“At my house, when that stranger followed us home.” She softened her words with a smile.
He grinned widely. He was absolutely adorable this way.
“Will you ever forgive me?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I haven’t decided.” Her answer was playful, even though she still wondered if she would stop blaming him for bringing her along. Perhaps eventually.
“I have something to show you.” He stood, walked to his trunk—the one that didn’t have the jewels—and dug deep inside. Pushing his clothes aside, he showed her a secret opening in the lining. She sat forward and narrowed her eyes. He withdrew an object, then came back to the bed and sat.
“I want to show you something, even though you have already seen it. This was given to me by my father a year before we parted ways.” His hand opened to display a man’s large ring, a heavy band of gold with the Wentworth crest encircled by diamonds and rubies.
The ring!Was he going to confess now? She now didn’t believe he was the one who killed his brother. Instead of jumping to conclusions, she must have patience and wait for his explanation.
“It’s very lovely, Nash.”
“There are actually two rings. These rings have been handed down from generation to generation, from father to son. My father and Uncle Matthew each had one, until their father took back the ring and disinherited Matthew. Both William and I received a ring. William’s ring has a ruby in the middle, which proves he is the rightful heir to the title. My ring doesn’t have a large ruby in the middle. Instead, it’s sprinkled with rubies and diamonds. Both rings have the family crest.”
She took the ring and studied the crest. Indeed, this belonged to the Wentworth family. “Does Carolyn know you have a ring too?”
“I thought she knew. But even if she doesn’t, she will attest to the fact that this ring is different than the one given to her husband.”
Sighing, he rested his hand on her leg. Immediately, her body warmed. She couldn’t fight her feelings, especially when his touch made her feel so special.
“So, you think your uncle killed William for the ring?”
Nash nodded. “I know he did. I also know that he wants me dead because I have the second ring.” He slowly moved his palm over her leg in a gentle caress. “You see, if he has both rings, then neither Joshua nor I can gain William’s title.”
Maxey scowled. “That is not right. Can he really do that?”
Nash shrugged. “I know Matthew wants me dead. One of the men I was fighting the other night kept telling me to give him my ring. The only reason the man would ask for it is because he is on Matthew’s payroll.”
“That does make sense. However, your uncle just cannot step in and assume the title.”
“Not while Joshua and I are still alive, no. Matthew plans to get my ring first, then he will kill me and my nephew.”
She flexed her hands into fists, not understanding the injustice of it all. “How can we stop him, Nash? Men like that should be locked away in prison for the rest of their life.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” He gave her an empathetic smile. “Unfortunately, the only way to stop him is to find the ring he stole from my brother after Matthew killed him. With the proof in hand, we can turn him over to the police.”
“Then I suppose you have good reason to want to confront your uncle.”
“Indeed I do. I’m not only fighting for my life, but for my nephew’s life.”
She took Nash’s long finger and slipped on the ring. Softly, she rubbed his knuckle. “It’s a perfect fit.”
“Although I cherish this ring, it sickens me to think it once belonged to my uncle.”
“It looks good on you.”
He cupped her face. “My sweet Maxey, do you believe me now? Do you know beyond a doubt that I am telling you the whole truth?”
Her chest squeezed with emotion. She should have believed him all this time. Why had she wasted such precious moments with him arguing and doubting him when they could have been working together to stop Matthew?
“I do.” Her voice broke. “And I only beg your forgiveness for being so foolish. I should have trusted you.”
“Why didn’t you fully trust me before?”
He moved his hand down her neck slowly as the pad of his thumb slid over her skin. Tingles grew inside her, and although she tried not to melt from his touch, she also couldn’t deny the sensations that made her buzz from awareness.
