Shock swept through his body. “She lost our child?” He didn’t want to accept what he was hearing. “Why didn’t she tell me.”
“She tried. Each time she sat to write the letter, she would start crying and couldn’t get through it. But I know you were worried about the child with Lady Blackmar being shot. I just thought to…to…”
“Thank you for telling me.” He turned from Callie. “You may go.”
The maid said nothing further, but he heard the door open.
Charlotte had endured that loss alone. He hadn’t been with her and today she had tried to save his life. Tears sprang to his eyes. He had only recently come to the realization that he loved her, now he understood the depth of his emotions.
The loss of their child was devastating. He had looked forward to his wife growing round with their child and marveling at the miracle, and to holding that infant they had created. It had nothing to do with the fact that if it was a son, he would have his heir, but that it would be another to love, a hope for the future. Their future. The hope of creating a family where everyone cared more about the person than what they may gain.
Perhaps he was a fool, but he had wanted that child simply because it would be a son or daughter that he had created with Charlotte. Something of theirs that was pure and untouched by the cruelties they had both endured.
He couldn’t lose Charlotte too. He just couldn’t.
“Is all well?” Marcus asked coming back into the library.
“No.” Victor sipped the brandy. “Charlotte had already lost the babe before she arrived here,” he whispered.
“I am sorry, Victor.”
He only nodded in acknowledgement, his heart heavy with loss and worry.
“I have completed my interview of Lady Kingsley,” Somerton announced.
Victor asked for what he had learned.
“Lady Kingsley insists that you are the one who shot Lady Blackmar. She insists that she saw Mr. Marcus Hawthorn put a powder into the brandy without Thompson seeing and then decline a glass for himself. She also denies damage to your property and quickly put the blame on Mr. Hawthorn again. Her argument was that she knows nothing about explosives, but Mr. Hawthorn had served in the Royal Artillery.”
His sister had planned every detail so that others would be blamed and so that no one would suspect her. It may have worked had Victor not arrived in time and had the Last Will and Testament ruined her original intentions.
“I did serve in the Royal Artillery, but I did not cause an explosion at my family’s estate. What would be the purpose in doing so?” Marcus demanded.
“I asked her that very question.”
Victor crossed his arms over his chest. “What did she say?” Not that he believed Marcus would do what his sister was accusing him of, but the truth of her actions would be revealed in her explanation.
“Lord Blackmar, a word.”
He turned to find a grim Dr. Hornsby and his stomach and heart sank.
Chapter 37
Charlotteslowlybecameawareof her surroundings. Her chest and back pained her and she was in her childhood bed.
What had happened and why did she hurt?
The fog in her brain slowly cleared. Maria…the gun…Her heart pounded as she glanced about for her husband. “Victor?”
“Shh, Lady Blackmar.”
She turned toward the voice, but a strange woman was sitting by her bed. “Who are you?”
“I am Diana Bryant, Countess of Somerton.”
“Why are you here? Charlotte strained to look about the room, but the only other person present was Tilly.
“You may go get my husband,” Lady Somerton instructed the maid.
