“See, I am perfectly fine,” he insisted, only to be met with the doctor’s doubtful stare.
“Your wife also warned this is what you would tell me. You are fortunate the stitches held and there was no bleeding. Your arm is not broken, either. Another fortunate circumstance, since I understand you landed hard on it. The pain must be blistering.”
Julius grunted. “I’ll survive.”
“Yes, you will…thanks to my good care.” He grinned. “Need I tell you to take is easy for the next few days?”
“You can tell me.” But Julius was making him no promises.
The doctor had just finished examining him when Havers arrived to give their group the latest news. He was accompanied by Mr. Barrow who had been working hand in hand with the London constabulary to close this investigation.
Havers took the lead since he was the magistrate’s man. “It turns out all the Mayfields were involved in this sordid affair from start to finish. Both of the elder Mayfields set about wooing Lady Easton, but it was the little weasel brother, Reginald, that she fell for and they had a rather torrid affair.”
“Ew,” Marigold said, staring at Havers in dismay. “Did you have to tell us that? It is revolting, no matter which brother she chose for her dalliance.”
Havers arched an eyebrow. “More so than murder? I should think having an affair is the least of their crimes.”
Julius nodded. “Go on, tell us more.”
“We now have them all in custody, all the conspirators. The Mayfields, Flossie, and Flossie’s brother-in-law have all suddenly developed diarrhea of the mouth. Each of them is desperate to sell out the others in the hope we will show leniency in their punishment.”
“And Lady Easton?” Ambrose asked. “Has she said anything?”
“No, that woman is an iceberg. She’s holding firm despite everyone pointing fingers at her.” He raked a hand through his hair and turned to Gory. “You are completely absolved of any wrongdoing. I hope this pleases you.”
She nodded. “It does, but what a shameful tragedy. All she ever had to do was ask me for a share of my inheritance and I would have given it to her.”
Havers appeared surprised by her remark. “Why would you ever agree to such a thing? She treated you abysmally over the years. You owe her nothing. Nor would she have given you so much as a table scrap had the situations been reversed.”
“I know. But to deny her would have been petty and cruel of me. This is what she was, but that is not and has never been my character. I would have given her enough to maintain her respectful position as dowager countess. The new earl might have done the same, but I don’t think she ever considered this possibility.”
“Because she was a pig at the trough and would have kept everything for herself, as Havers said,” Octavian remarked with a grunt. “She got what she deserved. Same for her fellow conspirators.”
“I’ll pull my men off guard duty,” Mr. Barrow said, now addressing Ambrose and Julius, “unless you see a reason to keep them on the task.”
Ambrose exchanged glances with Julius. “Your call, Julius.”
He nodded. “Keep them on for another week. The threat from Lady Easton is over, but gossip is rampant. There will be newspaper men hoping to dig up more lurid stories about the Easton family, or scavengers hoping to turn a profit over some trifle of Gory’s they might steal. Your guards will dissuade anyone from approaching us.”
“Very good, my lord.” Mr. Barrow expressed his good wishes to Gory and left.
Havers did the same soon afterward.
Julius let out a breath. “It’s over, Gory. How do you feel?”
“Relieved,” she said, but Julius knew she considered her memory loss as unfinished business.
He really needed to take her away from London and put physical distance between her and the events of that awful night.
He turned to the two dowagers. “Do you have any recommendations for us? I want to take Gory on a honeymoon trip.”
“We cannot go anywhere until I have new clothes,” Gory insisted. “And I’ve ruined several gowns of Adela’s as well. Those will need to be replaced.”
“I know, love. We’ve spoken about it and we’ll take care of all of it tomorrow.” He would pay a king’s ransom to get her an entirely new wardrobe within a week’s time, and sail off with her to the ends of earth, if necessary.
When they retired to their bedchamber later that evening, Julius felt something was wrong because Gory was too quiet.
Perhaps the finality of it all had gotten to her.
