Page 81 of Temptress in Disguise
Naomi stepped into the fray, addressing Lydia. “Why didn’t you tell me you planned to question the clerk? Why did you not include me in your plans to seek justice?”
Amid Melissa’s spiteful remarks, Lydia said, “I cannot talk to you here. Step into the hall, and I shall explain everything.”
“You can begin by explaining why you persuaded Mr Ingram to attack me. I’ve spent months fearing he might find me when it was all a ruse to force me to leave my home.”
Lydia paled. “There’s more to it than that.”
“You see.” Melissa pointed at Lydia’s pallid cheeks and gave a smug grin. “Did I not say your sister was to blame?”
“Be quiet,” Lydia cried before gripping Naomi’s arm. “We’ll continue this conversation outside.”
They were almost at the door when Aramis intervened. He’d not let Naomi out of his sight. Not while the vultures were circling. He trusted her to defend herself against these deceivers, but every disastrous event in his life had caught him unawares.
“If you must speak privately, allow me to keep watch from the door.” He held Naomi’s gaze. He was not the possessive type, but when a cynical man found love, he gripped it with both hands.
A smile touched her lips. Had he known tragedy was about to strike, that his heart was about to be torn in two, he would have hauled his wife into his arms and refused to let go.
Naomi stepped into the hall and gestured to the doorway. “Wait here. This will be over soon, and we’ll spend a lifetime making every night memorable.”
Who knew the words would come to haunt him in the passing hours?
Who knew the lord would forsake him again?
They stood ten feet away, though Lydia spoke to Naomi in a hushed voice. She gestured to the study behind them and called to the person hiding there, the name Edwin as clear as day.
A tall, broad man appeared wearing a greatcoat and no hat.
Edwin Budworth was not a man of many faces.
He had one face—a face that haunted Aramis’ dreams. A face that should be buried deep in the dirt. Because the man standing next to Naomi was none other than Jacob Adams.
ChapterEighteen
Naomi had seen Edwin Budworth a handful of times at the theatre. He ignored the actors, storming past them as if they were bland paintings on the wall. She often heard his raised voice booming along the corridor. He was glum and not at all attentive. It’s what made his romantic relationship with Lydia so confounding.
Despite being brothers, George and Edwin were nothing alike. Edwin was strong, with a muscular physique. He had a full head of brown hair with only a trace of grey. His eyes reminded her of pebbles on an icy beach—cold and unmovable. Unlike Aramis, there was something quite ordinary about him. He was so ordinary it was difficult to believe he was capable of murder.
But when their eyes met, he studied her like a wolf sizing its prey. His pupils dilated. This man was hungry for blood.
While her blood froze in her veins, Lydia looked on as if he were the Messiah sent to rid the world of pestilence and famine.
Aramis stood in the doorway, blind fury marring his features. “Touch my wife, and I’ll kill you with my bare hands.”
Lydia scoffed at his sudden outburst, her own temper flaring. “You’re not at Fortune’s Den now, Mr Chance. You’ll speak to my husband with a little more respect.”
Husband!
Lydia had married Edwin Budworth? How? When?
Was that the reason for her secrecy?
Did she know he’d murdered his own brother? That said, it was all supposition at this point. What if they had made a dreadful mistake?
“You’re not legally married to him,” Aramis said, the strange statement proving the pressure of solving the case had affected his rationale.
Lydia was quick to prove Aramis wrong. “We were married in Highgate two days ago and have a certificate stating the banns were read. Despite what people say about the Reverend Smollett, I assure you, the marriage is legally binding.”
Aramis took a hesitant step forward. “Not when your husband is a bigamist. There’s no need to prove Melissa forged the will. She was never legally married to your father. The previous will stands.”
