He stopped walking and faced her, his gaze assessing.“I never would have asked you to be my wife if I didn’t believe I could trust you.That said, I should be completely forthright.My past is filled with dark corners.If you look hard enough, you’ll find things you’d rather not see, things that will make you think the worst of me.”
“Adrian, I could never.”
“Listen to me, and listen well.I’ve done things – terrible things – some on my father’s orders, others of my own volition.Newton was…” He shook his head as though struggling with a decision.His jaw hardened and when he met her gaze next, it cut straight through her like shards of glass.“I couldn’t leave his punishment to others.Not after what he did to Evie.Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“I do.”He’d taken matters into his own hands, just as she’d known he would.Newton’s death had not been self-inflicted.She reached for Adrian’s fingers and wove them between her own.“It doesn’t change the way I feel about you.Nothing else you’ve done will either, for if there is one thing I’ve learned these past weeks, it is that you are a just man, not a cruel one.”
If she were to place a bet, she’d stake her life on the fact that Adrian Croft would only harm those who deserved it.He was like an avenging angel in human form, punishing wrongdoers for their sins.For that reason alone, she could not be the one who destroyed him – not when she didn’t believe he was guilty of half the things Kendrick insisted upon.
His father might have forced women to whore themselves, just as Harlowe had tried to force her, but Adrian could never be so unfeeling.
“You still want to marry me then?”An unexpectedly uncertain plea from a man as harsh as he.
“Yes.”
No words of love had been spoken between them, not that she minded.In her heart, she knew she felt something deeper than friendship and sensed he might too, but it would be foolish of either of them to make declarations unless they were spoken without any shadow of doubt.
For now, the bond they’d managed to build would suffice.Beyond that, their marriage would be practical for them both.He would give her a way out from under Harlowe’s control while she would guard him against any further attempts made against him.
So she did not hesitate later when asked if she would take Adrian as her husband.Nor did she feel any guilt over choosing to keep her directive a secret.All that mattered was what she did moving forward.No sense in giving Adrian cause to doubt her when marrying him was essential to his own safety.
Already, Harlowe had issued a stark reminder, that she was expected to locate the files and discover the names of the people they mentioned.He’d given her three days.Kendrick’s orders.
Samantha sipped her celebratory champagne, her thoughts already on all the lies she’d deliver to keep Kendrick busy.The wedding was a small affair.Marsdale was there along with Harlowe and Hazel.A delicious dinner had followed and then the cake, hastily prepared and yet an incredible marvel of chocolate and cream.
She took another bite and chased it down with more champagne.So good.
“It’s strange to have no urgent tasks to attend to,” Adrian said once the others had taken their leave and it was just the two of them in the parlor.He sent her a mischievous smile before taking a seat beside her on the sofa.“With the murders resolved, I almost wonder what I will do with myself.”
“I think it will be nice to have some peace and quiet for a change.It should give us a chance to get to know each other better.For instance, I’ve still no idea of what time you rise, what your daily schedule looks like, or what might irritate you.”
He stretched his arm out behind her and stroked the back of her neck with his thumb, making it hard for her to think.“I’m up before eight.Whatever my daily routine was until now, it’s likely to change to accommodate you.We’ll figure it out together.And finally, I hate being interrupted while reading.Unless it’s urgent of course.”
“I’m of a like mind.”
The warmth in his smile darkened his eyes.His thumb stilled at the edge of her neckline.“You’ve not yet received a tour of the house.”
“There’s hardly been any time.”
“There is now.”He tilted his head, his boyish grin making it nearly impossible for her to equate this man with the brutal one who’d hunted Newton down and forced him to pay with his life.“Shall we?”
She placed her hand in his, happy to follow, not the least bit afraid.They were so similar he and she.In due course, she hoped she’d be able to show him how much, but for the present, she had to take care.However jovial he might be right now, he wasn’t a man to be trifled with, and she’d be wise not to forget that.
They started with the music room – a colorful place with difficult memories since it had been his sister’s favorite spot in the house.They entered his study next.The large wood-paneled room she’d seen through her spyglass had a view of the street to one side while overlooking the garden to the other, though it was too dark beyond the beveled windows for her to get a good look at what lay beyond.
She considered the golden lion that sat by the fireplace before taking in the rest of the room’s decor.
“It’s masculine and yet I don’t feel as though it suits your personality.”The space was too austere, suffocating in a way with a large wall to wall carpet and various rugs placed on top.
“It was my father’s.I’ve not had a chance to redecorate since he died.”
No mention of not wanting to.Seeing the fierce look in his eyes, as though he were seeing unpleasant ghosts from the past, she chose not to comment.
They moved on to the dining room, then the ballroom, before taking a look below stairs where she received a quick tour of the kitchen, the butler’s pantry, and the housekeeper’s room.The servants, she noted, followed her every movement with sharp alertness.It would take time to win their loyalty.
“What’s through there?”she asked, gesturing toward what looked like a dungeon door.It appeared ancient.
“Storage,” Adrian told her, his hand at her elbow guiding her back to the stairs.They returned to the foyer and started climbing the stairs to the first-floor landing where Adrian paused.
