Page 58 of Married to the Earl

Astrid bit her lip. She didn’t really want to be apart from him now, knowing that the law might soon come between them and tear them apart for good. “Will we have time together after supper?” she asked.

“As much as you’d like,” he said.

“I think I’d like to spend the night with you again tonight,” she murmured, blushing.

He nodded. “I’d hoped you would.”

She wondered how much of her reasoning he had intuited. Did he know that she wanted to be with him because she was afraid tonight might be their last chance? Perhaps he hadn’t thought about it that deeply. It was possible that he was so preoccupied with his own concerns that he wasn’t thinking about the motivation behind any of Astrid’s actions.

Astrid left the parlor and made her way up to her private chambers. He was right. Shewouldbenefit from a couple of hours alone to get her thoughts in order. Because, despite what he had said, she didn’t believe that there was nothing she could do to help him out of his predicament.

I may be his wife, she thought fiercely,and I may be a woman. But I’m as capable as anybody of telling what I see. If I can find evidence that exonerates him, the constables and the judge will have to listen.

She would not stop looking, she vowed, until she found proof of her husband’s innocence.

Chapter 23

They were at the supper table when the knock on the door came.

Conor knew immediately what was happening and had time, before the fear hit, to feel a pang of sadness for the fact that he wouldn’t be spending the evening with Astrid as they’d hoped. Instead, tonight was about to take a very different turn.

“Shall I see who it is, My Lord?” DuBois asked. He was standing in the corner and trying to be unobtrusive, though Conor hadn’t been able to quite overlook his presence. Perhaps it was because Astrid kept glancing over her shoulder at him. She still hadn’t adjusted to the idea of having servants.

“That won’t be necessary, DuBois,” Conor said, getting to his feet. “I’ll go myself.”

Astrid looked stricken.

“It’s all right,” he told her. “I’m sure it’ll be all right. They can’t prove I did something that I didn’t do, after all.”

Astrid nodded but didn’t look very reassured.

Conor went to the front door and opened it. Sure enough, the constable stood there, looking gravely serious.

“Good evening, Officer Fitzroy,” he said. “Would you like to come in? My wife and I are just sitting down to supper, and if you’d like to join us, I’m sure the kitchen can find you something.”

“I’m afraid not,” Fitzroy said. “I’m here to take you downtown for questioning in the matter of the murder of Lord Christopher Hayward.”

“I’m happy to answer any questions you have right here in my own home,” Conor offered, knowing as he did so that it was futile. Fitzroy had come here to bring him downtown. Conor was likely going to end this night under arrest.

Still, I’ve got to try to fight this. For Astrid’s sake, if nothing else. She puts up a brave front, but I can see how frightened she is. She shouldn’t have to go through this. She’s done nothing to deserve it. The only thing she ever did was to take a chance by marrying a man she knew to have a bad reputation.

And look how poorly that’s serving her now.

As Conor had predicted, Fitzroy shook his head. “We’ll do this down at the police station,” he said. “I’ve got a carriage waiting outside to take you. If you resist, there are more officers on the street—”

“I’m not going to resist,” Conor said.

“That’s wise,” Fitzroy said. “I really didn’t want to have to use force.”

But you would have. Conor heard the implication in the constable’s statement. “May I at least have a moment to say goodbye to my wife?”

“A moment. No longer.”

Astrid came out into the foyer, a clear indication to Conor that she had been listening to every word. “Officer,” she said, “I was with my husband all last night. He couldn’t possibly have done what he’s been accused of, because he was with me.”

“I’m afraid we’re not here for the testimony of his wife,” Fitzroy said. “Say your goodbyes, Lord Middleborough.”

He turned to Astrid and embraced her. “Be strong,” he murmured into her ear. “Everything will be all right. I’ll be back before you know it. Let DuBois take care of you.”

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