The three of us turned toward the house, where Viscount Fairfax stood in the doorway.
“Oh, good,” Lady Clifton said. “You have emerged from the study.”
Clifton raised a brow. “You’ve been using my study?”
Fairfax folded his arms across his chest. “I’ve been waiting for you to return these past two days. The two of you certainly took your time.”
Clifton shrugged. “We were in a hurry to get to Scotland, but there was no pressing need to rush back.”
There was a gleam in Fairfax’s eyes as he said, “I’m sure the two of you enjoyed spending the evenings at an inn rather than on the road.”
I blushed, trying not to look at Lady Clifton as she moved next to me and threaded her arm through mine. “The two of you can go talk about whatever it is that brought Fairfax here. I’m going to take Diana into the drawing room, where we shall become reacquainted.”
Clifton sighed. “Try not to tell too many embarrassing stories about me.”
“I make no promises,” his mother said.
Clifton leaned down to press a soft kiss to my lips. “The two of you have half an hour, then I’m stealing you back.”
I watched him go with a fond smile. When I turned back to Lady Clifton, there was a knowing look in her eyes.
“You care for him.”
“I married him,” I said, trying not to betray just how true her words were.
She shook her head. “Yes, you did, but that doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t have done so for practical reasons. But I can see now that not only are you married, but you will be very happy together. Come. Follow me. You already know the staff, but they are quite anxious to make a good impression upon the new countess. I dare say they have been working all day to prepare your favorite treats for tea.”
CHAPTER 25
CLIFTON
Rexford had promised to look into the Tuttlefords and see what he could discover. In particular, whether there was anything suspicious surrounding the carriage accident that had taken the life of Lady Atherton. Fairfax’s presence here now meant they’d learned something.
We made our way back to my study, where we could speak in private. “I hope you didn’t make a mess of my desk,” I said, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere.
Fairfax opened the study door with a flourish as though the room was his. “It’s good to see you too. I take it things went well?”
“We made it just before Tuttleford arrived. Sent him scurrying home with his tail between his legs.” I shook my head. “It seems unbelievable that three of us have married within one season.”
Just a little over a week ago, I’d been reeling from the fact that Moreland and Kendrick had married. Now I’d joined them.
Fairfax examined me closely, his eyes narrowed. “Are you having any regrets?”
“No.”
The answer came readily enough. I had already fully accepted the fact that having Diana as my wife was an unexpected benefit. One I never thought I would receive.
Fairfax nodded. “I figured as much.”
“What do you mean?”
He shrugged. “Just a feeling I had.”
Damn this man and his intuition. How was it possible for someone who seemed to flit about in life as though he hadn’t a care in the world to pick up on things no one else saw?
“How is the new Lady Clifton?”
I shrugged. “Well enough, I believe. I’ve been going out of my way to ensure she doesn’t regret her decision to marry me.”
