Mark nodded. Something told him Hillenbrand was telling the truth. “One more thing. Did you see anyone else with the wine? Or anything else questionable that night?”
The man hesitated. Mark got the impression he was about to say that he had. But then, “No. I… I saw nothing.”
Mark narrowed his eyes. “If you remember something, I do hope you’ll bring it to my attention immediately.”
“Of course.” Hillenbrand nodded. “May I go now?”
Mark nodded toward the slowly moving crowd. “Yes, you’re free to leave.”
After Hillenbrand stalked away to catch up to the others, Oakleaf strolled over to meet Mark at his spot next to the gate. “What did he say?”
“He denied it, the poisoning, that is. He admitted bringing the wine, however.”
Oakleaf arched a brow. “What do you think?”
“I don’t know.” Mark expelled his breath. “All signs point to Hillenbrand, but there’s something about it that’s not sitting right.”
“Agreed,” Oakleaf replied with a firm nod.
“What about you? Any luck questioning the others?” Mark asked.
Oakleaf gave a humorless smile. “Lord Anthony was so overcome with grief he wasn’t particularly helpful, and Lady Arabelle’s mother was only concerned for her daughter. Neither of them remembered anything odd about the evening. I don’t have much to report, I’m afraid.”
Mark elbowed Oakleaf in the ribs. “Perhaps you should ask my cousin Regina to help you?”
Oakleaf’s eyes widened, then his expression settled into a smirk. “Careful there, I just might.”
Mark opened his mouth to argue, but Oakleaf interrupted. “Speaking of ladies, how are things with Nicole these days? Have you two kissed and made up?” He waggled his eyebrows.
Mark scrubbed a hand across his face. “Why in the devil’s name would you think I’d tell you?” Not only had he and Nicole “kissed and made up,” they were having a hell of a time in bed. Mark couldn’t stop thinking about her. He found it deuced difficult to concentrate on the case, actually. Falling back into bed with Nicole, being part of her life again, had been surprisingly simple and it made him uneasy because he suspected falling in love with her again could be just as simple.
Oakleaf shrugged. “Well, you’re a fool if you don’t clear up the nonsense between you.”
Mark growled under his breath. Oakleaf’s words were too much along the same bent as Mark’s thoughts. Had he been crazy all those years ago to give her up?
“I knew Nicole was special from the moment she walked into my offices at Bow Street demanding to work there,” Oakleaf continued.
Finally something he could argue. “Yes, well, she failed to tell her husband she had that position.” Mark had wanted to kill Oakleaf last night. Today he’d been feeling more kindly toward the runner, but bringing up Nicole’s past with him wasn’t helping.
“Perhaps she assumed her husband would beproudof her,” Oakleaf said, watching him from the corners of his eyes.
Mark wasn’t about to explain to Daffin Oakleaf, of all bloody people, his fear of Nicole being killed. The man had never been in love. He couldn’t understand. “Damn it, Oakleaf, let’s get back to the house.” He turned on his heel and stalked toward the estate. “We have a murderer to catch.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
“That’s Aunt Mary.” Regina pointed up at a large oil painting of a beautiful woman who looked ever so much like Regina herself. She and Nicole stood in the corridor of the east wing of the manor house. Regina had brought Nicole here specifically to see her mother-in-law.
Nicole stared up at the painting with reverence, her hands folded in front of her. She could pick out small resemblances to Mark in his mother’s face. Her nose was the same as Mark’s had been once. The lines around her mouth were similar. And the smile in her eyes. Those were also her son’s.
“She’s beautiful,” Nicole murmured.
“She was also as defiant as the two of us,” Regina added with a grin. “I only wish I’d got to know her better.”
Nicole smiled and nodded. “The duke said she was a woman who knew her own mind.”
Regina glanced at her companion and rolled her eyes. “I hate it when men say that. Knew her own mind. Everyone knows their own mind, it doesn’t matter if they’re female or not. I certainly know my own mind.”
Nicole laughed. “That you do, my friend.” She wrapped her arm around Regina’s. “And does your mind fancy Daffin Oakleaf?”
