“Possibly, but he’s quite clever. I don’t know that he would have been fooled for long. Your aunt would have been at the top of his list of suspects no matter what clues were left for him to find. That wedding gown stunt was a sheer act of hubris on her part.”
“Sloppy work, thank goodness. They were so busy making certain my laces were straight, they forgot to check that I was still breathing.” Gory rubbed her head lightly. “Dr. Farthingale plans to take my stitches out the day after tomorrow. That was to be my wedding day.”
“I cannot say I am sorry your wedding has been called off.”
“Nor am I,” she admitted, clasping her hands together to keep them from shaking. “I was at risk from all sides, and completely oblivious. Allendale. My aunt. I continue to be at risk until Havers arrests all who conspired to kill my uncle. However, I still would rather believe Allendale only intended to take my money and was willing to wait patiently for it to come to me.”
“Is this not despicable enough?”
“Yes, Julius. It is.”
He reached out and drew her onto his seat bench because he wanted her close. The danger surrounding her these past few months had left him feeling ill, especially since he was partly responsible for not stepping up and admitting he loved her.
Yet, she would have been in danger no matter the intended bridegroom. Whether him or Allendale, the risk to her was the same.
Lady Easton needed Gory to remain unmarried or the one hundred thousand pounds would slip through her fingers. That haughty lady was the one with all the motivation to be rid of Gory and Lord Easton, especially if Easton was about to humiliate her by going public with his own mistress. Perhaps he was even planning to move the woman into his home while sending his wife off to one of his country estates.
Well, it was all mere supposition on his part.
The fact remained, the inheritance was the lure…and Gory stood in the way.
The realization that she had been walking around all these months with a big target on her back made him shudder. That she had walked in on the killers before they were ready to come for her is what likely saved her.
He did not think she was ever meant to survive the night.
She burrowed against him.
He wrapped an arm around her waist to draw her even closer. “Shall we change the conversation to something lighter?”
“No, keep going. I think we are close to the end now. Keep tossing out ideas about that night.”
“Well, I do not think there is much more to say. The culprits must have been shocked to learn you had survived, and this meant they had to quickly adjust their plans. Their best option was to try to make you out to be the murderess.”
“Or try again to dispose of me, as they tried today. Havers still has me on his list of suspects,” she reminded him, although he hardly needed any reminder of her precarious position.
“No longer, Gory. He is as worried for your safety as I am. He fully appreciates how narrowly you escaped death that night.”
She shivered. “I hope this second attempt concerns him just as much.”
“Because I was hurt? You know it is but a scratch.” He shrugged it off. “I’m sure Havers has taken serious note of this incident and will get as much information as he can out of the man now in his custody.”
“What if the man refuses to talk? What is our next step then? Perhaps you and I ought to attend my uncle’s funeral and–”
“No,” he said decisively. “I will not have you walk into enemy territory.”
“It is a funeral, not a battle.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Do you not understand that your aunt is in a panic and afraid you might remember something if you spend more time in her company? This is why she does not want you visiting her or attending your uncle’s funeral. She is pushing you away, not only because she despises you, but because she is afraid you might recognize one of your assailants. She cannot afford to have that happen, especially in the midst of the funeral service.”
Gory looked up at him. “You’ve given this quite some thought.”
“I’ve had nothing but you on my mind for months now. I need to keep you safe, Gory. I need to marry you and keep you out of your aunt’s clutches.”
He leaned his head out the window as their carriage approached the magistrate’s office. “Bundle up, love. It’s just a light mist right now, but the skies are about to open up.”
They hurried inside the nondescript building situated amid a row of similar buildings constructed of gray stone. Mr. Barrow followed immediately behind them and was recognized by the guard at the entrance who gave him a cheerful greeting. “Mr. Havers is still occupied with the man what got brought in,” the guard told them.
Mr. Barrow thanked him and took the lead as they made their way through the dank, dimly lit halls. “Let’s hope Havers got some information out of that shady cove,” he muttered.
