Blast.
Adrian squeezed his eyes shut and curbed the instinct to send decanters and glasses flying with the swipe of his hand. Instead, he tensed at the sound of the front door opening once more. Elks’s low voice reached him first, followed swiftly by a feminine sound that sent his heart racing.
He was in the hallway before he could blink, seeking his wife with rising dread. She wasn’t supposed to be here so why had she come?
Without warning, no less.
“What’s happened?” The words were as urgent as the rapid beat of his heart.
She turned to him, blue eyes meeting his, a soft smile forming upon her lips as she took him in, and the rest of the world retreated. “The baby started moving and I worried about the medical treatment I would receive from a village doctor, should I need it. I’m more comfortable with a fully staffed hospital nearby.”
Her point was valid and yet…
“You should have written,” he said while Elks took her pelisse. “I’d have come to escort you.”
“I had no wish to wait.” She removed her gloves. “Isak is well, by the way, in case you were wondering. He was reading Robinson Crusoe when I left. Slowly of course, but with marked improvement.”
“Good. That’s good.”
She sighed. “I’m sorry I didn’t warn of you my arrival.”
“You gave me no chance to prepare.” He could feel panic starting to grip him. “Finn O’Leary is still—”
“A threat?” she asked, her hand grasping his. “I expect as much since you haven’t informed me otherwise, but can we not forget about him for a moment and simply focus on being together again. For starters, I’d love a cup of hot tea.”
“I’ll have a tray brought up right away,” Elks said and proceeded toward the kitchen stairs.
Samantha thanked him and stepped into Adrian’s arms. The conversation he’d had with Edward combined with Samantha’s unexpected arrival made him feel like control was being wrested away from him. He didn’t like it one bit though he was wise enough to keep his mouth shut and simply savor his wife’s embrace.
“Is O’Leary the only thing troubling you?” she asked once they were sitting side by side on the sofa a few moments later.
“Is he not enough?” Adrian countered.
“Yes, but you seem more edgy than usual, so I thought something might have happened this evening. Prior to my arrival.”
Adrian blew out a breath and relayed the details of Edward’s visit. They were interrupted once when a maid brought the tea. Samantha now sipped from her cup while Adrian spoke. “I couldn’t deny him anymore. He’d have cut ties with me instead of Miss Roberts. At least this way our friendship remains intact.”
“For now,” Samantha muttered, her eyes streaked with sorrow as they met Adrian’s. “It may be worse off after he discovers the truth.”
“If he discovers the truth,” Adrian amended.
She gave him a we-both-know-he-cannot-wed-her-without-being-told-who-she-is kind of look. “I’ll speak with Melody when she returns, but if her relationship with Edward moves ahead, you’ll need to be honest with him. Even at the risk of losing his friendship. Anything less would be wrong. Especially after all he has done to help you.”
“I know. You’re right.”
“Of course I am.”
He chuckled in response to her satisfied smile and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I’ve missed you.” She echoed his words and he allowed himself the luxury of savoring her company for a few more seconds while the rest of the world waited. “We’ll visit Doctor Wolf in the morning so he can check on you.”
“And then?” She sent him a questioning look while weaving her fingers more firmly with his.
He knew what she asked. Would he insist she return to Deerhaven Manor? How would he respond if she refused? His stomach tightened at the realization that danger lay in both directions. If he sent her away in the hope of keeping her safe from O’Leary, he’d be denying her the improved medical access London had to offer.
The choice was simple yet impossible at the same time. He sighed. “And then you can either stay in London where I shall do the best to protect you against O’Leary, or you can return to Deerhaven Manor where he’s no threat.”
Her response was immediate. “I’d rather stay here by your side.”
Although he’d expected this answer, he suddenly felt like the walls were caving in on him. Only to realize he’d probably have felt the same had she chosen to leave. Their current situation was too unfamiliar, and as such, he found himself increasingly anxious.
