Free The Secret of Castlegate Manor by Karen Cogan Page A

lifted Caroline into the saddle, reluctant to remove his hands from her waist when she was safely settled. Her sweet lavender scent seemed to move with him as he mounted the spirited Victory.
    Caroline glanced at him as they walked the horses toward the hilly grassland. "How is John Coachman?"
    "He is recovering. The servants are caring from him in his attic quarters. The wound was not deep. Since there is no sign of infection, I do not believe he will be incapacitated for long."
    "I am pleased to hear it. It disheartens me to think that I must be the cause of his suffering."
    "You could not have known, my lady, that your presence would put John Coachman in danger. I believe I may know the identity of the assailant."
    Caroline brought her horse up short. "I should be most interested in hearing what you have learned."
    "As you know, the new stable hand, Benson, was hired by Lord Humphrey. When I questioned him regarding his activity at the time of the assault, he could give me no satisfactory answer and, indeed, seemed most impatient with my questions.
    Caroline glanced uneasily in the direction of the trees.
    "You need not worry. We can trust Nottington to keep him at the stable. He will find ample chores within his sight to keep Benson busy."
    "Are you sure Nottington can be trusted?"
    "Quite sure, my lady."
    "And you think Benson had opportunity to shoot at us and also tamper with the carriage?"
    "Ample opportunity, my lady. I was with you when the first shot was fired. So you know that I was not the gunman."
    "And the carriage?"
    "Four of us work in the stable. Any of us could have had the opportunity to disable the carriage. John Coachman and Nottington were riding atop. I do not think they would have taken the chance of their own injury, nor to they have anything to gain from frightening you. I was with you when John Coachman was shot. Again, I could not have been the gun man. That leaves only Benson who had the opportunity to both shoot, and tamper with the carriage."
    Caroline watched the play of expression on his handsome features. His words made perfect sense. She wished she had thought of the groom as a possible suspect in contributing to Lord Humphrey's foul scheme.
    "What shall we do? We have no evidence," she said.
    "I shall endeavor to watch him closely and shadow him wherever he goes. Perhaps I shall catch him in meeting with Lord Humphrey."
    "If you could overhear that would be much more the better."
    He smiled. "You would make a fine investigator, my lady."
    She met his approving gaze. "I think not. I would most likely be caught in the act of espying and meet a dreadful end."
    "I cannot think of how anyone could wish so beautiful a lady a dreadful end."
    She felt her cheeks grow warm. "You speak boldly for a stable hand."
    His warm laughter broke forth like a bubbling brook. Caroline quite enjoyed the sound.
    "I've been told that I am bold. I like to think of myself as honest and outspoken," he said.
    They rode to the outskirts of the Stewart property where they could look upon the adjoining estate and a small cottage nestled down in a glen.
    "I do not miss the bustle and confusion of London when I look upon such a peaceful scene," Caroline said.
    Geoffrey studied her, a smile playing upon his lips. "I should think a sophisticated woman such as yourself would miss the trappings of the city."
    Caroline shook her head. "I love the country. I should be glad never to leave it."
    "Were you brought up in London?"
    "No. In India."
    Had she been looking at Geoffrey instead of the cottage, she would have seen the look of curious interest that lit his eyes at her carelessly tossed answer.
    "We should go back. I have been gone far too long as it is," Caroline said.
    They cantered across the meadow, then walked the horses down the path to the stable.
    Geoffrey helped her dismount, a curious expression still lodged in his eyes.
    "In what part of India did you reside?"
    Caroline felt the discomfort her lies always brought.