The emotions started rising in her body, almost taking her breath away. “I have been very foolish, Beth.”

“That man? Did you let him kiss you?”

To admit it had been more than kisses would only upset Beth. “Do not blame him.”

Beth sat beside her on the edge of the bed. “Not the best choice on your part, under the circumstances. Not the right man to try that with.”

“I know that.”

“Not a man to get sweet on, I told you.”

“You did at that.”

An arm came around her. “Well, there’s no sense to these things, is there?”

That embrace, so familiar and caring, broke her. Soft arms enclosed her while she wept onto Beth’s shoulder.

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chase remained at Melton Park two more days. One night he left after dinner, then pretended to be a person entering the house without anyone’s awareness. He left his horse down the lane in the trees, and approached on foot. Even with the servants up and about, he managed to get all the way to the parapet without being seen.

He had long conversations with the land steward and the grooms. Minerva had pursued the other servants for information. He would have to find out what she learned.

Which meant he would have to see her. She might not welcome that. He could all but hear her putting it into words. We should not have done this. Probably not, but he did not regret it for a minute, no matter what complications it brought.

She might, however. No matter what drew them together, the situation meant they should stay apart. He knew that, damn it. But what existed between them had nothing to do with reasoning.

He still simmered when he thought about her. Even upon his return to London she was not far from his mind.

His third morning back in town he left his chambers to go claim his horse in the stable in the nearby mews. As he approached the stable a tall, young, blond man blocked his path. He looked the fellow over.

“I know you,” he said, searching his mind. “You are one of the grooms at Whiteford House.”

“Was one, for a few days.”

“Have you taken employment here?”

He shook his head. “I’m to give you a message from my mum. She said to meet her in Portman Square today at three o’clock. She wants to talk to you.”

“Who is your mother?”

“She is Miss Hepplewhite’s housekeeper.”

He meant Beth. This was Beth’s son. “I will be there.”

The young man slipped down the mews and seemed to disappear. Chase went into the stable to get his horse. This fellow had been another one of Minerva’s sets of eyes in Whiteford House during the house party. He wondered how many there had been.

* * *

He found Beth strolling along the park’s perimeter. He recognized the big cap with its deep brim even before he saw how her stout form fit his memories. He swung off his horse and approached her.