Matt drew a deep breath. “I’m wondering if I have. If Ross and Donel were the men he hired.”
“So he blackmailed the old duke just for money?” Matt understood that sort of greed was beyond Willa’s understanding. Her father would have grasped it immediately.
“Or to balance matters out,” he said. “Perhaps he felt he deserved Camberly. He did know about William. He told me so.”
“My mother mentioned William last night. She was aware of his nature. Apparently, it wasn’t that big of a secret.”
“Neither was my infatuation with Letty Bainhurst. However, the stationery used for the notes sent to both Letty and me was from a study in the Evanston house. George was there. He had the opportunity to arrange everything.”
“Including telling Lady Evanston that you wished to see me when you were with Letty. I did notice George in the card room.”
“I saw him as well. He appeared to be playing but perhaps he was watching.”
“How would he know that I’d be angry and leave? Why would he wish to drive a wedge between us?”
“I don’t know, but I will ask him when I see him.”
“We must go to the magistrate.”
“We can’t prove any of this, Willa. I could even be wrong and performing a terrible injustice to George. For that reason, I will handle the matter myself.”
“Matt, no—”
“It’s my family, Willa. My responsibility. The last thing the title needs is more of our personal affairs airing out in public.”
“If George is a murderer, there is no way this will be kept quiet. Nor can you let him go. We’ll always be looking over our shoulders.”
She was right.
Matt stood. “Come here.”
Willa looked uncertain. She came to her feet and walked over to him.
Almost reverently, he bent down, seeking her lips. “I’m fortunate to be married to a wise woman,” he whispered, his mouth inches from hers.
“I pray you never forget that statement,” she whispered back, and then he kissed her.
He kissed her reverently, hopefully, passionately.
Her arms came around his neck. She stood on her toes. He picked her up and carried her to the bed. His fingers began working her lacings. Her hands slid inside his jacket, pushing it down over his shoulders.
Dear God, he wanted this. He’d had her warmth beside him in bed but it had taken all his willpower to give her the time she needed to heal.
Matt lowered his arms, and his jacket slid to the floor. He pulled Willa down onto the bed beside him. He kissed her chin, her cheek, her nose, and her sweet ears before finding her mouth again. She laughed as if it tickled, and the sound made his heart grow fuller, the beat stronger.
She loved him.
He’d always thought true love was full of drama and turmoil. It wasn’t. Love was the sense that he was right where he was supposed to be. That at last, he’d found his home.
They undressed in earnest now. Clothes were thrown, boots tugged off, ribbons unbound. He buried his hands in her hair, adoring the silky texture of her curls. He liked her hair. He’d tell her that... as soon as he finished letting her know how much he loved her...
That was Matt’s last thought. They were between the cool cotton sheets. The mattress felt good and having Willa beside him felt even better. This was the best of married life and he couldn’t wait to be inside his wife.
“Are you ready to count?” he teased, reminding her of her mother’s advice to count backward and it would all be done.
Willa laughed against his lips, her breasts flattened against his chest, her hips fitting with his. With one hand, he cupped her buttocks to him. “One hundred,” he said.
“Ninety-nine,” she answered.
