The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen Read Free Book Online Page A

spread his hands. “Motivations, none. Intentions, plenty. Cannot have strangers dancing upon the pianoforte or using the family china for target practice, can we?”
    Irritation surged. He was a captain in the Royal Navy. Not some pillaging pirate. Biting back a sarcastic retort, Matthew said evenly, “My intentions are this. I hope my parents may join me for a time – my mother is not in good health. Eventually, I also hope to host a house party with friends from London. Perfectly respectable.”
    “I will hold you responsible for any damage to the property.”
    “Understood. I also plan to invite a fellow officer to lodge here for the summer. He is scraping by on half pay and is injured as well.”
    Prin-Hallsey leaned back in his chair. “Charitable fellow, ey?”
    “Not especially. He is no stranger, after all. And, now I think on it, my former lieutenant might feel more comfortable under his own roof. Are any estate cottages available?”
    “No. But there is an old gatehouse we no longer use as an entrance. It is occupied at present, but I have reason to believe it will soon be vacant.”
    “How soon?”
    “Very.”
    Matthew thought of the girl who had helped him recapture his horse. “Well, no hurry. I shall invite him to join me in the house for now. Certainly large enough for the two of us. It is a bit farther from the coast than I would like, but I negotiated a satisfactory sum with your steward. The terms are agreeable?”
    “You are a man who likes a bargain, I see. And I will agree to the lesser amount on one condition.”
    “Yes?”
    “That I am allowed to return, allowed access to the place even while you are in residence.”
    Matthew felt his brows rise.
    “I will let it furnished and staffed as you requested,” Prin-Hallsey explained. “But since the death of my father’s second wife, I have had insufficient time to sort through many old family papers and ledgers and the like.”
    Matthew frowned. “You might box them up and take them with you. I shall have no need of such. You are leaving your steward to oversee the accounts.”
    “Yes, but . . . well, it is more than papers. There are several family heirlooms and things of that nature that have become, well, misplaced. The woman had a different idea of organization than did I, or my mother before her. I need to find . . . several items. I am not sure how long it will require, nor how exactly I will split my time between the task and my . . . responsibilities . . . in town.”
    Matthew studied the man. He knew there was more going on than he said, but had no interest in prying. He did not like the idea of paying rent to the owner and then having the man come and go as he pleased as if he still owned the place. But the truth was he did.
    “I cannot stop you from coming,” Matthew allowed. “It is your house, after all.”
    Prin-Hallsey casually crossed his legs. “True. But if you are agreeable to the terms, the place is yours for six months beginning April first.”
    Matthew said, “I don’t suppose you would consider selling outright?”
    Prin-Hallsey hesitated, twisting his lips to one side. “Afraid I can’t, old boy. Not yet. Perhaps in future, if you are still interested, I might be able to part with her.”
    “Is the estate entailed?”
    Hugh stroked his chin. “No. But it has been in the family for years.”
    “I see.”
    “I doubt it.” Hugh rose, signaling the end of the meeting. “At all events, the steward, Hammersmith, will manage things for you and see to troublesome tenants, useless servants, and the like. He is a man who gets things done.”

    “Here he comes,” Mariah whispered to herself, standing at the kitchen window with mounting dread. She realized she had unconsciously been awaiting the steward’s call ever since Hugh Prin-Hallsey mentioned his intention to “redress” her situation.
    She watched Mr. Hammersmith as he tottered up the drive, dressed in black, his round upper body and thin stockinged