Graham arched a brow. “My servants will attest to my whereabouts if my word as a gentleman pulls no weight with you,sir.”
“The word of your servants,” Captain Black said with a shake of his head. “That rarely holds up in court given the influence you hold over them.”
“I beg your pardon,” James interjected, coming forward. “Are you implying that the Duke of Northfield is lying to you? He’s admitted he and Sir Archibald had an altercation—why would he lie about where he went afterward?”
“Because Sir Archibald is dead,” Captain Black said, keeping his gaze firmly on Graham. “Shot through the head and found washed up on the riverbank just a short way from the theatre where the duke attacked him. Andyou, Northfield, are the prime suspect in his murder.”
Chapter Seventeen
Adelaide’s ears rang as she watched the room erupt around her in what felt like half-time. Graham was yelling. Captain Black was too, pointing at him. James and Emma moved forward in unison, inserting themselves into the fray. And all the while she could hear her aunt’s voice faintly screeching, “He’s a murderer, Adelaide! You cannot put yourself in league with a murderer!”
She flinched as those words pierced her very soul. She knew perfectly well that Graham had not killed Sir Archibald. The night of their fight he’d been with her, last night as well. And even if he hadn’t, she knew his heart. He was not the kind of man who would kill, even if he had lost control in the face of Sir Archibald’s abuse of her.
But the captain was smug and she could see that he was taking great pleasure in accusing Graham. If he chose to pursue this matter, as he was threatening, there was the chance that Graham, this beautiful, wonderful man—this man she loved, for she did love him—would be transported. Or hanged.
“Just tell me that you have an alibi better than servants you pay and I will retract my statement,” Captain Black said.
Adelaide swallowed hard and stepped forward. Her hands were shaking as she said, “Stop.”
No one heard her. The room continued in its cacophony. She put her hands on her hips and shouted it this time. “Everyone please stop!”
The voices slowed and suddenly five pairs of eyes turned on her. She only looked back at Graham. She looked into those blue depths and her heart swelled with the feelings she had only just admitted to herself and was not brave enough to say to him.
But she would protect him. By God, she would do that.
“The Duke of Northfield could not have killed Sir Archibald,” she said softly.
Captain Black tilted his head. “And who are you, miss?”
She cleared her throat. “My name is Lady Adelaide, I am the daughter of the late Earl of Longford.”
The captain’s face twitched, as if he were just as disgusted by her as he was by the others in the room with titles. “And how doyouknow that Northfield couldn’t have killed Sir Archibald?”
She looked at Graham again and his eyes went wide, like he could read her intentions, her heart. She supposed he could, since he owned it. He had since the moment he intruded upon her dressing room weeks ago.
She just hadn’t been brave enough to face it until this moment where he was being threatened.
“Adelaide,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “You mustn’t.”
She ignored him. “The Duke of Northfield could not have killed Sir Archibald because he has spent the last two nights with…with me.”
Her cheeks flamed as Emma gasped, as James flushed, as Graham dipped his head. As the captain stared at her. She wanted to turn away from their judgments and censure, but she didn’t. She couldn’t. She had to continue to make sure Graham was fully protected.
“Two nights ago I snuck from my aunt’s house to be with him.” She swallowed in the hopes her voice would stop shaking. “And last night he came to me here after everyone went to bed. I assure you, Captain Black, that if I am asked to testify to that fact, I will. And I expect I will be believed, given what a mark it will put on my reputation to admit what I’ve done.”
The room was stone silent for one breath, two. And then her aunt let out a scream of rage and agony, and lunged at Adelaide with both her hands raised in attack.
Graham jumped in front of Adelaide as James grabbed for Lady Opal, holding her back by both arms as she spat and screeched unintelligible words of anger.
“Get her out!” Graham bellowed. “Do something worthwhile, man, and help him!”
He said the second to Captain Black, who shook off what appeared to be shock and then stepped forward to help James with the struggling Lady Opal. They dragged her to the foyer and Emma rushed forward to thrust the door shut behind them. She leaned against it, pale as she stared at Graham and Adelaide.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
Adelaide rushed around Graham and wrapped her arms around Emma. “I’m so sorry,” he heard her sobbing into Emma’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry for the trouble I’ve brought to your house.”
Emma shot Graham a pointed look and guided Adelaide to the settee where they sat together. “Dearest, you are no trouble, this is not your fault. But that woman is dangerous. After this, after what I saw yesterday—”
