“Ruth, Lord Wycliff is stalling, no doubt for some nefarious purpose.”
“Can’t I merely be reveling in the memories of Adam and the woman he loved? Mrs. Wilky, has your sister always been so cynical?”
“I’m not cynical,” Mrs. Bexeley said. “I’m suspicious. Let’s forget about the registry and him and go home. Home is safe.”
“Your sister is right. I don’t have the other half. In a few weeks, once I’ve settled my business affairs, I’ll be dedicated to finding this paper. I will get it for you.”
Her lips lifted then floundered. “I won’t be able to stall the barrister much longer. He’s asked me to marry him. I wanted proof before I accept his offer. I need to go into a new marriage with all the questions of Adam’s honorable intentions resolved.”
Her sister frowned, “Barrister Marks proposed? You didn’t say.”
“I told him I needed time to think it over, to see if it was right for me.”
Sitting on a proposal and doubting my intentions?
No. No to marrying someone else and no to doubting my love.
No marriage. Not over my body, dead or alive.
Barely able to contain the fury sweeping over him, he tapped his desk again, his finger drawingNs for never, never going to give her up, never. It took all his strength to not leap up and confess. “Adam had a sister. She lived here. She would know exactly where his possessions were stored, but she’s missing.”
Ruth’s soulless eyes gained a sparkle brighter than the crystal sconces lining the study. “He did have a sister. Cicely’s missing?”
“You remember her? Yes, I’m hunting for her. She was upset at their father’s passing and went to stay with friends.” Cicely was livid that their father had kept the fact that Wycliff was alive a secret. Their father hadn’t wanted to get her hopes up, if release from the impressment could not be secured. “I’m her guardian. I received word of her disappearance from school two weeks ago.”
Ruth put her hands to her scar. “Two weeks? My trunk appeared two weeks ago.”
The look on Ruth’s face matched his concern that the incidents were linked to the Wilkinson’s unfinished war. “If you could wait until I find her, if you postpone things—”
“No. My plans are my plans.”
What Ruth wanted, she always possessed. “Then I am your proof. I can attest to your marriage. I will convince everyone who doubted.”
Ruth’s brow creased. Her lips parted, and he was entranced.
“Yes, Mrs. Wilky. Think on it. I can attest to the great love Adam had for you.”
“But you must be busy. And the search for Cicely—”
“Cicely, she’s a sweet girl, such a gentle nature, but she can be thoughtless. I’m sure she’ll turn up. And I might need your advice about being a guardian to a young girl. Adam said that you were clever on so many things.”
“I know how Adam loved his sister. She was sent away for her protection. He’d be crazed if he thought her lost. If I had known how to contact her, I would’ve befriended her. I’ll pray for her recovery.”
The way Ruth’s voice trembled made him feel horrible. He didn’t think she’d be so moved, but Ruth was his other half, of course she’d fear for Cicely. “Adam would want your situation resolved and his sister located. I can do both. When can we meet again?”
“We?” Mrs. Bexeley started waving her hand, as if she were directing birds in flight. “No. No. Her and you? My sister and wild whip man? No.”
“It’s a sjambok, Mrs. Bexeley. And I held it low, not intending to strike them, just to put fear in their hearts.”
“Well, it worked on mine. Ruth, you can’t be involved with him. This is dangerous. You can’t do anything dangerous. Your eyesight is too poor. You have fits. This is the first time you’ve ventured from Nineteen Fournier for something other than church or a doctor in two years.”
The grimace forming on Ruth’s face made the sister jump back. “It’s wild, something a willful spirit would do. Lord Wycliff, we live at Nineteen Fournier near Cheapside.”
“Ruth, this crazy peer—”
“Baron, ma’am.”
Mrs. Bexeley tiptoed back to Ruth. “Sorry. But this crazy baron shouldn’t be around you. Your nerves are bad.”
