She sat on their bed watching while Robbins assisted him in taking off his clothing. He had not intended to have anyone other than Gory help him, but she seemed to be elsewhere in her thoughts and his arms were hurting too much. Pain coursed through his fingers and interfered with his finer movements such as undoing buttons.
“Will that be all, my lord?” his valet asked, helping him into his banyan.
“Yes. Thank you, Robbins.” At Julius’s nod, he quietly left the room.
Now alone with Gory, Julius walked over to the bed and sat beside her. “Care to tell me what is wrong?”
She nodded. “I’ve been having flashes of memory since shortly after supper.”
He inhaled sharply. “What are you seeing?”
“Nothing that makes sense yet. Perhaps more will come out in my dreams tonight.”
He hoped not.
This was not good news to him because he knew it could only bring anguish.
She rubbed her temples and muttered something about having a pounding headache.
“I’ll help you undress, and then I am going to hold you in my arms all night.”
“Even though your arms are sore? Why won’t you take some of the laudanum Dr. Farthingale left to get you through the night?”
“I don’t need it. I am fine.”
She laughed softly. “You are so predictable.”
“All I need is you, Gory. You are the best medicine for me.” He assisted her out of her gown and the two of them climbed into bed.
She had no sooner rested her head against his chest than she began to cry.
Julius turned to her in alarm. “Gory?”
“Oh, I’ve been so stupid. Ow. Ow.”
Julius eyed her intently. “What is it, love?”
She closed her eyes as he wrapped his arms around her. “Flossie and her sister were who I saw standing over my uncle’s body when I entered the study. Our gazes locked for an instant, and then I was hit over the head…really hard.”
“And lost consciousness,” Julius muttered, his heartbeat quickening as he listened.
She took several deep breaths. “We had returned from the musicale, my uncle and I. Something felt off but I could not put my finger on what it was. My uncle said something about having a drink before he retired to bed. He went into his study while I went upstairs to my bedchamber.”
Julius kissed her lightly on the cheek as she began to tremble.
“I walked into my room. The fire was dying, so I tossed another log into the hearth and took a moment to stoke the flames. My maid had laid out my nightgown on the bed, but I was feeling a little cold and wanted stockings for my feet.” She eased out of his arms in order to indicate her movements about the room. “I was about to close my door when I heard voices coming from my uncle’s study. I heard Flossie talking, perhaps giving orders to someone. I could not hear clearly what she said, only that my uncle sounded angry and I heard him tell her to get out.”
She looked up at Julius, casting him a vulnerable smile in response to his reassuring gaze. “But how could it be my aunt’s maid when she was in Windsor? This was my first thought.”
“So you decided to return downstairs and investigate?”
“Yes, but I was not really concerned. I assumed my aunt had returned unexpectedly and sent the woman down to my uncle, perhaps to demand something of him. I was still dressed in the gown I had worn to the musicale.”
“The peach silk?” Julius took her hands in his to warm them.
“Yes, I am certain of it. I…I…”
“Gory, you do not have to do this. It does not matter any more, love. Havers has gathered enough evidence to convict them all.”
