and galloping across the park as if the hounds of hell were in pursuit.

He watched her for a moment, admiring her command of the horse and her excellent form.

“She’s quite a horsewoman, isn’t she?” came a voice from behind Sir Phineas.

He turned and found himself facing a tallish young man dressed in the height of fashion, his blue riding coat perfectly fitted to his slender form. Sir Phineas recognized the dark brown hair and the blue eyes of the Elliots. “My granddaughter has always been able to ride.”

“So I can see.”

Sir Phineas frowned. There was something familiar about the man. “Pardon me, but have we met?”

The young man pulled his gaze from where Anna’s figure disappeared in a thicket of trees. “I’m sorry; I should have introduced myself. I’m Rupert Elliot. I came from town last night to see my mother, Lady Putney.”

Ah, so this was one of Lady Putney’s spawn. Sir Phineas bowed his own greeting. “Delighted to meet you. I’m—”

“Sir Phineas. Greyley told me you and your granddaughter were staying here.” The young man flashed a rueful smile down at his clothes. “I thought to see if Miss Thraxton might like some company, but I was a little late rising.”

Phineas noted the circles under the young man’s eyes and came to his own conclusions. Still…perhaps there was some information to be gleaned. Sir Phineas smiled in his most winning manner. “A pity you missed Anna. Fortunately, I’m going for a carriage ride in a half hour, if you’d like to join me.”

“Some other time, perhaps. I think I’ll just go back to bed.”

Sir Phineas gave a polite nod and watched the young man wander back toward the house. Before he reached the top step, the front door opened and Lady Putney emerged. Sir Phineas lifted his brow at that—it was rare to see the virago up before noon. As he watched, Lady Putney and Rupert engaged in a quiet, intense argument, the end result being that Rupert, now flushed a deep red, turned on his heel and strode inside. Lady Putney, her eyes narrowed in a cold, calculating manner, turned to stare at the point where Anna had disappeared.

As Sir Phineas stood, stroking his chin, Lady Putney caught sight of him. Her lips folded into an instant false smile before she, too, turned and went back into the house. Sir Phineas’s gaze remained fixed on the front door of Greyley House. After several moments, he gripped his cane anew and went in search of the earl. Something was afoot and he was not about to let someone ambush his future son-in-law.