She took a deep breath and licked her tender bottom lip, swollen with his kisses. “I want to know the reason behind that urgent letter.”
“The letter? Is that what this is all about?” He seemed relieved as he rolled off the bed and slipped on his gown. “I’ve been looking for a man who used to work here. He has questions to answer about some stolen property. That’s all.”
“Who is he?”
“He was once my head gardener. Theo Mallory.”
Laura sat up. “But Mr. Mallory is here in Wolfram.”
Nathaniel looked up from tying the belt of his gown, his eyes wide. “You’ve met him?”
“He came to see you on the day I telephoned. He’s putting up at The Sail and Anchor.”
“I could do with a drink. Like one?”
“No, thank you.”
Nathaniel disappeared into his room. He came back cradling the crystal tumbler of brandy in his long fingers. “Did you speak to him?”
“Briefly. I didn’t like him.”
He scowled. “Was he disrespectful?”
“I thought he lacked manners.”
Nathaniel nodded. “That’s Mallory all right. I’ll seek him out tomorrow.”
“What has been stolen?”
He took a sip from his glass. “Nothing stolen from here, but goods were hidden in one of the estate cottages.”
“Why hide them there?”
“They were smuggled in by sea from across the Channel. I’ve had trouble before.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I didn’t expect it to occur again.”
“Mallory is behind it?”
“I suspected he was part of the earlier smuggling attempt several years ago, but the police couldn’t get anything on him. And then he disappeared.”
Laura’s sleepiness fled. She reached for her gown. “The constabulary will deal with him, won’t they?”
He threw back the last of the brandy and rose. “They will. It’s late. Go to sleep, sweetheart. I must catch up on some paperwork. I’ll go down to my study.”
“Do you often work there during the night?”
“Sometimes. I’m a restless sleeper.”
Laura wanted to ask him where he’d been on the night she discovered his bedroom empty and a light under Amanda’s door. She hesitated. The evening had begun so badly, but she refused to end it that way. “I hope you sleep tonight, darling. Good night.”
He feathered a kiss on her lips. “Sleep well.”
The door closed. Perhaps in time, as they grew to understand each other, any differences and misunderstandings might cease to matter.Ifhe loved her. It would be too painful for her to stay in a loveless marriage, even though her mother would be outraged and would never understand should Laura leaveit.
Laura washed and dried herself by the fire, then donned her nightgown and climbed into bed, pulling the blankets up over her shoulders. She breathed in a blend of Nathaniel’s sharp cologne, her flowery perfume and the heady odor of their lovemaking. Wrapping her arms around the pillow, she admitted she was as able as he to escape her troubled thoughts in lovemaking. Blowing out the candle, she lay in the dark recalling their conversation. Nathaniel would deal with this Mallory, of that she was sure. She yawned. She’d learned very little of what really concerned her but was now too tired to care. Tomorrow, she thought, drifting off tosleep.
***
After breakfast, Nathaniel left with Mr. Pitney to see to estatematters.
