Mara accepted the book. “Of course. It shall look lovely beneath the tree with the other gifts. Just make sure you hurry back so your husband can enjoy opening it with you.”
Lyra returned her steady gaze. “I’ll be back so quick that you won’t even have time to miss me.”
Mara grinned. “I’ll hold you to that.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“Welcome back, my lady.” Her butler bowed as Lyra walked in the front door of Weston House, shutting it politely behind her.
“Thank you, Barton.” She took a deep breath. “But it’s the Duchess of Albright now.”
He didn’t even bat an eyelash. “My felicitations, Your Grace. I’m sure I speak for the rest of the staff as well. We were rather fond of the duke when he was in residence. Shall we be expecting him shortly?”
“I’m afraid not,” Lyra replied. “We will be dining at Eversleigh House this evening, before going to the duke’s townhouse. I’m here because I need to have a trunk sent to Albright House and to see that the rest of my belongings are packed. I’m not sure if my husband and I will be remaining in town for long or retiring to the country for the rest of the season, so it will need to be taken care of as soon as possible. I’ll also need my carriage to be readied.”
“As you wish, Your Grace. It shall be done promptly.” He paused. “May I just say what an honor it has been to serve you these past few years.”
Lyra gave a watery smile in return. “Thank you, Barton. I will certainly miss all of you.”
Lyra wiped at a tear as the butler took his leave. With a deep breath, she headed for the one place she knew would give her solace.
Her library.
The moment she stepped over the threshold, she breathed in the familiar scents of leather and ink. She sank down in one of the chairs strategically placed about the room to catch the afternoon sunlight and stared at the rows upon rows of bookshelves that she’d worked so hard to complete. So many tireless hours had been put into making this her personal haven, and other than her devoted servants, this was the only part of Weston House that she would truly miss. Of course, she would take her book collection with her to Thorn Hall, but it would never be the same, for a new chapter in her life was about to be written. And for the first time in her life, she actually had a feeling of hope for the future.
True, things were a bit acidic between her and Alister at the moment, but she intended to rectify that as soon as possible. If nothing else, she knew once their baby was born, everything would be fine.
She gently touched her stomach. It was still too early to feel the gentle swell of a growing child, but it didn’t keep her from sending up a silent prayer. “Please, God, just let me carry this little one to term. Give me the chance to be the mother I’ve always wanted to be.”
She sat there in quiet solitude for about an hour until Barton returned to announce that everything was ready to go. Once he was gone, she looked about the room one last time before shutting the door behind her. Running her fingers down the carved oak, she calmly walked away.
It wasn’t until Lyra reached the staircase landing that a sudden flash of white behind her eyes had her clutching the newel post for support.
Thankfully, the sensation passed as quickly as it struck, but just as she was about to continue her descent, she realized she was standing exactly where Roger had fallen to his death.
Again, that eerie light flashed, but this time it threatened to consume her.
That was when another voice intruded.
“Hello, Lyra.”
As if in slow motion, she turned to glance back down the hall. There, in the doorway of Roger’s former chamber, stood a shadowy, feminine figure.
Lyra had to blink to focus, as the light grew stronger and more powerful, before it struck her with a shocking burst of memory. All the missing pieces had finally connected, causing her to whisper in horror. “Youwere the one who pushed Roger over the railing.”
The glare that entered Elise Coventry’s gaze as she came forward was pure maliciousness, but it wasn’t until the light of a nearby sconce glinted off the pistol in her sister-in-law’s hand that Lyra felt a frisson of unease. “So you do remember, after all.”
Even though she was staring down the barrel of a gun, Lyra had to know, “How could you do it?”
Elise shrugged. “He wouldn’t give me the cipher.”
Lyra gasped. “You knew about that?”
“Of course I did.” She snorted and tilted her head to the side. “But surely you aren’t that naïve. Haven’t you figured it out by now?”
Lyra swallowed. “You and Roger were lovers.”
“Naturally.” She didn’t appear repentant in the least as she went on. “I knew he had key information for‘The Cause,’which is why I started letting him in my bed in the first place. But after he betrayed me and refused to reveal where the cipher was hidden, saying he was going to lead the operation and take all the credit for what we’d both worked toward, well, I couldn’t let such a slight pass.” Her smile was cruel. “I told him that you’d found the cipher and that you had threatened to expose him, which is why he was in such a state when he returned home that morning.”
