Mistress of Merrivale (9 page)

“Good morning.” Amusement colored the voice of the feminine speaker.

Jocelyn’s head jerked upward, colliding with the edge of the table. “Ow!” She backed out from underneath the desk, rubbing her temple. Face flushed with heat, she climbed to her feet and turned to face the mystery woman.

Oh, the neighbors—Hannah and Peregrine.
Just perfect
. Jocelyn pasted on a smile and pretended her new neighbors hadn’t seen her on the floor with her backside poking from beneath a table. She brushed her face with the corner of her apron, aware of her messy appearance. No doubt, her cherry-red cheeks clashed with her hair and freckles. Her callers, of course, wore smart clothes suitable for visiting.

“Good day to you. I didn’t see you there. I was looking for Cassie.” She restrained herself when instinct told her to fuss with her hair. She couldn’t begin to compete with Hannah’s beautiful cream riding habit and pale golden perfection. There was no black garb in evidence today.

“We heard screaming. Is something wrong?” Masculine approval glinted in Peregrine’s eyes as he focused on the upper curves of Jocelyn’s breasts.

“My mother received a fright.” Jocelyn ignored Peregrine’s rude ogling to visually search the parlor for a glimpse of her stepdaughter.

“Aunt Hannah!” Cassie appeared from the far corner of the room and threw herself at the woman, burying her face in the skirts of her aunt’s riding habit.

Jocelyn wanted to sag onto the nearest chair.
Thank goodness!
The last thing she wanted was to explain to Leo how she’d lost his daughter.

“Poppet, what’s wrong? You’re not usually shy.” Hannah took a step back and stooped to kiss her niece’s face. “Why have you been crying?” She shot a reproving look at Jocelyn, and Jocelyn felt the full weight of the woman’s censure. “Where is your nurse?”

To Jocelyn’s relief, a maid arrived with refreshments, the rattle of the tray providing a welcome interruption. Providing explanations of the last hour to her new neighbors, even if they bore close ties to Cassie, wasn’t something she wanted to do either.

“Please take a seat,” Jocelyn said, gesturing at the Egyptian-style settee and the ornate matching chairs. She accepted Peregrine’s escort to a spot near the tea tray and immediately wished she hadn’t when his touch lingered overlong. Experience had taught her how to deal with unwelcome advances, but she held herself in check, reminding herself these were her neighbors. She arranged her skirts and waited expectantly for Hannah to follow suit.

“Where is the fair Arabella?” Peregrine asked in a lazy drawl.

“I volunteered to look after Cassie for a few hours,” Jocelyn said in a tight voice.

Hannah led Cassie over to a chair—one with elaborately carved feet—and lifted her up. “Would you like some fresh milk and one of Cook’s raspberry tarts?”

Irritation tightened Jocelyn’s chest, and she aimed an incredulous glower at Hannah. The woman had no business usurping her rightful place as hostess. The hint of malice in the other woman’s eyes stiffened Jocelyn’s spine. She curled her right hand around the arm of her chair, counseling herself to patience. Her marriage to Leo was a shock and she needed to make allowances.

Hannah placed a tart on a plate for Cassie, and Peregrine caught Jocelyn’s frown.

“How do you like Dartmoor?” he asked, directing the conversation with a flirtatious grin, probably in the hope of avoiding an unpleasant disagreement between the two women. “It must be a change from London.”

How did he know she came from London? She hadn’t told anyone simply because she didn’t want to cause Leo embarrassment or open herself to nosy questions. “I haven’t been here long, but so far I love the countryside.” An evasive answer, but it seemed to satisfy him.

“Dartmoor is a dangerous place.” Peregrine leaned over and placed a too familiar hand on her forearm. His blue eyes twinkled and, to her discomfort, Jocelyn detected a hint of lust.

“In what way?” Jocelyn shifted and his hand dropped away. Personally she thought both Hannah and Peregrine needed a lesson in manners.

“Did you hear about the murder of our maid? Her body was found in the maze here at Merrivale.” His blond brows rose, his eyes strangely intent. His lazy manner faded as he leaned closer to speak in an undertone. “Then of course, there was my sister’s murder. If I were you, I’d be watching my back.”

A chill rippled through Jocelyn, stirring the hairs at the back of her neck. “Whatever do you mean?”

