“Too many years living this far north?” her uncle asked.

“That and a Scottish cook.” He poured cream on the porridge. “Bannocks are also one of my favorites, but I’ve yet to find an English or French cook who can make them properly.”

Thalia made a note to herself to speak with the cook here about making bannocks, whatever they were.

She had just finished her tea when Berwick rose. “It’s time for the service.”

They followed him out, and fortunately, the way from the breakfast room to the door into the chapel was straightforward. When Giles turned his head to speak to Berwick, she took the opportunity to ask her aunt about her new clothes.

“Meg bought me gowns, but they are not what I have been allowed to wear. May I wear them now or should I wait until I am wed?”

Her aunt glanced at Thalia’s dress. “I would wait. I know it is not the answer you want, but I am sadly superstitious, and do not believe in tempting fate.”

The news was disappointing, but not unexpected. “I think that is one of the reasons I asked.”

Her sisters and brothers-in-law joined them as Mr. Kennedy began the service. The banns were read three times, as she expected. It interested her that the reading upon which the sermon was taken was about Rebekah, one of the matriarchs of the Jewish people, and how she met her husband, and the importance of marriage. The sermon was much shorter than the ones usually offered by the vicar at Somerset, and the service was over.

“How are the babies?” Thalia asked her sisters.

“Cranky,” Euphrosyne answered. “It is a normal process, but it is frustrating because there is not much one can do. What are your plans for today?”

“Giles is going to show me how to open the stone boxes.” Thalia would not call them crypts, which they looked like and would have been if they were not hiding secret passageways. “I am going to explore the tunnels.”

“Do you mind if Euphrosyne and I come with you?” Laia asked. “I could use a diversion.”

Thalia nodded. It had been a long time since the sisters had done anything together. “It would be fun if we all went.”

The trick to opening them was not difficult, but it would not be apparent to anyone who had not been told. She made sure she could open them, close them, and get back from a tunnel before she and her sisters began their exploration.

The first one led—as she had been told yesterday—to the wine cellars. The sisters traced their way back to the chapel and went to the next box. That led to a long passageway ending in stairs that led into a lovely little cottage.

“How nice.” She and her sisters looked around the house and well-tended garden.

“Did you notice how clean the tunnels are?” Euphrosyne asked.

“This cottage as well,” Laia added.

“I wonder if they are often used or if the housekeeper simply keeps them in good order,” Thalia said.

The third tunnel led to a set of stairs that opened into a wardrobe in a large bedchamber. When the sisters entered the room, two maids shrieked.

“Goodness, my lady,” one of the maids said. “You gave us a fright. We’re not used to the tunnels being used.”

“Do you clean them?” Thalia asked to satisfy her curiosity.

“The footmen do, my lady. One of the boys—it might have been the Duke of Kendal—got a bad bug bite from something in the tunnels, and got sick. Ever since then, they’ve been cleaned regular.”

“And I thought they were secret.” Euphrosyne sounded disappointed.

“Well, my lady, as to that, only the most senior of us knows about them, and we don’t tell no one else.”

Euphrosyne grinned. “That makes me feel better.”

Trying to find out where, exactly, this room was located, Thalia walked to one of the windows. It looked out over a river, but was it the Whiteadder or the Tweed? “Let’s go out the door and try to find our way back to the hall.”

“Oh, my lady,” the older maid said. “I wouldn’t do that. It’s not easy. And I wouldn’t want you gettin’ lost.”

“Come, Thalia.” Laia took her arm. “We can go back through the chapel.”

“Very well.” Thalia smiled at the maids. “Thank you for warning us.”

They bobbed curtseys. “You’re welcome, my lady.”

They went back into the wardrobe and down the stairs. Thalia knew that look on her sister’s face. She had seen it a lot when Euphrosyne was attempting to escape from Somerset Castle. “What are you thinking?”

Holding the candle up, she stared into Thalia’s eyes. “I think you know. The only reason to find the ends of the tunnels is to plan an escape if you need to.”

“You are right. That’s exactly what I was doing.” What happened to her sister had made her extremely wary of the duke. “I think that room is my best option. We are likely to be found in the other places.”

“I think that is a good decision.” Her sister linked arms with her. “I hope you don’t need it.”


THAT EVENING, as Giles and Thalia’s family gathered in the family drawing room, Berwick’s butler entered. “The Duke of Somerset has arrived.”

