My friend frowned. Lionel would be in for it when he grew old enough for mischief and made Patience cross. “Keep looking, Jemina. This will probably be the last time we’ll be able to rifle through Lord Ashbrook’s things. Look through everything.”
“Mr. Willingham is in shipping. The St. Maurs are in shipping. That has to be the connection between the two, maybe along their lines of business.”
“Willingham attacked Ashbrook. Jemina, he wanted the earl out of the way. He may be working with the St. Maurs to undermine your position.”
Daniel might have reasons to protect me, very good reasons. Stars shined through the window. I thought of his jet eyes. I wondered if he’d awakened. Did he know I’d left? Did he question, like me, if there was enough love between us to protect us from yesterday, every wrong turn or secret that led us to one another?
Looking at the four-thousand-pounds notation on my marriage contract, I wasn’t sure.
CHAPTER 48
DANIEL—CHASINGAFTERWIFEY
Hope was asleep in his arms by the time Daniel’s carriage arrived at Sandlin Court. He snuggled her in one hand and reached for the knocker.
Men in military uniform were at the door, not footmen.
Daniel had a bad feeling.
He tossed his hat on the sideboard and headed straight to the duke’s study.
The man was at his desk. Lord Gantry stood at his side; both wore thick grimaces.
“It’s about time you showed up.” The duke rolled his chair in front of Daniel. “Gantry.”
The viscount came to him with his arms stretched out. “Who do we have here? Your daughter, she reminds me of my youngest, when she was small.”
Daniel hadn’t seen the man smile, but Gantry had a wide grin looking at Hope.
“Take possession of the child, Lieutenant.”
Daniel pulled back.
“Come on, old man,” Gantry said. “I won’t hurt this precious girl.”
“Fine.” He handed sleeping Hope to Gantry. The fellow cradled her like an expert. The toddler didn’t awaken at all.
“Gantry,” the duke said, “is the baby secure?”
“Yes, she is. She’s beautiful, nothing like you, Barrister.”
“Ashbrook!” The duke’s shout made Daniel turn back, and he ran into the duke’s fist.
The blow knocked him to the ground and bruised his recovering eye, the same spot Willingham and his goons had bested him.
The duke sat back down, then rolled closer. The commander had a maniacal grin. “If my back went out punching you into the ground, it would be worth it. Been meaning to do that for a long time, for the way you enable Patience and the rest of her widows’ group.”
Daniel sat up, holding his face. “I’m not sure I deserved that, but I’ll take it. My wife ran to you, confused, hurting. That has to be my fault. Repington, let me speak with her.”
“Can’t do that, Ashbrook.”
“Duke, you hit me once.” Then he looked at the man’s balled fist. “I probably deserve a second, but that will wake my daughter. She’ll scream like a banshee and wake up your son.”
The duke leaned over and offered Daniel his hand, helping him rise. “You can’t speak to Jemina because she’s not here. She and my wife are missing.”
“Is that why you have the Second Battalion at the door and crawling around Sandlin Court? A search party?”
“Yes, they are charged with bringing my duchess home. The stubborn woman needs to rest and avoid any of this Widow’s Grace business. It’s not good for the baby.”
