The Keys of Love by Barbara Cartland

Duke enjoy taking tea with M-Miss Foss?”
    â€œI believe that he was somewhat bemused when she arrived in your place, but he found her uniquely charming.”
    Henrietta fell silent as Joe glanced sideways at her.
    â€œYou did not join the Duke for supper either,” he remarked after a moment.
    Henrietta was becoming uneasy.
    â€œAre you the D-Duke’s official spokesman that you interrogate me so?”
    â€œIn a way, yes,” he replied. “The Duke would like me to discover why you appear to harbour such apparent distaste for his company.”
    â€œ Distaste ? Oh, no,” she cried, shocked. “That was not the reason I stayed away at all!”
    She could not be sure if Joe heard these last words for something on the far bank had caught his attention and he now reared up in the saddle, staring into the distance.
    Henrietta followed his eye.
    A man was running across the skyline, right to left, and he was hunched over under the weight of a large sack.
    As if he sensed their presence, the man stopped and turned his head their way. Then he was running off again, at greater speed than before, making for some woods.
    â€œWait here,” commanded Joe, digging his heels into Gawain’s grey flank as he set out in pursuit.
    The man glanced back and ran away faster. Within seconds he had plunged through a wall of briars and was in the woods.
    Joe reached the woods, but Gawain baulked at the thorny briar that barred the way.
    Faintly over the field, Henrietta heard Joe attempt to urge Gawain on, but to no avail. He finally leaped from the saddle and pushed through the briars without his horse.
    A few minutes later Joe emerged carrying the sack, but there was no sign of the man he had been pursuing.
    Joe cantered back towards Henrietta.
    â€œWho was that man, Joe, and why did you chase after him?” she asked breathlessly.
    â€œI have no idea who he was,” said Joe grimly, “but I have a good idea what he was. Someone broke into the house late last night. Cook discovered many items missing
    Â a large ham, some chickens, bread, silver cutlery and a sum of money kept in a desk for provisions. Quite a large sum of money, as the ball is imminent.”
    Here Joe gave the sack a shake.
    â€œThe fellow dropped this when he realised it would hinder his escape. I think we’ll find most of the items in here bar the money.”
    Henrietta stared towards the dark woods, her heart suddenly chilled with fear.
    â€œA p-prisoner escaped yesterday, while we were en route to Merebury,” she whispered. “And when we arrived a servant found a hat left behind a trunk. He said we had had a stowaway.”
    â€œNo doubt it was our thief.”
    Joe looked at her pale face and his gaze softened.
    â€œBut do not worry. I think we have seen the last of him now.”
    Henrietta wondered why he was so sure.
“I-I should like to return to the house,” she said.
    Joe nodded and wheeled his horse around.
    The household was fully astir as he and Henrietta clattered back under the arch and into the courtyard.
    A stable boy ran out and held the reins while they dismounted.
    Henrietta had lifted her skirt and turned towards the house when the boy’s voice made her spin round in shock.
    â€œCook has been asking for you, Your Grace.”
    Your Grace !
    She looked wildly round, but there was no one else the boy could have addressed but Joe.
    Joe now swept off his hat and shook his dark locks.
    Locks as black as raven’s wings.
    Her stunned eyes met his.
    â€œWho who are you?” she whispered.
    He unwound the scarf and swept to an elegant bow.
    â€œJoeseph, Duke of Merebury, at your service, Miss Reed.”
    She thought she would faint.
    She stepped back, and back again, and then turned with a cry and took to her heels.
    As if she had disturbed his sleep, a black raven rose screeching from the eaves above her and flapped angrily away over the roof.

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