“Extraordinary,” James murmured. “And you found this place after all this time?”
“Rose led me there.” Evie swallowed. “And there’s more.”
She told him about her most recent dream—about Rose’s desperate actions and her captor’s cruelty.
“When she put those herbs in his tea, I felt like it was my hand doing it. Even though she suffered worse abuses than I did, I understood her fear and grief. She wasn’t a killer by nature, but she needed to protect herself…and her babe.”
“She was with child?” he asked somberly.
“Yes. Even though she lost Thomas, she carried a part of him with her still.”
Wetness trickled down Evie’s cheek, but she was barely aware of it. Numbness was seeping through her like a fog. A chilling realization of the parallels between her and Rose.
“She loved Thomas so much. He was honorable and respected her—loved her enough to give her his name. To sacrifice his life to protect hers. Was it any wonder she was willing to kill so that his blood, the babe they’d made together, would survive? In her shoes, I would do the same.”
I would do anything to defend you.
“Sweetheart, look at me.”
She did, and James thumbed away her tears.
“You are not Rosalinda, and I am not Thomas,” he said firmly.
“What if you come to harm because of me? I couldn’t bear it. And your life isn’t the only thing I fear for. The blackmailer could take away your future. He could ruin your reputation and your bid for a seat in the Commons. All the reforms, all the good you were meant to do in this world would be destroyed. Because of me.”
“It wouldn’t be because of you. You’ve done nothing wrong. Listen to me, Evie.”
She was listening, but he was the one who wouldn’t hear the truth. Last night, she’d been so relieved by his acceptance and unconditional love that she’d let herself believe that all would be well. Yet the dream had reminded her of the fact that nothing could alter.
I am, and always have been, a liability to James.
“You were an innocent preyed upon by Wilmington. His death was an accident, but even if it wasn’t, he deserved what he got. Truth be told, the bastard got off too easily. As for the blackmailer, don’t worry your head over it. I have a plan. And once he is apprehended, no one will believe the word of a criminal—of a filthy extortionist.”
There were times, she thought, when James’s moral certitude blinded him to how ordinary people thought. Gossips didn’t care about the source of the scandal. The juicier the better, and there was nothing more succulent than blackmail and murder. Knowing it was pointless to argue, she focused on the other part of his statement.
“What is your plan?”
“I will set a trap to capture him. I have no doubt he will contact you again. This time, I shall be ready.”
“That sounds dangerous,” she protested. “You cannot do this alone, but I don’t know how we can contact the authorities. They will ask questions, and if they discover that I killed my stepfather, even if it was by accident?—”
“I agree. Discretion is necessary.” He canted his head. “How do you feel about sharing this with the family?”
The notion of exposing her atrocious act to James’s kin, people whom she cared for and whose opinion mattered a great deal, caused a quiver of dread. Yet she nodded.
“They can be trusted,” she said quietly. “I want to tell them.”
The approval in James’s gaze soothed her ruffled nerves.
“They will want to help. The more hands, the better in this case. Whilst we set our trap, we will simultaneously try to hunt the bounder down. The blackmailer has highly specific information about you and Wilmington, which narrows down the list of suspects. Last night you mentioned the valet, Merrow. Who else have you considered?”
“I have been in too much of a panic to think clearly,” she admitted. “I was so afraid of my secret coming out—of you being hurt because of it—that I gave the blackmailer what he wanted instead of trying to identify him.”
“Your reaction is perfectly understandable and, truth be told, I am relieved that you did not go after the blackguard on your own. From now on, you must not take risks. You are far too precious to me, do you understand?”
“As you are precious to me,” she said tremulously.
The lines around his mouth softened. He kissed her hand before tucking it against his thigh. “All right, then. Besides Merrow, who comes to mind?”
