He knew that I had purchased Henry’s contract as a countermeasure against Nathan Crowley, and that we had been pretending to be married ever since. He also knew that someone wanted me dead, and had made two attempts already on my life this summer. What he didn’t know was my true identity. According to Henry’s amended version of the facts, this unknown assailant held a bitter grudge against my family, most likely stemming from my father’s time as a sea merchant.
Upon hearing our plan to apprehend the killer, James had offered his own services. I was certainly grateful, though gauging by his comments I gathered his willingness came more from loyalty to Henry than any real concern for my safety.
“Ben will also be joining us in the forest tonight,” Henry said, once we were seated. “With the five of us, we may be able to devise a more active strategy other than hiding in ditches and watching the abandoned dairy.” All this waiting had proved even more trying for Henry than for myself.
I picked up a book and thumbed restlessly through the pages. “I wish it wasn’t necessary to put more people in danger on my account.”
Henry moved closer to me on the sofa. Reaching up, he brushed a finger along my cheek. “It’s our duty to protect you.”
James watched us uncomfortably. Unsurprisingly, out of everything he had heard today, it was Henry’s choosing me over Princess Amelia that he had found most shocking.
“Are you sure you won’t join us for the meeting?” Henry asked me. “I would feel better if you were nearby.”
“I’ll be fine,” I reassured him. Other than Karta, who went to her sister’s home every Sunday night, Brighmor was bustling with servants. “There are three maids about the house and Mrs. Ryan never retires before ten.”
“That is little consolation, considering how one of them is working against you,” he said dryly.
“Maybe so, but one deceitful wench is hardly a match to three faithful servants. I’ll be plenty safe while you’re gone.”
Henry gave me a dubious look, clearly unimpressed by my logic.
“And you know that Nora could be stopping by,” I added, lest he insist I join him in the woods. “I’m already in enough trouble for not telling her more today. She’ll not speak to me for a month if she comes over and finds me out.”
Mary entered, carrying a glass of wine on a small tray, which she set on a side table next to me. “Would ye like anything else, ma’am?” she asked.
“No thank you, Mary. The wine is all.”
She curtsied and left the room, but not without stealing a quick look at James. Though not near as handsome as Henry, he possessed a nicely shaped face, and looked rather dashing with his light brown eyes and fair hair tied back at the nape of his neck. And he seemed to have a pleasant disposition, not that he was particularly inclined toward me at the moment.
I lifted the glass and took a sip of the dark red liquid. “You see,” I said, smiling at Henry, “I am quite well taken care of. I’ll stay in here and read until you return.”
“You’ve no intentions of leaving the house?”
“I won’t even leave this room if that will make you feel better,” I promised. “Unless, of course a patient needs my help, or Nora wants to go for a walk.”
Henry let out an exasperated sigh. “How am I supposed to keep you safe if I don’t even know where you’ll be? Please stay in the house. That’s all I ask.”
His expression was a combination of worry and frustration. “Fine, no walks with Nora. But you know I can’t turn away a patient.”
His green eyes bore into mine as he weighed the merit of my claim. “All right.” He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek before standing. “We’ll be gone no longer than an hour. Send one of the stable boys to find us if there’s any sign of trouble.”
“It’s near dusk,” James said, frowning at us. “The other men will be waiting.”
Henry nodded and started toward the door. “Be careful,” he told me.
With a half-empty wine glass in one hand and a book in the other, I wasn’t sure how much more careful I could be. I just smiled rather than goad him further. Content with my response, he followed James from the room.
I took a long drink of wine and leaned back into the sofa. That’s a poor start, indeed. James was as common as me under the English class system. If he didn’t approve of our match, there was little chance anyone else would.
While I mulled over this newest trouble, Alice slipped into the room. She stood near the hearth, staring at me in a state of great agitation.
“Is there something the matter, Alice?”
“Beg yer pardon, ma’am,” she said nervously. “I’ve been hiding in the hallway till the gentlemen left, so to speak with ye.” She fell silent and started wringing her hands.
I sat quietly as well, nearly holding my breath while I waited for her to continue. Such anxiety could only mean one thing—she was about to make good on our deal. After weeks of waiting, my heart sped up from how close I was to knowing the truth.
The nervous silence stretched on so long, I had to force myself not to rush over and shake the poor girl for answers. “Alice,” I prodded instead, “have you discovered who’s been gossiping?”