Dinner was served a couple of hours later, allowing them to take a break and rest.With the light dimming as evening approached, focusing on all the tightly printed names had become increasingly hard.They’d started swimming in front of Samantha’s eyes when she’d scanned the pages for the fourth time.
“Have you heard from Edward since he left for Longmeadow?”Samantha asked before popping a succulent piece of roast lamb in her mouth.
Adrian swallowed the bite he’d been chewing and nodded.“He sent a letter after arriving to let me know all was well.His mother is getting on in years and was very happy to see him again.She hates it when he’s away in London.”
“She could join him on his visits here, could she not?”
“I don’t believe she cares for the noise, the smell of sewage, or any of London’s other charms.”He drank some wine.“In case you’re wondering, he didn’t inquire after Miss Roberts.”
“So he’s either put her out of his mind or he’s worried you’ll judge him for bringing her up.”It pained Samantha to force the two apart but Adrian was right.Edward would just end up hurt if he pursued Melody in earnest.
“Exactly.”
“Any idea which it might be?”
He paused with his fork between his plate and his mouth.“Considering the way in which he mentioned her to me, as though he wanted my blessing, I’m fairly sure it’s the latter.”
Samantha sighed.“Maybe Lady Heathbrooke’s idea to get Melody out of the country will work.It should give Edward the chance to meet someone else during her absence.”
“I see little chance of that occurring.Edward is already well acquainted with all the eligible ladies Society has to offer.Had he been interested in any of them, he’d have gotten engaged years ago instead of letting his tendre for Evie distract him.”
“He has a duty, however,” Samantha pointed out.“Surely he’ll want to fulfill it.Having lost the love of his life and realizing Melody isn’t a feasible choice, I imagine he’ll want to make a strategic decision moving forward rather than an emotional one.”
“Do you have a particular candidate in mind for him?”
Samantha snorted, almost choking on the wine she was drinking.She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and sent her husband an incredulous look.“No, and I’ve no intention of giving the matter more thought.It’s up to Edward to figure out who he wants to marry.You and I have meddled enough in his affairs.We’d be wise to let the matter rest from now on.”
“You’re right of course.I just hope the next woman who catches his interest will have both the pedigree and the character he deserves.”
Samantha understood precisely what he meant.Edward was the best man there was.His falling for Melody had been bittersweet.Tragic in a way since there was no future for them unless he made her his mistress.Knowing Melody, Samantha doubted her friend would accept such an option.She’d want the man she loved entirely to herself or not at all.
She wondered where Melody was at the moment.Judging from the date she’d departed, she must be close to reaching Paris.If she hadn’t already.
Perhaps the sojourn in Italy would provide her the chance to make a more appropriate match for herself as well.Surely no one there would care one whit about who her parents had been.Or at the very least, there was no need to provide the people she met with such details.
“This name appears in both places,” she said a while later when they’d returned to the library to resume their investigation.The discarded plates from the dessert they’d chosen to eat in here were piled on the far side of the table.Samantha indicated a spot in the records.“Victor Melroy.He’s listed as a surgeon employed by St.George’s.”
“Maybe he’s our man,” Adrian said.He pulled the page toward him and studied the information.“He’s connected to Preordian and may have been at the hospital when Mr.Booker was brought in.If he realized his patient survived what was done to him – that there was a chance he might talk once he regained consciousness – Melroy could have silenced him without anyone being the wiser.”
“We should definitely meet with him tomorrow.”
“I’ll meet with him,” Adrian told her firmly.“You’ll stay here until you’ve fully recovered.”
She glowered at him.“I’m perfectly fine.”
“You had a bad fall the night before last and twisted your knee so badly you struggled to remove your breeches.Besides which, you took a punch to the stomach.”
“I didn’t fall,” Samantha argued, annoyed by his overbearing manner.“I jumped down from a balcony without having realized there were stairs beneath me.”
“The result is the same.”
She knitted her brow.“I’m perfectly able to visit St.George’s without issue.As you know, I’m already able to climb the stairs here without discomfort.”
“It’s only been a couple of days, Samantha.You know you ought to rest for at least one week, if not more.”
“Exercise is good for me and I promise not to push myself.”
He sat back, arms crossed.Annoyance narrowed his gaze.“There’s no need for both of us to interview Melroy.I want you to allow yourself the time you need in order to properly heal.”
