‘They are already straight,’ she said. She meant it kindly but from the instant tightening of his back, she realised it was the wrong thing to say.
‘I know that,’ he growled. ‘Do you think I want to do this? Do you think I have any control over it?’
She crossed the room and placed her hands on his back. ‘You can stop now, Edward.’
The muscles under her fingers remained taut, but he held still, his fingers not smoothing or straightening anything.
‘Everything is fine, Edward. Everyone is safe and at home. We are all well.’ He turned slowly and her fingers traced along his body until they were resting against his chest. ‘Talk to me.’
‘Your brother wrote to us too.’
‘I hope it was more informative than my letter. I do not believe he wrote more than six sentences and most of it was about the weather.’
Edward’s eyes crinkled in the corners, some of his tension leaking out of him. ‘I do not think he is enjoying the heat.’
‘No. But that is not all he said to you, is it?’
Edward’s amusement faded. ‘No. His main message was about a bank my older brother visited. The upshot is that we are more certain than ever that Sebastian’s death was foul play.’ He closed his eyes for a moment; seeming to draw strength from the gesture, he carried on. ‘I realise he was going through this two years ago, but I cannot let go of the idea that he might have been frightened, not just for himself but for his wife and for Charlotte. I mean, the day you found Charlotte in the library, I vacillated wildly from fear she was lost to sureness we would find her. That was harrowing enough, but for him to have to face the terror he might die and she would be left alone in the world with no one to care for her…’ His large body shuddered.
She pressed her fingers into his chest, trying to ground him in the moment. ‘She is safe and well. Nobody knows what the future holds, but you are doing the right thing by your niece.’
His smile was slight, but at least there was one. ‘Thank you.’
‘No, thank you for what you did earlier. The way you took care of the boys, their mother; not many people would do that.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘Why are you so sceptical about people showing empathy?’
‘You forget I have worked in several aristocratic households; Chorley was the worst example, but none of them were empathetic to those beneath them on the social scale. The members of the upper classes I have witnessed are kind to those of their own social standing but not necessarily to those under them. Trust me when I say what you did today was special.’
He looked at her from under his thick eyelashes. ‘It saddens me that you might be right, when in reality I did very little at all.’ He reached up and covered her hands with his.
She twisted her fingers, linking them with his against his chest. ‘I think my brother is going to be gone a long time.’
‘Yes.’
‘While I was cleaning Pete and Silas’ house I thought a lot about my future and what I want from it.’
He shifted on his feet. ‘And what did you decide?’
‘I think I need to speak with Chorley.’
His grip tightened. ‘In what sense?’
‘He has been sending flowers and notes.’
Edward raised an eyebrow. Beneath their linked hands she could feel his muscles tightening again. ‘Has he indeed?’
‘It needs to stop and I think I must be the one to do that.’
‘It is not necessary. I have been looking into him. He has debts I can purchase; once I own those he cannot touch you again.’
His dark eyes blazed down at her, his brows creased in a fierce, protective frown. Other than Simon, there had been no one to care for her this much and another piece of her heart was lost to this man. It was very tempting to let him do this for her, but itwouldn’t truly solve her problem. ‘He cannot touch me because ofyou, not because ofme.’
His forehead crinkled. ‘That does not make sense.’
‘I want him to stop sendingmeflowers because he realises he has no control overme, not because of something you have done.’ She didn’t add that once he was out of her life, whatever hold Edward had over Chorley would vanish when she left his protection.
‘May I come with you when you confront this monster?’
