Page 95 of Rival to Resist
Her votes. Whatwouldshe do with them?
Her conscience was what had made her feel she needed to vote for Oswald. To do anything else would be to break her word doubly—to Oswald and to Richard.
But could she, in good conscience, vote for Oswald? If this was how he was acting, who was to say what he would do once he was elected? What secrets would he keep? What power would he wield over others—or her? What things would he conveniently forget?
There was a knock on the door, and a footman opened it. “Mr. Redworth is ’ere to see you, m’lady.”
Caroline breathed deeply, trying to regain mastery over herself. “Show him in and have Mrs. Penhaligan bring tea.” She was surprised to know her steward had come, for they had met but a few days ago.
She greeted him and invited him to sit down.
“Thank you, my lady,” Mr. Redworth said, remaining on his feet, “but I shan’t take your time. I merely felt I should inform you of what I learned this morning.”
She waited for him to go on, trying to ignore the tickle of unease his words caused.
“The Prowse property has been purchased.”
Caroline stared at him. The Prowse property? That was impossible. Richard had tried to locate the owner multiple times, as had Oswald, and neither had found success. It was as though the man had not wanted to be found.
“Purchased by whom?” she asked.
He shook his head. “I have not yet been able to find the answer to that.A gentleman with local interestsis all I was able to discover.”
Caroline’s chest tightened. “Oswald.”
Mr. Redworth frowned. “You think he would do so without informing you?”
“Two weeks ago, I would have said no, but now…”
He had kept other things from her, after all—his investigation into Frederick, his dealings with Mrs. Tonkin. Perhaps he had begun to despair of receiving Caroline’s votes, so he had taken measures to ensure he would not lose. With the vote that went with the Prowse burgage, he would have as many votes as Caroline. And in the event of a tie…he had befriended Mr. Hannaford.
How long had he been planning for this potentiality?
“Well,” Mr. Redworth said, “whatever the case, I thought you would wish to know.”
“Yes, of course. Thank you for telling me.”
Caroline could not help feeling responsible. She had thrown fuel on the fire of Oswald’s determination to be elected—and his dislike of Frederick. Perhaps if she had not done so, Oswald would not be the only candidate to give her votes to.
All she knew for certain was that she wished to see Frederick.
When she arrived on horseback an hour later to The Silver Pilchard, she waited a few minutes for Jory to take her horse but grew impatient when he never appeared. She slipped down, then looped the reins through the iron ring on the side of the inn and went inside.
A gentleman was coming down the stairs, but his gaze came up and he slowed at the sight of her. He was young—though not as young as she—handsome, well-groomed, and particularly well-dressed. More than anything, though, she was struck by his air of authority.
In short, his presence at The Silver Pilchard was highly unusual. Who was he, and what was he doing in Trelowen?
With the by-election tomorrow, the probability was high that he had come for it.
A thought occurred to her.
What if Oswald hadnotbought the tenement and the last vote? Perhaps someone else had—someone he knew would vote for him and according to his wishes. Someone who could offer him something he needed. Something for Wheal Fortune, perhaps.
This man certainly looked as though he would be inpossession of a great many things Oswald would find valuable. Money not least of them.
The gentleman’s gaze was direct and held a glint of curiosity as it took in Caroline.
She pulled hers away and looked to the taproom on her left, but there was no one there.
