Which had been fine with Lilly.
She’d spent too much time in his company already. His fine eyes, his strong presence, and his charismatic laughter served only to mock her now. Mock her cowardice. Mock her stupidity.
Mock her life.
As they pulled onto the road, Lilly drew out a book and donned her spectacles. She couldn’t afford to dwell on the revelations of yesterday. If she did that, she’d be swallowed up by bouts of self-pity in no time. She had already done enough of that in her life.
After reading several pages, however, and not comprehending any of it, Lilly surrendered to her traitorous mind.
What was Michael thinking today? Did he have any leftover feelings for her?
She had believed when she’d given him her body, it had been something sacred. Did he remember it that way as well?
He hadn’t married in all this time. Surely not for lack of opportunity. At one-and-twenty Michael had been heart-stoppingly handsome. Now, at thirty, he was devastatingly attractive and a duke to boot. His features were still just as striking, but his face now was somewhat chiseled, the line of his jaw more defined, his beard coarse. He was sinewy, hardened by work or exercise. And his eyes, those beautiful eyes of his, held wisdom and more than a little cynicism. Her dear Michael was now every inch the aristocrat.
Surely, he’d had mistresses? Likely, many of them since he’d remained unmarried. Or maybe one special lady…? This thought hurt more than contemplating the former.
Stop it, Lilly!She chastised herself for even contemplating such unproductive thoughts. She would never know. By now, he’d experienced a lifetime of living in which she’d never been a part. She had no place in his future either.
“Do you think, Your Grace”—yes, that’s what she must call him; he was no longer her Michael—“the highwaymen who attacked you were politically motivated?” Her question came out of the blue. She must think about something else. The mystery of the hijacking suited perfectly. “They very nearly succeeded in delaying your arrival in London and got away with all of those documents. That could have been their purpose, all along.”
“A little drastic, don’t you think?” He raised one skeptical eyebrow.
“More drastic measures have been taken for less, I’m sure. One never knows. Were the documents really so very important?”
Michaelhadconsidered this possibility. “I’d arranged to present them to other members. I’ve gathered compelling evidence that could possibly sway a few to change their votes.Those few votes could make all the difference in the world. If I cannot show them our evidence, though, our arguments are considerably less convincing. And without those votes, the amendment will fail.”
“Can you think of any political enemies who oppose you strongly enough to take such action?”
Michael could almost laugh at that. “It could be anyone on either side of the issue. As a duke, I am required to live by the laws. And as we’ve discussed, the Corn Laws bring hardship to the poor. But as a member of Parliament, one who opposes the laws, I’ve already angered many who believe they are the answer to all of England’s economic woes.”
“But has anyonein particularthreatened you? Has any person given you misgivings as of late?”
Michael had a few such gentlemen in mind. Normally, he would never speak of such things with a lady, but this wasLilly, and she obviously had some awareness of political issues. His mind taunted him with the notion that she’d discussed intellectual matters with her husband.
She was no longer the naïve and innocent girl he’d once known.
And now she wanted tohelphim. Good Lord! She was attempting to deduce who had held up his carriage.
“The Earl of Hawthorne has sent me several letters imploring me to reconsider my position. At first, they were cordial, but his later missives have carried some venom.” He’d suspected Hawthorne the moment he’d stepped out of the carriage at gunpoint.
“Have they included any threats?” she asked.
“Not that I remember.”
“Where does the earl reside when he is not in London?”
“His home, Maple Hall, is just south of Reading.”
Lilly raised both her brows upon hearing this. They were to pass through Reading within a matter of hours. “Wouldn’t youlike to peek into his coach house to see if, by chance, your carriage is housed there? Perhaps you could recover your papers!”
“Would Hawthorne be idiotic enough to keep evidence of the crime on his own property? Would he implicate himself so blatantly?” Michael was skeptical. It was too easy.
“You tell me. I do not know the man. Would he?”
The idea of investigating, possibly recovering his property, tempted him.Unfortunately, he no longer travelled alone. There were three women, two men, one small dog, and their boatload of luggage to consider. Still, though, he ought to take advantage of their proximity to the earl’s estate.
“I could hire a mount at the next inn.” How could he not at least take a look? “Your idea has merit.”