Peregrine’s brows drew together. “I’d listen to the rumors because there is more than a little truth in them.”

“Stop being so secretive.” Jocelyn drew in a rapid breath, attempting to claw back the anxiety his words set loose. There was something about his tone, the way his teasing nature had receded to expose a hint of his inner self. “Tell me what you mean.”

Peregrine shrugged and insouciance settled on him again like a cozy woolen cloak. “I’m warning you to take care. All is not as it seems at Merrivale.”

Confused about his meaning, she stood abruptly. “Can I get you a dish of tea or would you like something stronger?”

“Do you have claret?”

“Of course.” Having learned a thing or two while dealing with her sisters, she calmly reclaimed the reins from Hannah, bustling about to pour claret and prepare a plate of cakes for Peregrine. “Hannah, would you care for a slice of butter cake or perhaps a raspberry tart?”

“Thank you.” Hannah smiled graciously, although her fingers tightened around the handle of the milk jug before replacing it on the table.

An awkward silence fell. Jocelyn wanted to check on her mother and make certain Cassie was all right after her fright. But, aware of her responsibilities, she sat beside Peregrine again and introduced a neutral topic. “Tell me about the village. Is there a good dressmaker?”

“We came to invite you to a party.” Hannah’s gaze swept Jocelyn’s serviceable brown and her top lip curled. “I doubt you’ll have time to order a new gown beforehand. The village dressmaker might aspire to London designs, but the results are hopelessly provincial.”

“Hannah!” Even Peregrine blinked at her rudeness.

“A party sounds lovely,” Jocelyn said, ignoring both comments. “I look forward to meeting Leo’s friends and neighbors. Will there be dancing?”

Hannah shrugged. “Of course. Peregrine has the invitation.” She turned her back on Jocelyn and Peregrine to chat with Cassie. Another show of ill manners.

A distant shriek severed the taut calm.

Cassie dropped her milk and started wailing. Jocelyn jumped to her feet, but Hannah took over, soothing her niece while ordering Peregrine to summon a maid. In the end, Jocelyn rang for a servant, moving away to let Hannah deal with Cassie. There was no need to complicate the situation by arguing with the woman, but Jocelyn’s lips pursed in irritation. If Hannah attempted to behave like this during her next visit, she’d learn Jocelyn wasn’t afraid of claiming her rightful place.

“Aren’t you going to investigate the commotion?” Peregrine asked, leaning closer than necessary. His focus was on her breasts again, and a scandalous smirk lit his eyes. It wasn’t difficult to imagine the direction of his thoughts.

“No.” Jocelyn straightened, irked by the man’s flirtation. There was nothing she could do that Tilly wouldn’t already be doing. “My mother’s nurse will take care of her.”

“Your mother is making that racket? She sounds as if she belongs in Bedlam,” Hannah snapped. “No wonder Cassie is upset with a lunatic living in the manor.”

“Hannah,” Peregrine rebuked. “That was unpardonably rude.”

“I’m speaking nothing less than the truth. I don’t know why Leo would marry
her
.”

Peregrine grimaced, but his attention wandered to Jocelyn’s bodice. “I must apologize for my sister. I’m sorry, Jocelyn. Can I call you Jocelyn since Leo’s family and ours are such old friends and none of us stand on formalities?”

Why couldn’t he address her face instead of her breasts? “Yes, of course.” She wanted to refuse, yet it seemed silly to insist when they’d see each other on a regular basis.

“We’d better leave you to calm your mother.” Peregrine stood and bent over her hand. A perfectly polite gesture yet he made it into a lurid one. His fingers traced the tender skin of her inner wrist, lingering over the scatter of freckles in an overly familiar way. A reckless grin lit his face when she jerked from his touch. “Remember what I said. Merrivale is a dangerous place.” Raising his voice, he said, “Come, Hannah. We have callers arriving this afternoon. I told you we couldn’t visit for long.”

“I don’t want you to go,” Cassie cried, clutching her aunt’s cream skirts with her jam-covered fingers.

“Look what you’ve done,” Hannah said in a sharp voice. She yanked from Cassie’s grasp and backed away with a scowl.

