Page 104 of A Momentary Marriage

“Well, no, but . . .”

“Did you not tell us James also agreed to pay off your husband’s debts?”

“They weren’t much,” Patricia said. When Laura’s eyebrows sailed up, she added hastily, “Anyway, I don’t know why he said we couldn’t live in London.”

Laura’s fierce gaze did not move from Patricia’s face, and her voice was heavy with meaning as she asked, “Don’t you?”

James’s sister had the grace to blush. “Of course, I’m grateful for James’s help.”

“Naturally, dear,” Tessa said with an approving nod.

“James has always been a good boy,” Mirabelle added. “So kind.”

“Don’t let him hear you say that,” Laura murmured.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Mirabelle assured her.

Conversation stopped as one of the footmen entered the room with a parcel in his hands. He carried it to Laura, saying, “A package for you, ma’am.”

“Another one?” Patricia exclaimed.

Tessa began to laugh. “Laura! What in the world did my son do? I have never seen such an attempt at atonement.”

The footman set the small wooden-slatted crate on the floor and cut the twine from around it. Laura took off the lid. “Books! Oh, my.” Tears stung her eyes.

“Books!” Patricia repeated in an appalled tone. “James sent you books?”

“Oh, dear.” Tessa turned a dismayed eye on the book in Laura’s hands. “Whatever was he thinking?”

“He was thinking that I love books.” Laura’s throat closed up. She smoothed a hand over the cover.

Even the eternally cheerful Mirabelle frowned in puzzlement, but Laura looked over at Abigail and saw the understanding in her eyes. Abigail smiled. “Why don’t I help you carry them up to your room?”

“Yes, thank you.” Laura smiled at her friend.

The footman insisted on carrying the box upstairs for her, but Laura held the book she had picked up, cradling it to her chest as she and Abigail climbed the stairs to her room.

“I take it James has sent you other presents?” Abigail said.

“Every day, it seems. I don’t know what to make of it.”

“Is he trying to atone for something?”

“I’m not sure what he’s doing,” Laura replied a little grimly. “You know what happened at the party.”

“Yes, and Tessa told us James dragged his brother off to London with him. Is he really going to hire someone to kill Claude if either of you is murdered?”

“He seemed rather intent on it. He thought threatening to do so was the best way to deter Claude. I suppose he might be right. And you know James, pragmatism outweighs sentiment.”

“I suspect there’s some sentiment involved, as well, given that you were almost killed,” Abigail pointed out drily.

“Yes, I suppose so. Not,” she added bitterly, “that James would ever admit to feeling anything for me.”

Abigail studied her friend. “A flood of gifts smacks of feeling something for you, I’d say.”

“It indicates his desire to cajole me out of anger.”

“Oh, my, it sounds as if he does need to dig himself out of a hole.”