Devil take it. Just as Richard had feared.
Violet said quietly, “You and Monique knew one another?”
“We met last year. For a time, we were… friendly. She’s really dead?”
Richard heard the shock in his brother’s tone. “Focus, Wick. Your ring. How would it have ended up in Monique’s possession?”
“I gave it to her.” Wick’s words were hoarse, barely audible. “When I broke things off with her a fortnight ago. It was supposed to be a memento of our time together.”
God. Wick had been involved with the dead woman just two weeks ago.
“Why did you break things off?” Richard said.
“Because you said I had to marry Miss Turbett to pay off my debt to Garrity. You said that was the only way. And you were right.”
“Hold up.Yourdebt? To Garrity?” Violet’s eyes were wide with astonishment. “Thatis why you have to get married?”
Wick slid her a look that Richard couldn’t quite interpret and nodded.
“Never mind your debt for now,” Richard said impatiently. “How did the parting go with Monique?”
Wick raked his hands through his hair. “When I told Monique I was planning to be married, she flew into a rage. She was irrational, swearing revenge one minute and weeping the next. I had no idea that she’d even thought that we could have a future together beyond our...”—he glanced at Violet and mumbled—“… er, arrangement.”
A divot formed between Violet’s brows.
Richard thought that Wick’s revelation about his peccadillo might have offended her sensibilities. Her next words proved him wrong.
“You and Monique didn’t part on good terms? Oh Wick,” she said, “don’t you see how that might look now?”
An echo of Richard’s own fears.
“But I—I would never hurt her,” Wick stammered. “You must believe me!”
“Of coursewedo. But we’re not the problem.” Rising, Violet paced in front of him, her golden skirts swirling. “It’s what everyone else will think.”
“Bloody hell, are they looking for me?” Wick jolted upright. “Should I run, get away—”
“No one knows about your ring. Violet and I have taken care of it,” Richard said curtly.
“What do you mean you’ve taken care of it?” Hope wobbled in Wick’s voice.
“We took it. We didn’t tell anyone that we found it in Monique’s hand.” Violet bit her lip. “Not even my brother, who’s heading the investigation.”
Richard heard the tension in her voice. Hated that she’d been dragged into this fiasco.
“Investigation?” Wick blanched. He reached out, grabbing Violet’s hand, making Richard’s shoulders bunch. “Dear God, Vi, if our friendship means anything to you, you mustpromiseme that you won’t tell your brother about the ring.”
“Bloody hell, Wickham, that’s not fair,” Richard bit out. “And for God’s sake, unhand her.”
Wick released her hand, but his expression remained beseeching. “Vi, come on, you know I didn’t do it.Promise meyou’ll keep my secret. Or I—I’ll have to run—”
“No.You mustn’t run, Wick. If you do, you’ll only bring suspicion upon yourself and look all the more guilty.” Exhaling, she said, “I promise that I won’t tell Ambrose about the ring… until we can prove that you’re innocent. Then the ring won’t matter, will it?”
“Thank you, Vi.” Wick gave her a lopsided smile. “You’re a true friend.”
“Does anyone else know about you and Monique?” Richard asked.
Wick’s brow wrinkled. “I don’t think so. She insisted on discretion, so I never told anyone.”
