Devil's gaze turned sharp, his expression irritated. "I don't suppose I can persuade you to leave the matter in my hands?"
Honoria frowned. "Is it Tolly's horse-or could it be the murderer's?"
Devil's jaw firmed. "It must be the horse Tolly was riding-it was found fully saddled in a field near the wood the day after the storm. It's from the stables Tolly usually used. And the murderer presumably left the scene on horseback." A straight stretch lay before them; he slowed his matched bays and looked at Honoria. "Honoria Prudence, you might have come upon Tolly a few minutes before I did, but there's no reason you should take an active role in tracking down his killer."
Honoria put her nose in the air. "I take leave to disagree, Your Grace."
Devil scowled."For God's sake, stop 'Your Gracing' me-call me Devil. We are, after all, going to be man and wife."
"That," Honoria declared, her chin rising another notch, "is unlikely."
Devil eyed the tip of her chin, and debated the wisdom of arguing. Instead, he said, his tone edged but even: "Honoria, I'm the head of this family-my shoulders are broader than yours and my back is a good deal stronger. Finding Tolly's murderer is my responsibility-rest assured I'll fulfill it."
She looked at him. "You do realize you've just contradicted yourself? One minute, you declare I'm to be your bride-the next you forbid me to act as either your wife or your bride should."
"As far as I'm concerned my wife, prospective or actual, which is to say you, should refrain from all dangerous activities." Forced to look to his horses, Devil heard his own growl; his frown deepened. "Murder is violent; tracking a murderer is dangerous. You should not be involved."
"Entrenched opinion states that a wife should give her husband aid and succor in all his enterprises."
"Forget the aid-I'll settle for the succor."
"I'm afraid you cannot separate the two-they come as a package. Besides," Honoria added, her eyes widening, "if I'm to stay away from all danger, however could we wed?"
He glanced at her, his expression arrested; he searched her face, then narrowed his eyes. "You know you stand in no danger from me. You wouldn't be here if you did."
That, Honoria inwardly admitted, was true; he was far too potent a force to challenge without cast-iron assurances. But her position was unassailable-given he viewed her as his bride, he would uphold her honor, even against himself. She could have no more formidable protector. Secure in that knowledge, she smiled serenely. "Have your cousins learned anything yet?"
He muttered something and looked ahead-she didn't try too hard to catch his words. His jaw was set-granite would have been softer. He took the next turn at speed, then whipped up his horses. Unperturbed, she sat back, idly scanning the flat fields past which they flew.
Devil barely checked his team for Somersham,
Honoria glimpsed Mr. Postlethwaite by the vicarage. She waved; he blinked, then smiled and waved back. Had it really been only a week since she'd taken the lane through the wood?
Tolly's family had left the previous day, having spent the days since the funeral coming to terms with their grief. She had taken the twins in hand, encouraging them to turn their thoughts to the futures that lay before them. She had also broken one of her golden rules and taken the younger girls, Henrietta and little Mary, under her wing; there'd been no one else suited to the task. Supporting Tolly's sisters had only strengthened her resolution to ensure that his killer was brought to justice.
The roofs of St. Ives lay ahead before Devil finally spoke. "Vane sent a messenger yesterday-no one has unearthed the smallest clue or heard the slightest whisper. Nothing to suggest what sent Tolly this way or why he might have been killed."
Honoria studied his profile. "You were expecting more, weren't you?"
"I put off returning the horse, hoping to have a description of the man we're seeking. He must have got to the wood somehow. If he followed Tolly or came earlier from London, he may have hired a horse in St. Ives."
"Perhaps he drove?"
Devil shook his head. "If he had, he would have had to drive out of the wood away from Somersham. Otherwise, he would have encountered you. There was a group of my laborers in the fields below the wood-any carriage going that way would have passed them. None did."
"What about a horseman?"
"No, but the wood's riddled with bridle paths. There are any number a horseman could have taken."
"Is it possible to ride up from London?"
"Possible but not likely." Devil checked his pair; the first houses of St. Ives were before them. "A horse ridden that far at any reasonable speed could not have participated in any subsequent flight."
They'd reached the main street; Devil slowed the bays to a walk.
"So," Honoria concluded, "we're looking for a man, identity and description unknown, who hired a horse on the day of the shooting."
She felt Devil's gaze on her face-and heard the short, irritated, aggravated sigh he gave before saying: "We're looking for precisely that."
Five minutes later, sitting in the curricle, listening as he questioned the stablemaster, Honoria was still struggling with her triumph. She knew better than to let it show-the last thing she wanted was to bruise his masculine sensibilities and have him rescind his decision. Yet victory was so sweet it was hard to keep the smile from her lips-every time she was sure he couldn't see it, she gave in to the urge and smiled.
The curricle rocked as Devil climbed up. "You heard?"
"No horseman except Tolly. Are there other stables in town?"
There were two, but the answers there were the same as at the first. No man had hired a horse on that day-no one had noticed any horseman riding through. "What now?" Honoria asked as Devil headed his team back up the main street.
"I'll send men to check at Huntingdon, Godmanchester, and Ely. Chatteris as well, though that's even less likely."
"What about Cambridge?'
"That," Devil stated, "is the main chance. It's closer to town, and the coaches are more frequent on that route."
Honoria nodded. "So when are we going there?"
Devil flicked her a glance. "We aren't-any more than we're going to the other towns."
Honoria narrowed her eyes at him-only to see his lips twitch.
"I'm too well known to ask questions without inviting comment. St. Ives is different-it's the family town and has few other major families living close. And you can't ask either. But my grooms can chat up the ostlers over a pint or two and learn all we need without anyone being the wiser."
"Hmm." Honoria eyed him suspiciously.
"I'll send Melton to Cambridge."
"Your head stableman?"
"So to speak."
Honoria had yet to sight the man. "He doesn't seem to be much about."
"Melton is never around when I need him. It's a point of honor with him."
Honoria stared. "Why do you put up with him?"
Devil shrugged. "He's old."
"That's it? Because he's old?"
"No."
Intrigued, Honoria watched the hard face soften, not a great deal, but enough to show.
"Melton put me on my first pony-you could say he taught me to ride. He's been at the Place all his life, and no one knows more about horses-not even Demon. I couldn't turn him out to grass, not after a lifetime in the position. Luckily, his son-in-law, Hersey, is a sensible man-he's my understableman and actually does all the work. Other than on special occasions-and with handling Sulieman-Melton's position is purely titular."