What a strange encounter, she thought as she watched Mrs. Harley make her way back upstairs.
*
“That’s it! Gentlynow.” Nate crouched by the lake holding Henry over the water as the little boy poked his makeshift boat with a stick, sending it out into the lake.
The paper vessel floated a few feet from the shore and the child clapped. Nate clasped the boy close to him as they both watched the little boat. He marveled at the child’s rosy cheeks and sweet smile. How was it possible that two days ago he knew nothing about this boy? This sweet child who he instinctively knew belonged to him.
“Oh, look, Henry, your papa is here.” Henry’s nanny appeared at Nate’s side. “Let me take you to see him.” She stretched out her arms.
The smile faded from Nate’s face as Henry left his hold.
“Papa!” Henry pointed to Lord Luxton, who had been wheeled down to the lake by his valet. Lady Luxton remained beside Nate as he watched Henry’s nanny place him on Lord Luxton’s lap. The little boy rested his head against Lord Luxton’s chest as the manservant pushed them away on a walk.
“He’s the image of you,” Lady Luxton purred.
“That matters not. His father is Lord Luxton.”
“For now,” she said.
“Forever.” Nate watched as Lord Luxton and Henry moved farther in the distance.
Lady Luxton sighed. “When Lord Luxton dies, Henry will need histrue father. I know you won’t abandon him.” Then she left him, walking in the direction of her husband and son.
Nate swallowed the bitter lump in his throat, as he watched the group, feeling the pain of what might have been.
*
Wanting to clearhis head, Nate walked for some time down the shore, embracing the glacial lake and its surrounding greenery. He did his best to push Helen out of his mind, slipping his right hand into his trouser pocket, and feeling for the button. There was no question in his mind that someone had been following Bridget and had intended to do her harm. But who?
Remembering the blood seeping through Lady Eamont’s white glove after she’d pricked herself with Madam Bouffant’s brooch, her name was the first that came to his mind. There was something deranged about that woman. She had a cruel, bloodthirsty streak and he did not doubt that, given the chance, she would have gladly pushed Madam Bouffant down the stairs. She also had a solid motive to hurt Bridget. Adelia had given Bridget the brooch, informing her that her mother had stolen it. Although that did not seem to threaten Lady Eamont, she may have been concerned that Adelia had revealed other secrets to Bridget as well.
And what about Adelia herself? If she were half as mad as Bridget had said she’d been on the day of her sister’s big announcement, then they were all in trouble. Finally, there was—
“Dodsworth?” Nate said as he spotted his friend emerging from the lake, stark naked, with Jefferson following behind him. Nate grinned. They’d braved the cold and gone for a swim. There was nothing better than stripping off one’s clothes and plunging into the refreshing waters of Lake Windermere. Perhaps, he’d join them.
He walked toward his friends as they dressed, ready to surprisethem. He was glad to see Dodsworth as he still wanted to ask him about his sudden betrothal to Lydia. Maybe it wasn’t too late to warn him about the Eamonts. He deserved to know the madness that was about to become his family.
But as Nate got closer, he saw that the atmosphere between his friends had changed. Dodsworth and Jefferson weren’t smiling anymore. They appeared to be involved in a heated discussion. Jefferson was shaking his head and gesturing with his hands, and Dodsworth looked to be pleading.
Nate stopped, uncertain what to do. Then Dodsworth put one hand on Jefferson’s shoulder and another on his face. The way they looked at each other spoke volumes, and Nate suddenly understood what Lydia had meant by a “hanging offense.” They were lovers. She’d discovered their secret—and she’d used that information to coerce Dodsworth into marrying her.
Nate felt the fool. How had he not known? Dodsworth had been his friend for years. Granted, proclivities such as his weren’t information one bandied about. But he’d always thought of Dodsworth as a rake. Now he understood that his friend must have been living in fear that someone would discover the truth, so he’d played along, telling everyone he wanted to remain a bachelor and enjoy his freedom.
Not wanting to intrude, Nate backed away and turned onto a path leading away from the lake. The shock of the discovery was soon replaced by another thought. Dodsworth wasn’t a murderer, but could Jefferson have killed to protect their secret?
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Lord, no! Notagain!” Bridget stumbled back in fright upon seeing the body floating face down in the shallow rectangular fountain lorded over by Venus. Abigail’s unmistakable red hair fanned out in the water beneath the statue of Venus likeHamlet’s tragic, drowned Ophelia.
“I found her just like this,” Thomas said, his voice shaky. “She’s drowned. Poor lass.”
Nausea rose in Bridget’s throat as she surveyed the scene—a dead woman, cloaked in black, floating in a fountain, her lantern flung to the side—just as hers had been. Suddenly, an immense terror swept over her as fragments of that night returned to her mind. She recalled the cold darkness and the sense of a malevolent presence behind her. She hadn’t tripped. Someone hadpushedher. And she felt certain that the same thing had happened to Abigail. Someone had wanted them both dead and this time, the killer had made sure the job was properly done. “Abigail didn’t just drown,” Bridget said out loud. “She was murdered. I’m certain of it.”
“I think you’re right.” Nate gripped the back of his neck as he stared at the drowned housemaid. The sheer horror on his face assured Bridget that he could no longer pretend all was well at Villa De Lacey. There was no mistaking it now—a killer lurked amongst them.
“Who could have done this?” Nate’s jaw tightened and Bridget could see the fury in his expression. “It’s utterly heinous!”
“Poor Abigail! She must have been so frightened.” A cold fear passed through Bridget, and she wrapped her arms around herself.It could have been me lying in that fountain.
