not unlike those of his youth, when his family gathered for supper. In fact, by the time dessert was served, Garrett realized that he was actually enjoying himself.
Louisa didn’t say much, but instead spent most of her time gazing up at him, seemingly mesmerized by every word that passed his lips.
After dinner, Chris pushed back from the table and asked Garrett, “Up for a friendly game of poker? We play every Friday evening.”
Before he could answer, Louisa said, “Garrett and I are taking a walk in the garden.” Which he took as his clue to decline their offer, when the truth was he would much rather play cards than take a leisurely stroll, but securing his position with Louisa took precedence for now.
“Maybe some other time,” he told Chris.
“Of course.” Chris turned to Louisa, his expression serious, and said, “Not too far, and I want you inside before sundown.”
“I know,” Louisa replied, sounding exasperated, and Garrett didn’t blame her. He knew her family kept a tight grip on the reins, but telling a woman of twenty-seven that she couldn’t stay out past dark bordered on the absurd.
Louisa slipped her arm through his and smiled up at him. “Ready?”
He thanked her family for dinner, then let Louisa lead him through the castle and out onto a patio that opened up into acres of lush flower gardens. The evening was a warm one, but a cool breeze blew in from the bluff.
She kept a firm grip on his arm as they started down the path, as though she feared the instant they were in the clear he might run for his life.
“I’m really sorry about my family,” she said, looking apologetic. “As you probably noticed, they treat me like a child.”
“They are quite … protective.”
“It’s humiliating. They think I’m naive.”
Maybe they weren’t so far off the mark, he thought wryly. She was unsophisticated enough to fall for his charms without question or doubt. Not that he would ever mistreat her, or compromise her honor. She would never suffer as his wife.
“I’m sure they mean well,” he told her. “I imagine it would be much worse if they didn’t care at all.”
“I guess you’re right,” she conceded. “But since the threats started they’ve been a lot worse than usual. They think everyone I meet is a spy or something.”
“I had seen something on the news about the security being breached in your father’s hospital suite in London. I understand no one was able to identify the suspect from the surveillance footage.”
“He calls himself the Gingerbread Man.”
“Seriously?”
“Strange, I know. It started last summer with e-mail. He hacked into our computer system and sent threatening messages to us from our own accounts. They were all twisted versions of nursery rhymes.”
“Nursery rhymes?” That didn’t sound very threatening to him.
“Mine said, ‘I love you, a bushel and a peck. A bushel and a peck, and a noose around your neck. With a noose around your neck, you will drop into a heap. You’ll drop into a heap and forever you will sleep.’” She looked up at him with a wry smile and said, “I memorized it.”
On second thought, that was rather ominous. “What were the others?”
“I don’t remember them word for word, but the common theme was burning alive.”
Ouch. No wonder the family was being so cautious.
“At first we thought it was just an elaborate prank, until he managed to slip through castle security and get on the grounds. They think he scaled the bluff.”
That explained the seemingly excessive security the night of the ball. “Was anyone harmed?”
“No, but he left a note. It said, ‘Run, run, as fast as you can. You can’t catch me. I’m the Gingerbread Man.’ That’s how we learned his name. We haven’t heard anything from him lately, but that doesn’t mean he’s stopped. Things will be quiet for a while, then just when we think that he’s given up, he’ll leave another note somewhere or send an untraceable e-mail. He sent a gift basket full of rotten fruit for New Year’s, then he sent flowers for Melissa and Chris congratulating them on the pregnancy. Weeks before the official announcement was made. He even knew that they were having triplets.”
“Sounds like someone on the inside.”
“We thought so, too, but everyone checked out.”
At least her family’s protectiveness made a bit more sense now. He just hoped it didn’t interfere with his plans. It could be difficult courting a woman who wasn’t allowed to leave her home.
“Enough about my family drama,” she said, waving the subject away like a pesky insect. “What is your family like?”
“Simple,” he said, then quickly added, “Not intellectually. But they prefer to live a … humble lifestyle.” One that didn’t include him.
“What do your brothers do?”
“Two own a business together in England. They sell farming equipment. My youngest brother is something of a … wanderer. Last I heard he was working a cattle ranch in Scotland.”
“I’d like to meet them,” she said, with an eagerness that surprised him. “Maybe they could all come to the castle for a visit.”
Considering he was trying to impress the royal family, that probably wouldn’t be wise. “I’m not so sure that would be a good idea.”
She frowned. “You’re not ashamed of them?”
Once again, her directness surprised him. “I’m afraid it’s quite the opposite.”
Her eyes widened. “They’re ashamed of you?”
“Maybe not ashamed, but they’re not very pleased with the path I chose.”
“How is that possible? Look how well you’ve done. All that you’ve accomplished. How can they not be proud?”
He’d asked himself that same question a million times, but had long ago given up trying to understand their reasoning. He no longer cared what they thought of him. “It’s … complicated.”
She patted his arm. “Well, I think you’re amazing. The instant I saw you I knew you were special.”
He could see that she truly meant it, and in an odd way he wished he could say the same of her. He was sure that Louisa was very special in her own right, and maybe someday he would learn to appreciate that.
“Tell me the truth,” she said. “Did my family scare you off?”
He could see by her expression that she was genuinely concerned, but he was a man on a mission. It would take a lot more than a grilling by her siblings to get in his way.
