He arched an eyebrow.“And you think you were the first to fall in love because of this?Let me assure you, I fell in love with you the moment I set eyes on you when you bumped into me on Chipping Way.”
Her eyes brightened and she laughed, obviously believing he was in jest.“Are you suggesting it was love at first sight for you?”
He nodded.“Then I spent the next few months trying to convince myself that I was wrong.But every time I saw you, I fell deeper in love.I’m sorry I did not tell you sooner.I have always loved you and always will.”
She smiled at him.“No wonder I always felt safe with you.I must have sensed your affection for me, although do not give me credit for being that clever.I was so relieved when you came to my rescue that night when Lord Caruthers made such a scene.”
He kissed her on her pert nose.“Once we return to London, I think I shall send Caruthers a present to thank him for bringing us together.”
Tulip laughed.“Don’t you dare.We do not need him coming back into our lives, especially since he will not be grateful to you.He will believe you are rubbing his nose in his loss.”
Alex shrugged.“Perhaps there is a bit of that.Well, a lot of that.”
“Alex!You are not mean-spirited.”
“Yes, love.I can be when someone gets me angry enough, as Caruthers did that night.You’re the nice one, not me.I’m only nice to you.”He sighed and kissed her again.“But I shall behave myself and simply ignore the oaf when we are back in London.All right?”
She gave a slight nod.“That’s better.”
They said no more as the doctor arrived and set to work examining Tulip’s scalp.
She winced as he gave the gash a thorough cleansing.
“Fortunately, you do not require stitches.But it was a nasty blow to the head and I’ve put some ointment on the wound to keep it from getting infected.Clean it with a clean cloth and some strong spirits twice a day for the next three days, brandy or whiskey ought to do the trick.Ah, I see you have a bottle of brandy right there on your fireplace mantel.”
“No, not that one,” Alex said, wanting to spill out its contents and smash the bottle.He did not care whether it contained poison or not, for Ernfield was dead and it no longer mattered.
But his instincts told him it was poisoned, so he would send it off to be analyzed in due course.
Might as well tie up all the loose ends.
“Well, any bottle of spirits will do to cleanse the wound,” the doctor said.“Then you are to apply the ointment to that nasty gash.”
“I’ll attend to it,” Alex assured with a nod.
“Good, good.Do this in the morning when Her Grace wakes up and each night before she retires to bed.The treatment will sting, unfortunately.”
“I shall endure,” Tulip said.
“You are to get plenty of bed rest,” the doctor continued.“No lifting anything heavy.By the way, the same applies to Mrs.Granger.The both of you are to take it easy for the next few weeks or you’ll just make yourselves worse.”
After the doctor left, the magistrate requested to see Tulip.
“Blast, our bedchamber is busier than a London coaching inn,” Alex muttered as the doctor traipsed out and the maids continually scampered in and out.
Tulip set aside her covers.“Let’s talk to the magistrate downstairs.Carry me down to your study or the parlor.There is more to clear up about all these deaths, and lots of questions to be asked of all of us.I don’t want to miss any of it.”
“All right, love.But not for too long.The doctor wants you to rest.”
“And I will after we have our answers.I’ll be too restless, otherwise.”She held out her arms to him.
He grunted and then picked her up.“Fine, but do not think you will always have your way merely by batting your big, blue eyes at me and melting my heart.”
She laughed.“I love you, too.And I promise not to abuse your adoration of me.”
He kissed her softly on the lips and then carried her downstairs.
The magistrate was in the parlor along with Carver and Tulip’s uncle.
