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housekeeper, but there’s no one else to do the job so I
hope you’ll excuse me if I cannot be with you all the time.’
    ‘Birdie, you must do whatever’s necessary to
ensure the smooth running of the household. I’m thankful Tom managed to find a
cook for what was served this morning was all but inedible.’
    Her friend chuckled. ‘I’ve been assured there
will be fresh vegetable soup, newly baked bread and apple pie and cheese ready
soon. Now, my dear, if you’re comfortably settled in front of the fire I shall
take my leave. Meg’s in your chamber, ring that handbell beside you and she’ll come to assist you. ‘
    Hester smiled; as long as she got her lunch
when it was ready there was nothing else she required. Her head ached, her eyes
were a trifle blurred so she would stretch out in front of the log fire and try
and think of a reason for what was happening. She was dozing comfortably when
heavy footsteps approached her parlour .
    She swung her feet to the floor, removing her
lap-rug and checking her hair was still tied tidily at the back of her neck.
Her head was too sore to put it up in its usual arrangement. She reached out
and rang the bell. If the duke was coming to visit she wouldn’t make the same
mistake; this time she would be chaperoned. The knock on the door sounded as
the maid appeared from the bedchamber.
    ‘See who that is, please, Meg. If it is Lord
Colebrook, bid him enter.’
    The girl dipped in a brief curtsy, smoothed her
apron and hurried to open the door. Hester smiled as he stepped round the girl
and walked in without a by your leave.
    ‘You’re looking much better today, Miss
Frobisher. As you’re fully dressed and we’re not alone, I shall assume it’s
acceptable for me to stay.’
    ‘Of course it is, your grace. You’re very
welcome. Tell me, is Polly safely back with you?’
    ‘She is. I’ve already spoken to her and she’s
fully recovered. We have your hound to thank for her deliverance.’
    By the time he had told her the whole, Hester
wasn’t sure if she was pleased or horrified. ‘Good gracious! I never knew he
could be so...so ferocious. I’ve not had him all that long, you see. He was a
stray. I found him with his paw caught in a trap and nursed him well. Since
then he’s been my constant companion.’ His brow creased – for some reason this
information didn’t please him.
    ‘That dog is not a pet; he’s a hunting dog. I
think it better if I keep him.’
    She almost choked. ‘Keep him? You certainly
shall not, sir. He’s my dog, and the fact that he killed a man today is neither
here nor there. He would never harm me, and he was only doing his duty.’ She
glared at him. How dare he march into her apartment and start issuing
ultimatums in this way? ‘Another thing, I don’t remember giving you leave to
ride my horse either.’
    He leant back in the deep-seated armchair crossing
his long legs at the ankle and folding his arms across his chest before
deigning to answer. He stared at her and she pressed herself in to the seat . ‘It might have escaped your attention,
my girl, that you are a female and I am quite definitely the head of your
household. I’m your only male relative and as such it is my prerogative to
borrow your horse and your dog whenever I see fit to do so.’
    Hester was speechless. The more she saw of this
person the more she disliked him. She shook he head as if to rid herself of his
presence. The sudden movement sent a violent jolt of pain through her head and
she flinched, closing her eyes to allow it to subside.
    ‘You are in pain. I am a brute to bark at you
when you’re still an invalid.’
    She was aware he had left his seat for she
could feel the heat from his body and smell thedistinctive aroma of lavender soap and leather wafting into her nostrils. She hardly dare
open her eyes, not sure what she would be faced with. He was too close. Such
proximity made her nervous and her heart race.
    ‘I moved my head too fast, your grace,