*
Priscilla’s eyelids wereheavy. The long day, and even longer night, had worn on her already frazzled nerves, and she couldn’t stay awake a moment longer. But she waited for the constable’s arrival to tell him what had happened, along with Gavin and thedowager. Thankfully, Mrs. Jones—Jane Eggert—would surely go to prison for attempted murder.
She shrugged out of her night rail and dragged herself on tired feet toward her bed. As soon as she hit the mattress, she sank down and closed her eyes. She didn’t care that she wasn’t lying the correct way, or that blankets were not covering her—she was too exhausted to do anything about it.
Listening to the popping embers from the fire lulling her to sleep, she thought about what had happened in Gavin’s bedchambers, and especially those things he had said. Although she suspected he wondered about the so-called accidents happening around the estate, he had never really acted too worried about them. He’d brushed them off as if it were normal to have a coach wheel come loose, a fire in the stable, and, especially, a door fall on him.
Why hadn’t she realized he was trying to protect her from these incidents? Why couldn’t she tell how worried he had been? Perhapshewasn’t selfish any longer, but now she felt like a self-centered person for not noticing his distress.
For sure, first thing in the morning, she would put her worries aside and concentrate on repaying his kindness. She would love him as his future duchess, and put him first in her life, as it should be. She would make him see that she loved him wholeheartedly.
Although her limbs were weary, her overactive mind still couldn’t fall asleep. She didn’t know if he was still giving his statement to the constable or not, but she knew she had to tell Gavin that he could trust her with anything, and she would help him… because she loved him.
As difficult as it was, she pushed herself off the bed, shrugged on her night rail, and stepped to the door. Just as she placed her hand on the doorknob, someone knocked. She jumped andgasped. But there could only be one person who would come to her room this late at night.
She yanked the door open. Gavin’s fist was still lifted to knock. His eyes widened, and immediately, he smiled.
“By chance, were you waiting for me?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I was coming to find you.”
“Again?”
“Yes, once again in the same night, I wanted to talk to you.”
“Talk?Or did you have something else on your mind?”
“As much as I enjoy kissing you, I really need to talk this time, especially after what happened tonight, and what Mrs. Jones… er,that womansaid.”
He nodded. “I suspected as much.”
She opened her door wider and let him enter before closing it. “Gavin, please be honest with me and tell me what is going on. You mentioned that someone is stealing your money. Is that true?”
“Indeed, there is a thief in this house, but then again, I don’t know who this responsible party is or why and how they are taking my money.”
She grasped his hand and pulled him to the sofa. As they both sat, he slid his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. She snuggled against him and rested her hand on his chest. No longer was he wearing his waistcoat and cravat. Now he appeared just as comfortable as she was.
“Tell me what is going on.”
While he explained about the money that was slowly going missing from his coffers, she could hear the irritation in his voice. She couldn’t believe what his father had done, and all that Gavin needed to do in order to repair the family name.
She took his hand and gently squeezed it. “Gavin, I want you to cancel all my dress orders. I don’t need new gowns. I can make them myself. And as for those bonnets, first thing inthe morning, I will return them. I never did like wearing those cumbersome things on my head, anyway.”
His expression softened as his gaze dropped to her mouth. “You deserve new gowns, and I will not have my wife in anything less. As for the bonnets…” He shrugged. “I don’t like them on your head either. They hide your lovely hair.” He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “However, I don’t want you to worry about me. I don’t know how, but I will find out who is taking my money, and I’ll make them return every shilling. Besides, I will be selling all the other estates in my inheritance, so that will help. We will live here with my grandmother until I have enough to purchase us another home.”
“Oh, Gavin. Please, let me help you in some way. I see how frustrated you are with going over the ledgers. I have done this for my father for years. I might be able to see something you aren’t.”
His shoulders straightened and his wide-eyed gaze locked with hers. “You have done your father’s accounts?”
She nodded. “Bridget started them, but then I started helping her, and when she married, I took over.”
“Oh, thank the Lord!”
He cupped her face and leaned forward, kissing her quickly. She didn’t have time to enjoy it before he pulled away.
“My lovely Cilla, I didn’t realize until now what a godsend you are. Tomorrow after breakfast, I will take you to my study and have you look over the ledgers. Perhaps you will see something.”
She grinned. “Indeed. After all, an extra pair of eyes can’t hurt.” Excitement grew inside her. “Gavin, I’m sure we will find something. I would rather toil by your side than have you do it alone.”
