“You’ve been awfully quiet this evening,” Bridget said. “Ever since your father announced the death of your cousin, both you and Collin haven’t been very talkative.”
His smile disappeared, and he nodded. “Collin told me what happened a year ago when he and Lloyd went to Bath. Believe it or not, my brother had given his heart to a woman. Unfortunately, she was compromised by Lloyd, and they were forced to wed.”
She gasped. “But… your cousin died.”
“Yes, in a boating accident with several of his drunken friends.”
“But Adrian… the woman Collin gave his heart to is now awidow. And he is now the marquess.”
Adrian stopped and faced her. She slid her arms around his waist as his arms encircled her shoulders.
“Exactly.”
“What do you think your brother will do?”
“That, my darling Bridget, is a very good question, which I’m sure my brother is contemplating as we speak. However, I realize that is his decision to make, so I must stop worrying about him.”
She smiled. “You’re just being kindhearted.”
He chuckled and held her tighter. “Indeed, but if you knew the past I had with my brother, you would find that most comical.”
Laughing, she shook her head and turned, hooking her arm around his again to continue their stroll. “I’m happy to know both of you have matured since then. I’m not certain I would be able to tolerate that kind of behavior between my husband and brother-in-law.”
He sighed heavily. “But now, I wonder if Collin has doubts about your sister.”
Just as her mind gathered the information and processed it, her feet slowed the pace. “What do you mean?”
Adrian shrugged. “I noticed that Collin has been enjoying himself with Priscilla, and, well, I wondered if he was developing feelings for her.”
“I had actually thought Priscilla had been in love with you, but now that I think about it, you are correct. All this time, she kept asking how I felt about marrying the earl, and I couldn’t answer her because I was falling in love with you. But now, I see that she was referring to Collin.”
“Yes, but now… Well, I believe Collin will consider Lady Kentwood in the running once again. He never stopped loving the woman.”
“I hope, for Priscilla’s sake, that Collin really thinks about this. Although he may be interested in my sister, he does not look at her as though he is in love.” Bridget smiled and touched his cheek. “His expression is nowhere near the way you look at me.”
“I confess, I lose myself whenever you are around.”
Her heart skipped wildly. “I know the feeling well.”
He leaned down to kiss her, but a nearby rustling noise distracted him. Adrian swung around, and Bridget tried to peer through the thickening shadows to see who else was outside. He took her hand and crept toward the corner of the house, and then stopped. Together, they cautiously peeked around the corner.
Someone was out there, and whoever it was had set up a ladder against the large oak tree a few feet from the house. Although Bridget couldn’t see who it was, the person was wearing a black cape.
She gasped, and Adrian’s quick intake of breath soon followed. He pulled her flat against the wall of the house, keeping out of sight of the intruder by the tree.
“I believe we have found the person Collin saw a few days ago who was trying to hide,” she whispered.
He nodded. “Yes, I think you are correct, my love. But we must tread carefully. I won’t allow him to harm you. Now that I realize how important you are to me, I must protect you at all costs.”
“My darling man, have you forgotten how stubborn I am? If we work together, we can overpower this person and catch him.”
She peered around the corner again, watching closely. Their threat held an axe in one hand and slowly climbed the ladder. Once he reached the top, the mystery villain carefully stepped onto a branch. Then the unknown person climbed to a higher branch and slid toward a window.
Adrian’s arms were wrapped around her middle as he stood behind her, peering over her shoulder. His warm breath brushed against her cheek.
“That is one of the windows to my bedchamber,” Adrian whispered. “I wonder what he is planning.”
“Is it a man?” she asked. “It almost looks like it could be a woman, because whoever it is, they are thin and not very tall.”
