Laura put down her cup. Rudge had been far too enamored of Amanda’s portrait. Amanda had laughed at him, Cilla had said. “And you believe him?”
Nathaniel shrugged. “I don’t see why I shouldn’t.”
“Might there have been a thief in the room?”
“Rudge will question the staff. We may have a pilferer among them. Perhaps they were disturbed, for nothing appears to have been taken. Anything of great value is in my safe.” He rubbed his brow. “Don’t worry, Laura, the room will be emptied today. No one need go in there again.”
“We could give the maids one of the simpler pieces of jewelry. I’m sure they’d be delighted to have a small broach or a locket.”
“An excellent idea. I’ll have Rudge see to it.”
Nathaniel took a bite of toast as his assessing gaze met hers. Did he believe her? Or did he think she’d dreamed it? She put down her cup. “I went down to the kitchen last night when I couldn’t find you. A breeze blew up from the passage that leads to the water.”
Nathaniel dropped his toast onto his plate. “Remember your promise, please.”
She hadn’t promised, and she might well ignore his infuriating order in the future. But she saw little advantage in arguing the point with him now. “I heard someone shut the outside door. Was that you?”
“Yes. I checked on my boat to see if the mooring was secure. A gale was blowing up.”
Laura gazed out at the calm, sunny morning. “I didn’t hear it.”
“The storm didn’t amount to much.”
“And yet you usually predict the weather so accurately.”
He frowned. “I’m touched by your faith in me. But even I can be wrong on occasion.”
“Do you know,” she said in a conversational tone, aware her words would produce an outburst, “I’ve learned how to tell when you dissemble.”
This gained a reaction, but not the explosive one she’d expected. Nathaniel rose slowly. He looked down at her, an expression in his eyes she’d never seen before. Never wanted to see. Regret.
“The woman I married,” he said slowly, “would never have thought that of me. Let alone have said it.”
Laura cringed and looked away from his hurt eyes. She swallowed the bitter taste in her mouth. Why was she the one made to feel in the wrong? “Am I mistaken then?”
Nathaniel paused as Rudge entered with Laura’s plate of fruit. Her mouth was as dry as dust, her appetite completelygone.
When the door closed on Rudge, Nathaniel rested his hands on the back of his chair. “I only ask that you do as I say. Am I so very unreasonable?”
She glowered at him. So she was to be the one atfault!
He eased his shoulders with a weary sigh. “I need to escape all this drama. I’m taking the boat out.” He tilted his head. “I’d like your company.”
She blanched, in no mood to brave the ocean. “No. I…”
He nodded, his eyes bleak. “Very well.” He turned and walked to thedoor.
“Wait, Nathaniel.” Her voice trembled. He thought she no longer believed in him. That must have cut deeply into the very heart of a proud man like Nathaniel. And he was wrong. She had every faith in him to protect her, especially in that small boat. She couldn’t leave things like this. “I’d like to come with you.”
He raised a brow. “You feel safe with me, Laura?”
She swallowed. “Of course I do.”
His eyes darkened with emotion. “I shall always endeavor to take care of you. It would be more than my life is worth if anything happened to you.”
She gasped. “I’ve always trusted you to keep me safe.”
“It’s a perfect day for a sail. We’ll leave after your breakfast. You might wish to change your dress. It would be a pity to spoil that one.”
