After returning the ledger, she turned to the top drawer on the left. It stuck a little, but as she pulled harder, it released. It was filled with blank paper and a few letters addressed toThe Marquess Ferncroft, but one was addressed toDarius Taylour. That was odd and very out of character. Hesitantly, she lifted the folded paper with the broken seal, not completely comfortable reading her husband’s correspondence—but since he’d already broken her trust in him, she unfolded the letter and read.
Dear brother.
Note I didn’t write “dearest.” As you know, I haven’t decided which of my brothers I wish to ingratiate myself with the most. Though I will say that your appreciation for my recommendation of your current wife has gone a long way in moving you to the top…for now.
That you would agree to hosting such a fete as a Twelfth Night ball, given your proclivity for isolation, proves to me that you hold Lady Ferncroft in the highest of esteem. It also relieves me much that I haven’t thrown an innocent miss to the lions, or lion, so to speak. My wish has always been that you, my eldest and most formal of brothers, could find some small amount of happiness.
To that end, I will gladly don any disguise you wish in order to pose as you if the need should arise, so that you may make your new bride happy. Having her know of such arrangements, again, if needed, will aid me tremendously in convincing those attending that I am you. I have perpetuated much more difficult disguises of people of whom I know much less of than you. I’m quite sure I can take on the utmost formality that is the essence of who you are, and a pair of extra-heeled boots will bring me easily to your height. Soot in my hair will hide my lighter strands, while the hooded cape will go a long way in hiding my bulk. The full domino face mask you suggest is an exceptional idea, though I do believe we have a similar jawline. Lissa is in agreement and willing to attend “without me” if necessary, though more for the happiness of her friend than for you in particular.
Of course, payment will be required, as usual, for such a significant favor. After all, it sounds as if your future wedded bliss depends upon my performance. That you have a chance at even a small bit of contentment gladdens me to no end. You deserve to be so. I promise to arrive days in advance. My wife is actually insisting that we do so, and since our investigation is almost complete, I see no impediments to being reunited with you once again.
Your ever-bothersome brother, Anthony.
Ellie blinked, not a little confused. Anthony was to pose as Darius at the ball? Why? Did it have to do with why Darius hid now? Did Anthony also know that Darius hid away for some reason and that was why he referred to his brother’s proclivity for isolation? It had to be. What must Lissa think that her husband planned tobeDarius?
She could feel a flush of embarrassment inching up her neck. What must Lissa think? Or had Anthony told her? Did everyone know except her? Maybe she should ask the children.
Even as the thought occurred, she shook her head. She would not involve them in any way. If they did know and their father had sworn them to secrecy, it would only cause hard feelings between them and her. And if they didn’t know, it would cause them to ask questions they were better off not knowing the answers to. Because whatever it was, it was not pleasant.
As much as she wanted to read into Anthony’s letter that Darius deserved happiness after Dinah, her instinct was telling her it was more than that. If that were true, it couldn’t be a mistress, as men were quite happy with them, or they wouldn’t have them. Was it something more sinister? Was he being blackmailed, or was he actually telling the truth about tending to business—only what he didn’t say was that his business was with smugglers he met in the building in the north wood?
She had far too many questions and no answers…as of yet. But she would find them, even if she had to wait for Darius to return to the house.
She studied the letter again, noting it revealed the love and yet contention between the eldest and youngest Taylours. Her gaze fell upon a sentence she’d read but hadn’t pondered.
That you would agree to hosting such a fete as a Twelfth Night ball, given your proclivity for isolation, proves to me that you hold Lady Ferncroft in the highest of esteem.
He held her in the highest esteem? Darius himself had said he was protecting her. Had she indeed misinterpreted her discovery?
She finished folding the letter and returned it to the drawer. Now she didn’t know what to think or how to feel. But she couldn’t simply wait to find out the truth. She needed to act.
Chapter Nineteen
Darius blinked, hisvision blurry, his head pounding. His mouth felt like he’d eaten cotton, and as he tried to focus, the light streaming in the windows sent shooting pain through head. He grabbed it with both hands as he closed his eyes. “The devil take me.”
“Sorry, old chap. Even the devil doesn’t want you.”
He snapped his eyes open and then wished he hadn’t, but forced himself to turn his head. Anthony stood by the fireplace in the converted bathhouse. “Bloody hell. What are you doing here? How did you find me? And why the hell does my head feel like I’ve been to hell and back?”
Anthony had the nerve to chuckle, but at least he did so softly. “You must be hurting if you use the wordhellthree times. Let me see if I can help clarify a few things for you. I’m here in this rather interesting billet because Archer sought me out and brought me here. I was on my way to spend Christmastide with you, as you had invited us. Lissa and I were at an inn a couple of towns away.”
Darius frowned as he tried to remember Anthony arriving, which didn’t help the pain, so he stopped. “And my head?”
“From what I understand, your wife discovered you here the night before last. When you went after her, you got into an argument with Archer and hit him. He hit you in return, only you fell back, and your head slammed against a rock. When youdidn’t wake up after a few hours, Archer grew concerned. He conferred with your butler, and it was determined they must seek me out, which is why I’m here.”
Some of Darius’s memory rushed back, causing him to moan with both emotional and physical pain. “I have to see my wife.” He sat up, and the room started to spin.
“Whoa, there.” Anthony’s hand was suddenly on his shoulder. “You’re not ready to move yet.”
“Then you bloody well better get me a bucket if you don’t want me to relieve myself on you.”
His brother’s hand immediately lifted, and in short order Darius was able to take care of his immediate bodily needs, which included tea and poached eggs with toast. He didn’t eat a lot, as his stomach didn’t seem to want much despite his unintended fast. But the tea seemed to lessen his head pains slightly.
He set his teacup down on the table next to the wingback chair Archer usually sat in. Since he couldn’t remember why he’d hit the gamekeeper, he couldn’t well blame the man. “I wish I could remember what happened.”
Anthony, who now sat on the settee, leaned his elbows on his thighs. “Lissa said you have a concussion, so you may have some gaps in your memory, but it’s only temporary until the swelling goes down.”
Darius felt the back of his head and winced as he encountered a bump. “I remember Ellie coming here. I have no idea how she found me, but she thought I had a mistress. She kept wanting to know why I was here. I told her to leave, but when she did, I had to get her back.” He started to shake his head then thought better of it. “I don’t remember what happened after I ran out of here.” His chest tightened at what he’d had and what he’d now lost. “All I know is I have to go to her. I can’t have her despising me.”
