Page 89 of Temptress in Disguise
Don’t leave me.
Please don’t leave me.
“I love you,” he whispered against her brow. “I’ll destroy that stupid list of demands. I’ll do anything you ask of me, but please don’t die. I need you. I’ve never needed anything so badly in my whole damn life.”
Aaron crouched beside him. He brushed the tangle of hair from Naomi’s face, then checked her pulse. His relieved sigh brought a glimmer of hope. “She’s breathing but needs to see a physician. You must move away from the house before the fire takes hold.”
Aaron gathered Naomi in his arms and carried her to a rusty bench at the bottom of the garden. He waited for Aramis to sit before placing Naomi on his lap.
“Wait here. I’ll be back soon.” Aaron shrugged out of his coat and draped it around Naomi’s shoulders. He reached into his waistcoat pocket and returned Aramis’ signet ring. “There’s more chance of Delphine’s parents descending in a shower of gold than of me having a son.”
“Life may surprise you and catch you unawares.” It might appear in the form of a woman whose heart was big enough for two.
“I lack the time and dedication needed to raise a family.”
Naomi coughed, a hacking sound that had him patting his wife’s back and saying a silent prayer to the Lord.
“I disagree,” she said, catching her breath. “You’re the best brother anyone could wish for.” She sagged against Aramis’ chest, so weak it proved worrying. “You’ll be an excellent husband and father when you find the right woman.”
Aaron shifted uncomfortably. “I might tell you to mind your own business, but in this instance, I’m forced to accept your compliment.”
Naomi’s light chuckle became another cough.
“She needs a tincture.” Aramis’ pulse drummed in his ears. He’d always been a man of action. He was unused to feeling so damned helpless. “She needs something to soothe the irritation in her chest.”
“Wait here. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Aaron was about to leave but the crunching of gravel on the drive signalled the arrival of a carriage.
He gritted his teeth as he held Naomi. “If the devil has returned, I’ll wring his damn neck.”
But it wasn’t Jacob Adams sitting atop the box. It was Gibbs. The vehicle came to a crashing halt. The door swung open. Daventry vaulted to the ground, instructing Gibbs to check the injured coachman.
Daventry came charging over. He looked at the flames engulfing the house and made the obvious assumption. “Is she breathing?”
Aramis nodded. “But she’s inhaled the fumes. She had the foresight to smash the window and inhale fresh air. I suspect that’s what saved her.” Though if he’d been a minute longer, she would have perished in the flames.
“I would send for a doctor,” Daventry said, “but we can be in London in a little over an hour. We’ll visit my personal physician. He’s on hand day and night.”
“This wouldn’t have happened if you’d not left them here alone,” Aaron said bitterly. “It’s fortunate I don’t give a damn about rules.”
Daventry was one of the few men Aaron could not intimidate. “I couldn’t take the chance of her being arrested for murder. I came as soon as I could. The innkeeper directed us here.”
“There’s no point arguing now.” Aramis gathered Naomi in his arms and stood. “We need to leave for London. We can discuss the particulars on the way.”
Daventry agreed. “I’ll inform the innkeeper of the fire here. I’ll visit Hartford Hall tomorrow with the local magistrate. We’ve enough evidence to arrest Melissa Grant for fraud.”
Naomi pointed at the house. “She perished in the flames.”
Aramis gave a quick account of what happened. “Edwin Budworth doesn’t exist. He’s a figment of Jacob Adams’ imagination. Adams used the alias to lure Lydia from Hartford Hall while plotting revenge. They’ll head for the Continent while Adams concocts another scheme to get his hands on Lydia’s money.”
Daventry sighed. “Chivers was right. He suspected Lydia was planning to leave England. He followed her to the shipping office, but she managed to elude him.”
“We can discuss the details en route,” Aramis said, his tone firm. “We’re leaving.” He studied the gentle rise and fall of Naomi’s chest. He could think no further than her next breath.
Naomi’s eyes flickered open. “Aramis.”
“Yes, my love.”
