Papa pulled his chair closer to the bedside. He covered her closest hand with one of his. “You’ve had the finest surgeon from London. Dr. Morrison removed the ball and the bits of clothing from your wound.”
The hint of a smile touched her lips. “That sounds…awful. I’m certainly glad I wasn’t awake for that.”
Papa squeezed her hand and managed a weak smile.
“What happened?” she asked, moving slightly and wincing again. “After I was shot, I mean. Was Valentina arrested?”
Papa nodded. “She was, and so were all the men with her, including Hugh Grayson.”
Sophie bit her lip. Not entirely certain how much her father knew. “I heard her say she killed Malcolm, too.”
Papa rubbed his jaw with his free hand and shook his head. The disgusted look had returned to his face. “Yes, well, General Grimaldi told me even more about Valentina’s involvement.”
“What did he say?” Sophie asked, half afraid to hear it.
Papa heaved another sigh. “Apparently, before we married, Valentina was after Malcolm Grayson. She wanted to marry him.”
Sophie gasped. “I didn’t know that. That was before my come-out. But it stands to reason. She’s always been obsessed with being a duchess.”
“She never mentioned it to me, either, of course,” Papa added, a disgruntled look on his face.
“So Valentina had a reason to hate Malcolm?” Sophie said, still contemplating her stepmother’s role in the whole sordid affair.
Papa nodded. “Apparently, she had vowed to connect herself to the Duke of Harlowe one way or another, and once the rumor circulated that Phillip Grayson had died at war, Valentina came up with the idea to murder Malcolm, replace him with Hugh, and convince Hugh to marry you. She knew Hugh was the sort she could bend to her will. Apparently, she’d met him once when he’d come to London asking for a handout from Malcolm. She and Hillsdale went to visit Hugh in the country after hearing the news of Phillip’s death.”
Sophie expelled her breath. “That’s madness.”
Papa shook his head. “I quite agree, but the most insane part is that it nearly worked. If Phillip had truly been dead, she might well have got away with all of it.”
“What did Hillsdale have to do with it?” Sophie asked, wondering if her father knew the extent of Valentina’s betrayal.
Papa heaved a sigh. “Seems he was just a means to an end for Valentina. She began an affair with him to use him to help her execute her elaborate scheme.”
Sophie squeezed her father’s hand. “I’m sorry, Papa. It must have been quite painful for you to find out how awful she truly was.”
Papa sighed again and stared at the floor. “No, Sophia. I’m the one who’s sorry. After your mother’s death, I spent too long in the country. I didn’t come back to Society until you were of age. I never heard the rumors about Valentina. Apparently, Malcolm Grayson had bedded her but refused to court her. She was a young widow back then. Her first husband, Viscount Greenling, died under mysterious circumstances as well, I’m told.” Papa shook his head.
Sophie gasped. “No!”
“Yes.” Papa nodded. “For all I know, I may have been next.”
Sophie shuddered. “Don’t say that.”
“Not to mention, she brought that hideous Hugh into our lives,” Papa continued, his face turning red with anger. “I never did like him much. But Valentina convinced me a duke was the best possible match. And after your mother died, I always wanted the best for you. You deserved a duke, as far as I’m concerned. I let my common sense be overrun by my pride. I’m sorry, Sophia.”
Sophia reached out and patted her father’s hand. “I’m only glad I won’t have to marry him after all, Papa.”
“No,” Papa agreed. “You won’t. The blackguard is in gaol.”
Sophie nodded. “Did General Grimaldi say whether Hugh was involved in Malcolm’s murder?”
Papa shrugged. “General Grimaldi is still investigating, but from what he told me, Hugh was probably just a pawn used by Valentina and Lord Hillsdale to get what they wanted. Hugh was little more than oaf from the country who would do what they said in exchange for them taking him under his wing in London Society and puffing up his self-importance. Hugh was so arrogant and power-obsessed, he pretended not to notice their methods.”
“Which would explain why Valentina didn’t kill you to marry Hugh herself,” Sophie pointed out.
Papa narrowed his eyes. “Honestly, I don’t think she wanted him. Even if it would have made her a duchess. Though I suspect she probably considered it. Perhaps she thought it would be a bit too much of a coincidence if her second husband died early, too.”
Sophie shuddered again. “I don’t even want to think about that. Did General Grimaldi mention anything about Lord Vining? Did he have anything to do with it?”
