“At first he thought I had brought a message from Minerva. He actually looked pleased. When I told him not to go near her or my son again, that I would not stand for it, he tried to use that crop on me. I will admit my mind turned black then. I had the pistol in my hand under my wrap, and I just—” She blinked hard. “I tried to feel bad about it, what with being a God-fearing woman, but I couldn’t believe any God would blame me too much. A mother doesn’t sit by while her child is hurt. He was only seventeen then. Still young. And Minerva—I couldn’t watch her go through that again. I don’t think she would have taken it either. She had grown a lot, in her mind and self. She would have fought him if he got her back. And he would have killed her for sure, eventually. He had it in him.”

She stopped walking and folded her arms and looked out over the park. He folded his too and looked with her. What to do now? That question hung heavily between them.

“I would have gone forward and admitted it, if Minerva were ever taken to gaol. I want you to know that. I would never have let her hang. I was preparing myself for it, settling matters as best I could, when they said it was an accident. It was a gift, really.”

“I believe you would have come forward if you had to. I don’t doubt that.”

She turned to look at him, her eyes filmy with tears and memories, but not repentance. “Are you going to tell Minerva about this?”

He doubted he had to. Minerva was good at inquiries. She knew she had not used that pistol, so who had? There were only two likely possibilities. “I don’t see any reason to tell her. You may want to eventually, in case she has wondered about Jeremy.”

“I’ll still come forward if need be. If all of this comes alive again, and there’s those trying to harm her.”

“It was ruled an accident, and may just lie there as that. If anyone starts asking questions, I will try to turn their eyes on the poachers known to frequent private hunting grounds like those woods. It would be like Finley to confront one of them. It is my hope it doesn’t even get that far. But if necessary—it is good to know you would do the right thing.”

She nodded. “I’ll be hoping it goes the way you say.”

“Come. I will take you home so you don’t have to walk or hire a carriage. I have mine here.”

She brightened. “I’ve been wanting to ride in it.”