“Apparently, but I know she loves me. I haven’t a doubt. She would not have run to me otherwise. I started to bring it up again when you returned.”
“And we interrupted you?”
He nodded. “So, I will try again in a few days and hope this time it sticks. I kissed her just before you and Adela burst in. I have no idea what is going through her mind right now. But she is mine, as I am hers. No one is going to come between us.”
“Is this how I sound when I speak of Adela?” Ambrose grinned. “Egad, I have never seen a more possessive look on any man’s face than yours right now. No wonder women think of us as baboons. I assume this means Allendale is never going to get near her again, even if it turns out he is innocent.”
“Bloody right,” Julius muttered, draining the last of his wine. “Well, Gory insists on seeing him in order to end the betrothal. I’ll be right by her side. If he is the murderer, he will not take kindly to her ruining his plans. Anyway, their meeting won’t happen tomorrow unless he surprises us and shows up here. But I doubt he will. His attention is caught up with that young lady and her newborn.”
“Adela and I will do all we can to help you.” Ambrose rubbed a hand over his face that appeared strained and quite weary from his journey. Julius had not meant to add to his brother’s concerns. Being the Duke of Huntsford, Ambrose had a full plate of responsibilities that he attended to dutifully.
Julius only meant to alert him to what had happened.
Protecting Gory was Julius’s responsibility, one that he was not about to shirk. “Much appreciated, but there is nothing for you to do. Gory is mine to look after. Homer Barrow and his runners are assisting me with her protection. Havers is on the investigation and peering under every rock. He’ll soon figure out who committed the crime.”
“Well, the preparations for a wedding are all in place,” Ambrose said. “All that needs to be done is switch the bridegroom. I wonder how Allendale will react to the news?”
Julius shrugged. “We’ll soon find out, won’t we?”
CHAPTER 9
GORY SPENT THE next two days in bed, ready to scream with boredom, but not ready to put up a fuss because the weather had been so horrendous. Two days of a continuously howling rain mixed with an unusually wintery blast of cold air had left the London streets dangerously slick with a coating of sleet covering the roadways.
But the clouds were now burning away under the force of the sun and the air was warming to a more accommodating temperature for this time of year. When Gory arose and drew open the drapes to peer out the window, she smiled upon seeing those clearing skies and bursts of sunshine attempting to break through the layers of gray.
“Excellent,” she muttered to herself and padded over to the fireplace and the chairs beside it.
A few embers still glowed red within the fireplace grate. The fire had mostly died out, but Gory took a moment to place more logs atop the ashen pile in the hope of getting the flames rekindled.
Julius was uncomfortably sprawled across the chairs, his big body partly spilling over the seat back of one chair and his long legs resting atop the other as he remained fast asleep.
He did not respond to her presence as she fussed with the dying blaze.
Once finished, she shook him gently. “Julius…”
She shook him again when he remained unresponsive. “Julius, are you awake?”
“I am now,” he grumbled, opening one eye and groaning as he struggled to sit up from his awkward position. “What time is it?”
“Seven o’clock. Did you not hear the clock just chime?”
His eyes were now open and those gorgeous gray orbs stared back at her with a mix of heat and irritation. “No, I did not. You seem awfully chirpy this morning.”
She nodded. “Because this is going to be a day that will change the course of my life for the better. I am going to break it off with Allendale today. No more delays. Word must go out to our guests at once that there is to be no wedding. I expect most of them will not be surprised since word of my uncle’s death will have spread beyond London by now.”
She held up a hand when he sought to respond. “No, do not try to talk me out of it.”
“Why would I talk you out of it? I kissed you, Gory.”
“I have not forgotten that scorching kiss,” she said softly. “I have been thinking of little else for the past two days. Did you mean it?”
He nodded. “Yes, love. I did.”
She let out a breath. “I kissed you back. I meant it, too. Havers has had enough time to discover more about Allendale. Where was he on the night of the murder? Not that his guilt or innocence will change my opinion. We are only three days away from my wedding now and something must be done. Many things, actually. Not only the wedding guests must be told, but the orchestra must be notified. The bakers. Wine merchants. Adela’s staff is going to start baking today and this must be stopped.”
“Gory, we need to talk.”
She regarded him with confusion. “Is this not what we are doing? I did not want to wake you earlier, but I have been up since before dawn making lists of everything that must be attended to over these next few days.”
