Page 16 of The Dandy Lyon

“Why are they hard to shoot, Thomas?” Joanna cut her gaze swiftly from her friend to Mr. Dandridge. She had no doubt the man was skillful. He seemed to exude competence in everything he did.

“They are small birds, my lady.” Mr. Dandridge spoke up before Thomas could answer. “Smaller than grouse at any rate. They are particularly agile, with rapidly beating wings that make them very speedy indeed.”

“They would certainly present a challenge to a boy of—” Thomas paused and looked inquiringly at Mr. Dandridge.

“Nine, my lord.”

Joanna’s brows shot up. “You were shooting on your own at the age of nine?”

Mr. Dandridge chuckled. “As the man of the family, one does what he must, my lady.”

“Even break the law, it seems.” Thomas stared at him, his good humor suddenly gone.

“What to you mean, Thomas?” A chill ran through Joanna.

“He means I was poaching, my lady.” Mr. Dandridge seemed unconcerned to have admitted to wrongdoing. “A rather grave crime.”

“But you had to keep your family fed.” Joanna frowned. “It’s not like you went out and robbed a mail coach.”

“It’s exactly like that, my dear.” Thomas had put on his stern face. “Had Mr. Dandridge been caught, he could have suffered transportation to Australia if not outright hanging.”

“Even a child?” Joanna was horrorstruck. “That is just wicked, Thomas.”

“Fortunately, my lady, my transgressions were not uncovered,” Mr. Dandridge grinned, completely unconcerned. “A year later we moved to London where my mother remarried and there was no opportunity for such criminal behavior on my part.”

Thomas continued to stare at the man opposite him, his eyes narrowing.

A sudden panic came over Joanna, a fear that Thomas might feel it his duty to report this criminal behavior to the authorities. What dire consequences might her innocent questions have brought about for Mr. Dandridge?

The stony silence that ensued seemed to last an eon. Joanna cast about for some subject she could introduce that would change the dangerous bent their conversation had taken. Before she could open her mouth to remark on the fine weather, Mr. Dandridge resumed speaking, as though no time had elapsed whatsoever.

“I did, however make some reparations to the landowner who had held our tenancy.”

Joanna released the breath she’d been holding and shot a look at Thomas to try to gauge his reaction. Her friend’s eyes were still narrowed, though there seemed less tension in his mouth before he spoke. “How did you accomplish that, Dandridge?”

“Once I’d made my fortune, I returned to Essex, to the estate and spoke to the owner.”

“Did he remember you? Did you confess to him?” Thomas’s voice was hard.

“Oh, he remembered me and my family. And yes, I did tell him about my youthful misdeeds.” Mr. Dandridge met Thomas’s baleful gaze with a smile. “After I’d bought the estate from him. He didn’t seem to hold any animosity toward me. In fact, he was much more interested in taking my most generous offer than in calling for the sheriff.”

“Do you live on the estate in Essex then, Mr. Dandridge?” Joanna couldn’t help her wide smile, happy he would not get into trouble with the law on her account.

“No, my lady. My business keeps me in London year-round.” His gaze softened. “My mother and my brothers and sisters reside there.”

“And your stepfather?” Joanna thought it odd he did not include that gentleman as well.

“He died shortly before this.” The coldness in Mr. Dandridge’s voice made Joanna shiver.

“Your mother has had more than her share of grief, Mr. Dandridge.” Thomas looked at the man keenly.

“Some people have more than others, I’ll admit, my lord. But the life of a dockworker in London is more than a little dangerous.” Mr. Dandridge shrugged. “My mother has borne her grief as best she could in her new surroundings.”

Something in Mr. Dandridge’s tone made Joanna believe there was more to the story than this, but she was determined to change the subject once again, and in a direction of her choosing. “Excuse me, gentlemen. I know you will be heading back to the fields shortly and I wished to get something settled before you do.” Joanna looked brightly from one man to the other. “Mr. Dandridge has offered to teach me how to shoot a pistol tomorrow, with your permission, Thomas. So I was wondering if we could agree on the time and place?”

Thomas’s eyes widened while a glance at Mr. Dandridge showed his had narrowed. “Why on earth would you wish to learn to shoot, Lady Joanna?”

She made a face. If they hadn’t been in company, she’d have stuck her tongue out at him. “You have no idea how tiresome it is, Thomas, to not be allowed to do so many interesting things just because one is a lady. I cannot hunt, I cannot shoot. I cannot attend the theater or go anywhere by myself. So when Mr. Dandridge and I were talking yesterday and he offered to teach me something I’d otherwise never be allowed to do, I told him yes wholeheartedly.”