She came to an abrupt halt, swinging around to face him. “Y-yes, Mr. St. John?”

“I seem to have mislaid something. A ring. It was in my room and now it has disappeared.”

“Oh dear. Do you think one of the servants stole it?”

“I am casting no blame. But do you think you might make some inquiries for me? It is the talisman ring, and my family would be loath to lose it.”

“The talisman—Oh dear! Of course I’ll make inquiries.”

Devon could only hope she was more thorough in her inquiries than she was in overseeing the housekeeping.

She suddenly seemed to notice his clothing. “Are you going riding? Again?”

He hesitated, not quite sure why. “I am meeting Miss Macdonald, and we are going to visit the North Wood. Malcolm says it is quite magnificent.”

Fiona’s eyes flashed. “Malcolm? Has he been giving you suggestions for your rides?”

“Why, yes. I don’t know the area, and he has been most kind in determining which trails would be best.”

Her lips tightened. “He has been doing that, has he? And there is Kat, ready to escort you. How convenient.”

Devon raised his brows. “Miss Katherine has taken great pains to assure me it is not at all convenient. She’s quite busy, and I gathered that she wasn’t very excited about becoming a guide.”

“Oh. Well, if that is so, then perhaps you should take Murien instead. I’m certain she’d enjoy the exercise. If you’d like, I could return to the sitting room and—” She turned as she spoke, but Devon caught her arm.

“That’s not necessary, I assure you.” He hesitated, feeling the need to offer something more. “Besides, I will see Miss Spalding at dinner.”

Fiona’s face cleared as if by magic. “Excellent! That will give you a much better chance to talk than riding about on horses.”

It would be much better chaperoned, too. Lately Murien’s attempts to capture Devon’s attention had seemed more determined than he liked. Still, he could afford to spend an hour across the dinner table from her, and if she was polite, he might even take her to the garden, providing there was a chaperone in the vicinity. If there wasn’t, then Miss Murien was going to find herself alone among the roses.

He bowed now to Fiona. “I hate to leave so quickly, but Miss Katherine will be waiting.”

“Oh. Yes, well—” Fiona took a deep breath as if to gird herself. “By the way, I meant to mention it to you, but I quite forgot. I…well, Malcolm and I thought to have a small gathering in your honor. I sent out the invitations yesterday. I would have told you sooner, but you have not been around much.”