“It was cruel of Lord Stapleton to invite so many unattached young men,” Nathanial said with a laugh in his voice, nodding to where Lady Stapleton sat beside a gentleman sat bolt upright and petrified.
“She does appear to be remarkably persistent. Has she forgotten she is married?”
This time, Nathanial really did chuckle, and he leant in so close his breath brushed her ear. “Lord Stapleton does his best to forget, I think.”
Theo laughed and rested her head against his shoulder. After the carriage, it felt as though she fit there perfectly.
“Would you like me to carry you to bed?” Nathanial’s words were soft, but they sank deep into her. “Or would you prefer to walk?”
“I—”
“I’m afraid the ‘bed’ part is non-negotiable.”
Theo’s laugh became a sigh. Leaving the company truly did sound delightful. “I can walk.”
“Are you certain? It would cause a delightful scene if I scooped you into my arms right here.”
She decided she liked that idea a little too much. Walking was safer. “I still have legs, Nate. I can do it.”
“I will make your excuses, then, and see you upstairs.” When he leant away, his grey eyes were gentle, and he stroked a finger along the back of her hand. Just once, but her entire body tingled, lighting like a spark set to paper.
“There’s no need to—”
“On the contrary. There iseveryneed to.” His tone was firm, and she knew she would get nowhere by arguing. Reluctantly, she left the cloying warmth of the room, hurrying through the unfamiliar house until she reached the rooms she shared withNathanial. Barely a minute later, he joined her, and locked the door carefully behind them.
“I know you think I’m being over-zealous,” he said, pinching her chin and moving to the bed, stretching across the covers as though he belonged there. Theo’s wretched heart gave a pang. “But this is for the best, I promise.”
She perched by the pillows. “Are you really so concerned for my safety?”
“Ought I not be? You were poisoned. Is that not enough reason to be concerned?”
Her lips pinched as she thought. “It’s quite possible no one intended to poison anyone.”
He was so close now, and his hand brushed the sheets by her leg, as though he was tempted to run his fingers across her bent knee the way he did against the soft silk. “Theo,” he said, caressing her name with such tenderness, she almost forgot what they were discussing. “I have the utmost respect for your whole-hearted and dim-witted belief in other people’s goodness, but on this occasion you must allow me to be right.”
“You believe it was deliberate?” He nodded once, curtly. “And,” she continued in a whisper, “you believe I was the intended recipient?”
“I think there is no other explanation.” The corner of his mouth kicked up. “Unless, of course, someone had intended on poisoning Lady Tabitha.”
“Don’t be so cruel,” Theo said, giggling despite herself. “She is not so bad.”
“If you are not an unmarried gentleman, perhaps.” His smile faded as she looked down at him, and she was arrested, suddenly, by the shape of his face, all hard lines and edges and unexpected softness. Her fingers tingled with the urge to touch him, and she linked them together firmly in her lap.
“Do you know who did it?” she asked, steering her thoughts back to safer ground.
He hesitated. “No.”
“But you suspect Sir Montague?” The words were out before she could stop them, staining the air. Nathanial sat up, on the other side of the bed now, his face a blank mask.
“Does that displease you?” he asked at last.
She reached over to catch his hand before he could retreat any further. “I just want to know why you dislike him so much. I want tounderstand.”
He sighed, but his fingers loosened a little under her grasp, turning so they almost—almost—held hands. “It isn’t a short story. Perhaps—”
“No! I am not going to wait for another time. Tonight, Nate. Please?”
“Very well, but you should get yourself ready for bed first. I’ll visit you shortly.”
