He recoiled as if he’d been shot. Then he turned and, without another word, he left the room. Left her alone with Everett. Left behind all her hopes and dreams of the future they could all share if he could only let go of his fears and embrace that life.
Chapter 10
Everett recognized the heartbroken expression on Naomi’s face. He’d felt it on his own a dozen times when Marcus refused to even consider a future with him.
“I’m sorry,” he said, bending his head.
She lifted her chin as she looked at him. “I don’t know why. I can see what Marcus is doing, I even understand why, after all you’ve told me about his past, how he had to lift himself up. He’s afraid, and that emotion is not comfortable for him.”
Everett swallowed. “I suppose not.”
She shook her head. “Marcus will use the fact that I’m in danger as a way to put distance between the three of us. So we must resolve this issue as soon as possible. For my sake—foroursake—I’m not giving up.”
Everett arched a brow. Naomi had come to them desperate, she had collapsed under the weight of her fear, but now…now she stood before him, power in her face. She was a warrior and that gave him…it gave him strength.
For the first time he had a partner in this battle to win Marcus’s heart.
He reached out and took her hand, lifting it to his own pounding heart. “I love you. I do want a future with you.”
Her expression registered surprise for a moment. Then it softened and she leaned up to press a kiss to his lips. When she pulled away, she said, “And I love you. I love him. And I have an idea that may help us get to that future faster.”
“What do you propose?” he asked, smiling as she pulled away and began to pace with a purpose, a drive.
“I want to go see Thaddeus,” she said with a glance in his direction to see how he reacted to this foolish notion.
He stared at her. “I know you didn’t just suggest such a ridiculous thing.”
Now she folded her arms. “Indeed, I did. Don’t look at me that way, Everett. It makes perfect sense.”
“In what world does your going to confront a man who may have killed for you make perfect sense?”
“First off, we are not entirely certain that he did any of that,” she said, her tone calm and cool. As if she were suggesting politely discussing missing silver with a servant, not a triple murderer. “But Thaddeus entered my life over ten years ago. I know him—at least I think I do. If I look him in the eyes, I’ll know, Everett. I’ll know the truth before you or Marcus would be able to uncover it with months of research.”
Everett opened his mouth to argue, but found there was nothing to say. She wasn’t wrong, after all. After such a long acquaintance, it was very likely she could read their suspect better than anyone outside of his life.
“Still, there is great danger in it. And it’s very unlikely he’s just going to confess to you, Naomi.”
She shrugged. “Except that I’ll have the element of surprise on my side. Thaddeus will never expect that I’ll show up at his home, especially after his unpleasant interaction with Marcus earlier today. And you’ll be there.”
“That will inflame him if he truly desires to possess you,” Everett mused, beginning to understand her plan.
“Especially when we announce our engagement to him,” Naomi said. When Everett’s eyes went wide, she waved her hand to dismiss his reaction. “I’m not trying to force you into marriage, my lord. It is a ruse to judge his reaction. To see if I can obtain a confession that will help us end this. Or determine if he is, indeed, innocent.”
Everett rubbed his chin. “I don’t like the danger here, Naomi. I don’t like the risk.”
“You’ll be there, right at my side,” she said, coming to take his hand in both of hers. She looked up at him, with that expression that had been stealing his breath since the first moment he saw her. That combination of beauty and strength, vulnerability and surrender. Pure acceptance.
“Yes, I will,” he whispered. “Always.”
She blushed and squeezed his hand. “And we’ll be prepared. Everett, I assure you, I am likely the only person who could obtain his confession.”
Everett shifted. He didn’t like the idea, but he also knew she was probably right in her assessment of the situation. He found himself nodding. “Very well. Let’s tell Marcus the plan and see if we can convince him.”
She released his hand, and he moved to ring for Verrick. When the butler arrived, Everett asked, “Will you ask Mr. Ridgeway to join us again?”
Verrick glanced at Naomi and then back to Everett. “I would, my lord, but Mr. Ridgeway went out.”
Everett glanced over his shoulder at Naomi. She had stepped forward, her expression concerned.
