Tempting Taffy (House of Devon #8) - Meara Platt Page 0,1

butlers on staff can deal with the chore, if you prefer. I assure you, beyond this little task, I need have nothing more to do with you.”

He tried not smile, and indeed ought to have been displeased by her comeuppance, but he found her insolence refreshing. Well, it wasn’t insolence so much as bluntness. “Do go on. I’m sure ye have more to say.”

“It isn’t my place, my lord.”

She tried to bow her head again, but he still had his hand under her chin and would not allow her to look away. “I want to hear it all. Do not be afraid of me. I will not be angry nor will I hurt ye.” But he did drop his hand to his side, once again irritated with himself for touching the lass, albeit innocently.

“Even if the coach driver had said nothing, we all would have immediately suspected something was amiss. It is doubtful the heir to the Duke of Inverness would ever travel alone. Indeed, you arrived without the entourage one would expect surrounding you. Also, you arrived just after Christmas, missing the Duke of Devon and his family, as well as all the festivities. The family is no longer in residence now that Twelfth Night has come and gone, and yet here you are. The only guest in this big, rambling home.”

She paused a moment, but proceeded at his nod. “When you descended your coach, you held your little boy’s hand. Not only that, he was clinging to you and you were allowing it. The poor lad was scared out of his wits, wasn’t he?”

“Indeed, he was and still is.”

She met his gaze squarely. “We will keep a vigilant eye on him, my lord. No one will harm your little boy while he is here. But there is something that troubles me deeply.”

He folded his arms across his chest. “What is it, lass?”

“If someone is attempting to take your life, then why are you keeping your son close to you? Wouldn’t he be safer apart from you, at least until your assailant can be apprehended?”

The lass did not mince her words.

He ought to have chastised her for overstepping, but he liked that bit of spirit in her. More important, he liked that she was alert and thinking of Rafe’s safety. He could take care of himself, but the boy was only five years old. Helpless and vulnerable.

He cast her a mirthless smile. “This madman, whoever he may be, seems bent on killing him as well as me, so I thought it best to keep him close. It is far from ideal, but far worse for me to be apart from the lad if this crazed villain went for him first.”

Her expression softened. “I see, my lord,” she said, releasing a shaky breath. She nibbled her lip a moment. “I did not know this part of it. I was not aware. Of course, your heart would never recover from such a thing. You’ve come to the right place. We know who belongs and who does not. We’ll keep a sharp eye out for any strangers. As for your son, we’ll all watch over him and protect him as though he were our own.”

“Taffy, that would ease my mind greatly.”

She gave a curt bow, and believing herself dismissed, turned to walk to the hidden panel that led down the servants’ stairs. But he stopped her. “Dinna go, lass. Continue putting the rest of my things away. My apologies for snapping at ye when I entered.”

“Not at all, my lord. You have good reason to be wary.” She cleared her throat. “Since I am to remain, then um…about your weapons…”

His eyebrow shot up in surprise. “Och, does anything escape yer notice? How did ye find them?”

“Quite by accident. I heard them rattle beneath the false bottom of your bag when I tried to move it closer to the wardrobe. But I didn’t touch them.”

He groaned. “Nor shall ye. Are we clear on that point?”

Her lips were pursed again. “Since I will be attending to your son during your stay, would you consider telling me where you plan to hide them? It would be helpful for me to have this information if the unknown assailant does manage to get in here.” She held out her hands that appeared small and delicate. “I doubt I’d get very far trying to fight him off with my fists.”

Were all the Hartland maids as unusual as this girl? He doubted it. She was clever, observant, ready to