Was she going to cry?
“You are wrong, Gory.” He gave her cheek another caress, liking how warm and soft her skin was to his touch. “There is someone in the offing who loves you very much.”
“Hah! That is a jolly jest.”
He considered declaring himself here and now, but he had done it already last night and she had completely forgotten their conversation and – more telling – forgotten their kiss.
Adding to the weight of all she was carrying on her slight shoudlers, today she had momentarily lost her vision because she had climbed out of bed too soon and exhausted herself. He was not certain how she would respond if he declared his love again.
She had enough turmoil in her life and already too many feelings that she was suppressing.
“I wished so hard for that perfect, romantic match,” Gory admitted. “Truly, I did. But in my heart, I knew it would never happen for me. So, I took the leap and accepted Allendale. That has all fallen apart now, obviously. I will tell him I am ending the betrothal when he shows up here next, assuming he ever deigns to put in an appearance any time soon. Who knows? He might not show up on our wedding day, either. Do you think he means to jilt me at the altar?”
Julius arched an eyebrow. “Would you care?”
“No, it would be a relief. Facing a life alone is far better than being shackled to a liar and a cheat. Perhaps he is even a murderer. I did not think he had it in him to kill anyone. But he has deceived me in every other regard. Is it much of a stretch to believe I was wrong and he is capable of the most heinous, basest crimes?”
“We will deal with Allendale tomorrow, Gory. There is nothing you can do about him now.”
“All right, but can we talk about my uncle’s business acquaintances?”
“Why them? Well, all right. What have you not already told Havers?”
“I don’t know. But I think it will help if we keep going over the possible culprits. My brain needs to keep working, and running through their names again might help me remember something.”
“If you think so.” Julius did not really believe it served a purpose, but he was no experienced investigator. Nor was he a doctor who might know how to treat a patient with memory loss. If Gory thought talking things through with him might help her recover, then he did not mind going along with her wishes. He would put a stop to their discussion if it proved too fatiguing or frightening for her. “If we are going to discuss these business connections, then let’s include the solicitor, Reginald Mayfield, as well.”
“You did not like him,” she commented.
“No, he’s oily. You think so, too.”
She nodded. “What else about him troubled you?”
“He knew of your inheritance.”
“Why is this of any concern? Julius, he was the draftsman of those documents. Is it surprising that he would know every detail of what I am to receive and when? Why should he wait until now to do something about it when this bequest was likely established at the time of my father’s death? In truth, this had to be my father’s doing because my uncle would not leave me a ha’penny, if it were up to him. We should pay a call on Mr. Mayfield tomorrow and ask to read the testamentary documents.”
“We? I have already seen them and given them a brief perusal. I want to get them out of his hands before he does something to damage them.”
“Excellent idea. I’ll go with you. When? First thing tomorrow morning?”
“Gad, do you have to fall flat on your face before you agree to stay in bed and rest? Do not give me a hard time about this, Gory. No running around for you tomorrow or the day after.”
“I am not an invalid,” she grumbled.
“Actually, you are.”
He could hear her teeth grinding in response to his remark. “I am not nearly as bad off as I might appear.”
He tweaked her chin. “Said the girl with stitches poking out of her head and who almost went blind. You know, there is not another young lady in London who would make a fuss over being in my bed. Most would leap at the opportunity.”
“I happen to like your bed very much,” she retorted. “It is soft and quite comfortable. I would not mind being in it quite so much were I not required to remain in it all the time.”
Julius was contemplating bringing up the subject of her doing just that, of marrying him and sharing not only a bedchamber but a lifetime with him. Why not just tell her again? Why not get those words out again and deal with the consequences as they arose?
After all, she had run to him for a reason.
He knew what the reason was, too.
