Laura stumbled from Cilla’s garden, as the pain at the back of her throat turned to racking sobs. Still disturbed, the dogs danced around her, tripping her up as she lurched along. She fought to compose herself and could only think of Nathaniel. She needed him to hold herclose.
Fearing she would faint, it took her ages to reach the house. Nathaniel was with Rudge in his study. He looked up from his desk and paled. She put a hand to her throat and found it drenched with blood. Her collar wassoaked.
Nathaniel shoved away from his chair and ran to her. “Rudge, get the doctor and send for the constable.”
She gazed into his grim face. “Cilla…”
“Don’t talk, Laura.” He pulled her into his arms.
Chapter Thirty
After Doctor Owens had assured Nathaniel that Laura was fine, and he’d seen the doctor out, Nathaniel returned to her. There was such relief in his face that her tears blurred her vision. Shadows crept into the room. Beyond the window, dusk had fallen. Laura watched Nathaniel smartly pull the curtains, as if to put an end to the horror. He lit candles around the room and then came to sit on thebed.
“Don’t worry so.” Laura straightened a lock of his hair as he leaned over her. “You were right, darling. The dogs did protect me.”
“Dear God!” He rubbed a hand over his face. “It never occurred to me. I knew Cilla was eccentric, as artists can be, but murder…” His voice shook, his eyes troubled. “She killed Amanda.”
“I believe she was quite mad.”
Nathaniel looked so exhausted that she caught her breath. “I brought her here, like a cuckoo in the nest, and she repaid me by killing Amanda and the baby.” He took a deep, shuddering breath. “She almost killed you. If she had…”
“But she didn’t. And it’s over.”
She had gasped out the whole story as they waited for the doctor. He’d immediately sent Hugh to the police to help organize the retrieval of Cilla’sbody.
Laura needed to be positive and strong.For the three of them. She stroked back his hair. “Darling, the pall hovering over Wolfram has gone. We can look positively toward the future.”
He bowed his head, his shouldersshaking.
A wave of fierce protectiveness consumed her. The past would not destroy their happiness. She had the means to right all wrongs. “I asked the doctor not to tell you, but he’s confirmed that I’m pregnant, and there’s no sign of any damage done.”
“Laura!” Nathaniel raised his head, his gray eyes alight withhope.
She smiled. “Yes, my darling.”
He searched her eyes. “How much I have wanted this.”
“You guessed?”
His grin pulled at her heart. “No. But I did allow myself to hope when you seemed to be eating for two.”
“Despite everything, I’m in surprisingly good health. This baby wants to be born.”
Nathaniel held her hand in his warm one. “Perhaps the good Lord has taken pity on
me.”
“So He should. You’ve suffered enough.”
He entwined his fingers with hers and gripped her hand tightly as if she was about to float away. “If Cilla hadn’t died, I might have dealt with her myself.”
“Hush.”
“Oh, I can hate with great ferocity, I’ve recently discovered.” He stroked her hair back from her brow. “As well as love very deeply. But you’re right. We must look toward the future.”
“While we’re discussing the future, there are three things I’d like to address.”
He smiled. “Anything, my love.”