Cassie started wailing, her sobs breaking Jocelyn’s heart.
Poor mite.
She’d had a trying morning. Jocelyn scooped up the child and hugged her tightly, but Cassie’s crying didn’t diminish.

“We will visit again later in the week,” Hannah promised, shooting a triumphant look at Jocelyn.

“I want to go home with you,” Cassie cried.

“That will be enough, Cassie.” Leo stood in the doorway. He grimaced as a volley of shrieks echoed from her mother’s wing. “Hannah. Peregrine. I didn’t think to see you so soon.” He ignored Jocelyn to concentrate on their visitors.

“We came to invite you to a party,” Peregrine said, smiling warmly at Jocelyn.

“Cassie,” Leo remonstrated.

Cassie’s noisy sobs abated somewhat at her father’s stern tone, and Leo glowered at Hannah and Peregrine before leveling his dark expression on her. Jocelyn stiffened, annoyance striking her like an abrupt bump against the shins. She drew a sharp breath and attempted to tamp down her exasperation. Surely he didn’t suspect she returned Peregrine’s obvious interest? That she wanted his flirtatious attentions? Compared to Leo, Peregrine was a rambunctious puppy, acceptable in small doses but not fit for polite company.

Cassie started to struggle, and Jocelyn set her down. The child immediately ran to Hannah and hid her face in her aunt’s skirts. This time there were no rebukes, merely sweet smiles that made Jocelyn long to lash out with sharp words of reprimand.

Hannah sparkling with the good cheer she hadn’t demonstrated before Leo’s arrival. “Do say you’ll come to the party.” She placed one gloved hand on Leo’s arm, all charm as she batted her lashes at him. “It won’t be the same without you.”

“Please excuse me,” Jocelyn said in a stiff voice. “I must attend my mother.” With a nod at Peregrine and a strained smile at Hannah, she hurried to the doorway. When she passed Leo, her lips warmed into a genuine beam. “I won’t be long.”

Leo glanced in the direction of the hoarse screams. “We’ll talk once our visitors leave.”

“Of course.” Jocelyn tried not to read too much into his glower. She had nothing to worry about, because she hadn’t encouraged Peregrine. Still, anxiety stalked her all the way to her mother’s rooms. She wanted Leo to trust her. Her thoughts slid to Peregrine and uneasiness joined her concern. His warning words implied something was amiss at Merrivale. Was he implying Leo was the source of the danger?

The screams grew progressively louder until they drowned out Jocelyn’s doubts.

Grimacing, she tapped on the door before entering. “Mother, is this shrieking necessary? You’re upsetting Cassie and making her cry.”

The caterwauling ceased abruptly.

“Have you collected herbs for me? I need them to make my rinse for your husband.”

Jocelyn fought an urge to bang her head against the nearest wall. In a quicksilver change of direction her mother appeared to have forgotten the spy she’d spotted lurking in the garden. “No, Mother. I had unexpected visitors. Leo is with them now, but as soon as they leave, I’ll collect the herbs and flowers you require.” She wanted to speak with the gardener anyway. Hopefully, he’d reported his findings to Woodley already.

Leaving Tilly to organize her mother, she returned to the parlor. To her relief, only Leo and Cassie remained. Arabella arrived at the same time and, after a glare in Jocelyn’s direction, took charge of Cassie and marched the child from the room.

“I’m sorry my mother upset Cassie.”

“I suspect Cassie is still unwell,” Leo said, his words clipped and precise.

Jocelyn winced, wary of his mood. She didn’t know him well enough to predict his temper. “Did you hear about the party?”

“Yes, Hannah informed me of the invitation.”

Jocelyn bit her lip.
Stupid.
She’d heard Hannah repeat the invitation herself. “I’m looking forward to meeting our other neighbors.”

Leo prowled to the nearest window. He stared out over the garden, his back stiff. Yesterday he’d reminded her of a graceful beast. Today his prowling seemed faintly menacing, especially in light of Peregrine’s strange warnings. Leo whirled to face her, the sudden move making her jump. “Are you bored with living in the country? Jaded with my company already?”

Jocelyn gaped at him. “Of course not.”

“You appeared to enjoy Peregrine’s company.” Leo’s harsh tone surprised her too. Had last night meant nothing to him?

“They weren’t here for long before you arrived. Mother had one of her episodes out in the garden.”