“What’s wrong?” Rose said from the door.
She shook her head. “Thomas and I had an awful quarrel yesterday.”
Her eyes started to water, and Rose rushed into the room. “It couldn’t have been that bad.”
“He bought some land outside of London as a surprise. It is beautiful, but then he suggested we could split our time betweenthere and the townhouse. I told him no, and it went downhill from there.”
“Why did you say no?”
Lisbeth sighed. “I was thinking of Alice and Jeremy. I was worried about how it would affect them if we were to move. Truthfully, my response and reaction were not well thought out.”
“It sounds like a valid point,” Rose said.
“I wish we had discussed it more. Instead, I refused to consider it, and he became angry. It wasn’t a good moment for either of us.”
“Talk with him. All lovers fight.”
Lisbeth added, “I’ve feared that he was keeping all his emotions bottled up. Our fight confirmed all my worries.”
“It isn’t good for him to do that,” Rose said, concerned.
Tears started to run down Lisbeth’s cheeks. “In minutes, we went from discussing the land he’d acquired to everything he’d lost or been denied. Thomas isn’t wrong. He was cheated out of so much, and I wish I could make it right, but I can’t. I worry he will never be able to let go of his resentment.”
Rose squeezed her hand. “I care for both of you. Thomas can be a bit of an ass, but truthfully, he needs to admit that he is still grieving and angry. The only way the two of you move on is if you talk to each other.”
Lisbeth wiped away her tears. “How did you become so wise?”
Her friend grinned. “It is a new thing. Remember, I tried to set up my husband with another woman because I assumed she would be a better fit for him. He traveled all the way to Syria to retrieve me.”
A giggle escaped Lisbeth. “It was rather romantic.”
Rose grinned. “I agree.”
Addie walked into the room and stared intently at Lisbeth. She frowned at her in return. “Is something amiss?”
A guard entered the room. Addie asked, “Did Benson travel with you today?”
Lisbeth nodded. “Thomas has been receiving some strange letters, so he asked Benson to escort me whenever I leave the house.”
Addie and the guard looked at each other. Rose frowned. “What is it?”
Addie pulled a letter from an envelope decorated with hand-drawn flowers, and Lisbeth’s stomach dropped.
“This was addressed to me,” her friend said, handing her the paper.
Lisbeth unfolded the message and read.
Lady Hawley,
You have a strumpet on your board. The Duchess of Lusby is fornicating with my husband. I insist she stop, or I will have to fix this situation myself. Perhaps the threat of losing her position there will be a motivator. I insist that you offer an ultimatum—either she leaves my husband alone, or she will be removed from the board of the Historical Society of Female Curators.
C
Lisbeth blushed at the horrible letter. “Thomas has hired someone through Sebastian Devons to find the lady. We suspect it might be some young woman with an overzealous but innocent crush.”
“It doesn’t seem innocent but threatening,” Rose remarked.
“I will make sure Thomas gives this to the investigator.”
