Certainly never to Allendale’s care.
Where was the man?
He had not stopped by at all today.
This sat so ill with Julius.
How could any bridegroom ignore his bride when their wedding was mere days away? Just under a week away, to be precise. Not to mention his bride was injured and might have been killed. What was Allendale doing?
Julius could not tear himself away from Gory for a moment.
Shouldn’t Allendale be feeling the same concern?
A soft knock at his door distracted him from his thoughts.
He stopped pacing and hurried to open it. “What is it, Robbins?”
“Mr. Havers and Mr. Barrow are here to see you, my lord.”
The bed sheets rustled as Gory struggled to sit up. “Send them up here, Robbins.”
“No, put them in the study. I’ll be right down.” Julius turned back to her with a frown. “I thought you were sleeping.”
“I was merely resting my strained eyes. Do not leave yet, Robbins. This discussion is not settled.”
“It is settled. Leave us, Robbins.” He continued to stare at Gory. “Strained? Is this how you would describe losing your vision?”
“It was merely blurred, not completely lost.”
“Merely?” He let out a sound of disgust. “You were blinded for a few minutes.”
“Not that long, and I feel much better now. Robbins! Do not dare take another step from this room unless it is to escort Mr. Havers and Mr. Barrow up here. I need to hear what they have to say.”
Julius threw his hands into the air. “Blast it, Gory. Why must you always be so contrary?”
“How is it wrong of me to want to know what they’ve found out? I was the one almost killed, not you.”
“Precisely, and you are still healing.”
“Under your excellent care. You are to be commended, for no one could have done a better job of nursing me back to health than you.”
He groaned. “Your attempt to flatter me into doing your bidding will not work.”
She cast him a fragile smile that was his undoing.
“Oh, hell,” he muttered, for there was something in the way the firelight reflected in her eyes that made them sparkle. How could he resist her when she looked so beautiful? There was a delicacy to her face that had his heart beating faster and crumbled his resistance. “Fine.”
“Then we are agreed you will let them up here?”
“Yes, you little nuisance. I suppose you would have followed me downstairs if I attempted to meet them without you.” Julius sighed as he turned to his valet. “Robbins, show them up here. The empress has spoken.”
Gory cast him a hurt look. “I am not trying to be difficult. Do I not have a right to know what is going on? The killer failed to silence me the first time, so is there any doubt he will try again? Should I not be doing everything I can to avoid being his next victim?”
This was also his greatest worry.
Gory remained in danger until her memory returned and she could identify the killer or his accomplice.
Julius waited until Robbins went off to fetch their visitors before addressing Gory’s comments. “I am the one who needs to be doing everything possible to stop the killer from reaching you. That’s why I am taking every precaution. This is not about hiding information from you, but all about keeping you safe.”