“I didn’t expect him until much later.” Berwick rose. “Bring him to my study in about five minutes, not sooner.” The butler bowed. “Giles, lead everyone up the back staircase and be as quiet as possible. I don’t think you’ll be heard, but there is no sense in tempting fate.”

“Come with me.” Giles motioned them out the door and toward the back of the house and the servant’s stairs. When they reached the second floor, he lit the wall sconce. “Meet here at quarter before nine. There is a way to get to the chapel without being seen from the East wing of the house.”

As soon as he escorted Thalia to her bedchamber, he planned to go down and listen to the conversation Berwick and Somerset would be having. But Thalia didn’t stand aside and allow Giles to open the door for her. Instead, she leaned back against it.

“What are you planning?” she asked.

How the devil did she know he was planning anything? “I am going to kiss you goodnight.” Unfortunately, it didn’t come out like a definitive and slightly rakish statement. It came out as a question.

“I fully expect that you will kiss me, but that is not what I am referring to.”

A muffled laugh sounded behind him. “You might as well tell her.”

Bloody hell-hounds! “I’m going down to listen in on the conversation.”

Thalia’s normally nicely rounded chin turned mulish. “I am coming with you.”

“We are as well.” Hawksworth was leaning against the opposite wall with Guy.

Arguing with them would take too long, and he’d probably lose anyway. “Fine. Just be quiet.”

He led them across the stair landing and opened a door that led to a corridor and some stairs. He took his shoes off as he reached another corridor and waited while the others did the same, then made his way to the end of the passage, where he pushed back a small cover that hid a peep hole.

Standing in front of him, Thalia immediately stood on her toes, looked, and put her hand up to her mouth. Her brother gently moved her aside for his own look, then let Bolton have a chance.

“Painting?” he mouthed.

Giles nodded. His uncle’s desk stood to one side of the peephole so that he could see both Berwick’s and Somerset’s faces. Each man had a glass of brandy, and a set of documents lay on the table between them.

“Damn coach,” Somerset complained. “I was at the next inn before the groom caught up to me and told me my secretary was stuck.”

“It doesn’t matter, unless you want to change anything.” Berwick took a small sip of brandy. “If not, I have it all here.” He covered his mouth as he yawned. “We can wait to sign them until morning.”

“No point. I’d rather get it over with.”

Thalia scowled as her father practically rubbed his hands together with greed.

“What time did you say the wedding was?”

“Eleven o’clock.” Berwick moved the pen set toward the center of the table as if he didn’t care if the contract was signed now or not.

Somerset picked up the pen, dipped it in the standish, signed the document, and rose. “I’d like to be shown to my apartments now.”

Leaning back, Berwick tugged the bell pull, and his butler entered. “Your Grace?”

“Please show His Grace to his chamber.”

Giles could feel the breaths of those around him. When Somerset rose, Thalia, her brother, and brother-in-law stopped breathing, as if they were afraid the man would demand that Berwick sign the settlements now.

Rising, the duke inclined his head. “I look forward to tomorrow.”

“As do I,” Berwick said. “As do I.”

The door to the study closed, and they all sighed with relief. A few moments later, Berwick said, “Kendal you can come out now, and bring the others with you.”

Thalia’s eyes flew to his. “How did he know?”

Kendal looked at the men with them. “I think he’s had enough time to take your measure, all of your measures.” He unbolted the door. “Well done, sir.”

“Thalia, my dear, there is wine and brandy on the sideboard. Please pour for everyone. Kendal, sign this blasted document.” Berwick fixed a hard look on Hawksworth. “I hope you’re right about this.”

Ever the former colonel, Hawksworth held his own counsel, but accepted the wine his sister handed him and drank deeply.

“I hope so too, sir.” Bolton nodded his thanks and took a glass from her.

Kendal didn’t know his future father-in-law well. In fact, they were barely on nodding terms. But from what he did know, poor Berwick would be hard pressed to entertain the man until eleven tomorrow. “How are you going to keep him busy? You can’t have him running around the house by himself.”

“No. He will be escorted wherever he goes, and diverted if need be. First, he’ll be informed that I do not rise until nine of the clock and will not be available until ten. During that time, he will be served breakfast in his room. A footman will remain with him.” He looked at Giles. “The rest of you will break your fast in your bedchambers as well. I’ll not take the chance that he’ll go wandering and find you.”