Eva watched her husband open one eye as she walked into his room. He was submerged in a bath, wisps of steam rising from his large body. His fingers held a glass filled with amber liquid and he looked like a sated beast in his lair.
“Excellent. I am sure he will get through the night comfortably with the aid of the laudanum Dr. Munro gave him.”
“He told me that Edinburgh is everything he hoped it would be and more and is eager to return as soon as he is able.” Eva felt nervous as she sat on the edge of his bed several feet from the bath. So much had happened between them today. She had told him about her lies, he had confronted her family and suddenly she did not know what to say to him.
“And did you find out how your father got him back here?”
He looked relaxed yet Eva could tell he was watching her closely. “He sent a note saying I was gravely ill and was asking for him.”
“Why would Reggie believe I would allow your father to send such a note, or even alert him to any illness you had after the way he treated you?”
“Because I sent him a message telling him of father’s blackmail threats urging him to be careful, as he had also threatened to go to Scotland and harm Reggie.”
“So he was sufficiently concerned after receiving your father’s note to return, even though he knew I would not let anything happen to you.”
Eva nodded. “Reggie knew I had not told you everything. Part of his reason for returning was to force me into doing so.
“At least one of you has sense.”
“I have a great deal of sense,” Eva defended herself. “But for so long there were just the two of us looking out for each other, Daniel. You have to understand that it takes time to trust another person.”
“There is still someone who is a threat to you, Eva. I need you to understand that.”
“Huxley.”
“Simon and I are looking for him but until he is found you must not leave this house unescorted.”
Eva shivered just thinking about the threats Lord Huxley had made against Daniel.
“I promise not to leave without an escort,” she said solemnly.
“Come here.”
She hesitated.
“Please.”
It was the ‘please’ that had her walking toward him.
Taking one of her hands, he lifted it to his lips.
“I need to know you completely trust me now, Eva.”
She touched his hair, running the short, damp curls through her fingers.
“I do, Daniel. There is not another besides Reggie I trust more.”
He sighed as her fingers scraped his scalp.
“I can never hope to thank or, indeed, repay you for all you have done for both Reggie and I.”
“Your love is enough, sweetheart. You - ”
“Shhh, please, Daniel, let me speak.” She pressed a finger to his lips. She shivered as he sucked it into his mouth.
“I just wanted to say, Daniel…”
“What, Eva?” he prodded gently.
