Tristan wanted to tell Pippa that the physical effect of a shock could often be surprising, but he decided to drop the topic for now. Perhaps it would be wise to examine her later, just to make sure she wasn't actually ill. She did not look as if she was about to drop down dead for the moment, and with that established, his curiosity was drawn by the newspaper article they kept referring to.

If Douglas did indeed give it to him, he started reading where the man indicated. His face lit up for a second when he realized Pippa was an heiress, but then turned grim, when he heard the young woman's words. He looked up at her. "Then we must go to the police," he stated.

Douglas did hand over the newspaper opened to the article that had the image with it.  He watched as Tristan read it and nodded, thinking it was a serious situation.  "I suggested we 'ave 'er protected.  Between you and I and my men, we could keep an eye on 'er quite well.  But she was sae concerned aboot talking aboot it, I didn't try pushing the idea of the police.  I guess I should 'ave thought of that first thing."  He frowned.

She sighed softly, "What can the police to without that letter? And for that matter, would they even be able to help?" She paused and then looked to Tristan. "I am sorry that I didn't think to tell you about the man... I just..." She paused and then looked down. "I was so overwhelmed and still am..." she swallowed. She was starting to look pale again, and slightly green.

"But there is something I must be honest about... I..." She sighed and sat down heavily. Her head dropped forward and she gave a humorless laugh. "I cannot do this anymore. Run. I don't want to be alone, either," and then she looked at Tristan. "I have never felt more alone though..."

Tristan looked up at the young woman with pity. "You are not alone," he said, "Pippa. Never mind you didn't tell me. I know now, and I fully agree with Lord Gordon. We will do what we can to help and protect you. We just need to find the best way to do so." He rose and walked over to a cabinet and found a bottle of brandy and some glasses. He could do with something to fortify him, for it began to dawn on him that he had just somehow found himself involved in in a murder mystery. With the murderer still out there. And he wasn't exactly the hero type.

"What happened to the letter?" he asked, as he poured two glasses of brandy. "I take it you know who sent it?" He held up a third empty glass, looking at Pippa with a questioning look. He didn't have to ask the Scotsman, but Pippa didn't handle alcohol so well, he remembered.

Douglas was glad Tristan had come up with the idea of something strong to drink.  This was a pickle to be sure.  "She didnna seem tae know who it was earlier when we spoke of the letter."  He glanced at Pip to confirm that reminded statement.  "Sae, we need tae be aware and alert tae any new men aroond 'er.  I offered for my men tae 'elp as she goes aboot town.  I can make dae with Mr. Roberts being over 'ere."  He suggested to Tristan.

"Mr. Fraiser can dae the bultering things."  He reasoned.  "I can escort Pip anytime as well."  He offered.  "If we notice some new bloke around 'er we can take it up with the police."

Shit! He had to bring up men. Her eyes widened a little and she hid her face. Now what was she to do? She shook her head, "I think I left it on my bed at school. I just... took whatever I had of value and sold it and I left. I was so frightened." Pippa looked between the two men and her eyes started to shimmer with tears. She wanted to take the offer for a drink but she did not, merely lifting a hand in a gesture.

"And I... I..." She flinched again and then said almost on a whisper, her words nearly catching in her throat and coming out sounding garbled. "There is a man." And then she stood up again and walked to a window. "I... went to market on my day off one day and met him there and I turned to him, a complete stranger..." She gripped at both of her upper arms so hard that her knuckles turned white.

She looked to Tristan then and had a tear dribbling down her cheek. "I didn't intend to but it was the only thing I had left of my own that I wanted to give on my own terms." Her lips trembled and she closed her eyes. "I don't expect you to understand my motives, either, and fully accept my responsibility in this... I understand if my job is terminated by this confession."

Tristan nodded at Douglas' suggestions. It sounded reasonable, though he still believed they should at least talk to the police.

And then Pippa dropped another bomb.

He stared, mouth lightly open, eyes blank. Was she saying what he thought she was saying? He closed his mouth into a thin straight line and turned his back on them, setting the empty glass down. Then he topped up Douglas' glass and his own with a double portion in light of the new developments. Had the ad not stated 'no followers'? And he had believed Pippa to be a sensible and well-bred girl...

He returned to where they were seated, handed Douglas a glass of brandy, and sat down with his own. "Well..." he said, still processing what he had heard. Did Pippa not realize the danger she had put herself in, especially given her circumstances? And even though she hadn't be killed, she could still... Yeah, actually, he really should look into her physical ailments. He sank further down into the chair, put a hand over his brow and squeezed it, and brought the glass to his lips.

Douglas blinked.  He understood the physical needs that a man had, and over his years had found that women also had some.  However, he had not expected this of Pip.  She had seen so quiet and inverted.  He took the drink from Tristan and tossed it down pretty quickly with a slight cough. 

Then the issue of the man after her came back to mind.  "Could this 'ave been the man that did the violence of yur family?"  He looked to Tristan.  "Ruining the lass and then doing her further 'arm is a 'uge possibility.  We should 'ave the police check 'im oot or one of us dae sae at the vera least, dinna yu think?"

She lifted her hands in horror, "Heavens, no. I don't think a fisherman has any use for the inheritance of a textile factory." Her head shook. "I think I might know the killer of my parents and brother... It had to be someone I know... How did my family and all of the servants die in one fire? My parents would have gotten every last one of the servants and themselves to safety." She took a deep breath and let it out, her hands starting to wring.

"No, the man I have been..." she had to think of a proper term, "friendly... with... He and I... We're not..." she paused again, clearly mortified to be having this conversation with the two men. "I'd never seen him before that time in the market and... well... I only go to see him on my day off, and it only happened a few times. It was my idea, not his." she tapped her fingers together now and looked at the two men. Her face was red to her ears.

"Anyhow, he likes women too much to murder them... at least... that is my impression."

Tristan felt like he was just getting one shock after the other. A seafarer. Not the reliable type. And Pippa had been with him more than once. How had all of this happened behind his back?! And why did this girl not possess better judgement? She could definitely be pregnant.

Tristan drank a large portion of his brandy with rather more speed than he was used to, before he was finally ready to answer in a sharp tone: "Well, dangerous or not, I suggest you stop being 'friendly' with this man, Pippa. Before you find yourself with child and disgraced completely. You'll be surprised how little that type of man likes women once they're pregnant."