Page 41 of One Wicked Secret
He regarded her. Guilt was ever-present in his eyes except when he kissed her. Then, she saw the power of lust in all its blazing glory.
“Let’s begin with what we both know to be true,” he said, his deep, raspy tone a perfect prelude to his proposal. “I want to sleep in your bed, Elsa. I believe you want that, too.”
The rapid beat of her heart echoed in her ears. “Just sleep?”
His grin was a mix of boyish charm and a scoundrel’s sinful smirk. “We could share a kiss or two. The first truth we must admit is that lust burns like wildfire between us.”
Oh, she wanted him.
There was no doubt.
The memory of their passionate kiss lingered in her mind and on her lips. The thought of sharing more intimate moments caused a delicious tightening in her belly.
“Lust is the foundation of many relationships.” Would it wane? Would they tire of each other and part ways? She had to know. “I’ll leave the connecting door open tonight.”
Triumph flickered in his eyes. “As to that, if you can travel, we must return to London. While you’ve been recuperating, there have been developments in our investigation.”
Knowing his desire for answers, he hadn’t sat idle.
“What did you discover?”
One thing bothered her: the thugs’ insistence that the owner of Edenberry had hired them to protect the estate. Was Magnus their employer? If so, why hadn’t he informed Daniel?
“Rutland found Tanner, the retired runner I hired. He’s recovering after being attacked at Edenberry. He managed to climb onto his horse and escape with his life.”
“Thank heavens.” She couldn’t bear the thought of someone else dying to protect her father’s secrets. “Were you able to learn anything from him?”
“Tanner stumbled upon a vagrant sleeping in the stables—but the man was a mercenary, waiting for him to make his usual rounds.”
Was it the same vagrant caught trespassing at The Grange?
“What happened?”
“He stabbed Tanner in the abdomen. Tanner has lodgings in Biddestone and made it home before collapsing outside St Nicholas’ Church. Dr Rotherham stitched the wound.”
The news confirmed how narrowly she’d escaped death. Had Finnegan not intercepted the vagrant at The Grange, he might have used his blade on her and Clara.
“There was a struggle with the knife,” Daniel continued. “Tanner cut the blackguard’s face deep enough to leave a scar. It may help us identify him.”
“Then should we not remain in the area?” she said, feeling exhausted before she had even climbed out of bed.
“Are you strong enough to dress and come downstairs? I can send Clara to help you. We found your father’s damning notes hidden behind the bookplates in your mother’s novels.”
“You have?” She wasn’t sure whether to clap her hands in glee or bury herself beneath the coverlet, afraid of what the notes might reveal. “So, you have a list of suspects?”
“Yes.” The slight tremor in his voice said he was hiding something. “He mentions Mr Charmers. I believe his father and yours were friends.”
Mr Charmers? The name was misleading, given that he possessed all the charm of a wet dog in a drawing room. “Yes, he visited Edenberry many times. He went to Eton and Oxford with Magnus. Surely he’s not a suspect.”
“We believe he convinced your father to make a bad investment. Shall I fetch the evidence, or will you come downstairs? Dr Rotherham advised exercise, though your arm must remain in a sling for a week.”
Her arm throbbed, but the need for the truth burned hotter than the pain. “Send for Clara, and I’ll be down in half an hour. Perhaps then you’ll tell me why you look so troubled.”
He nodded, indicating he had something important to say in private. “I suggest you wear warm clothes. There’s something else we need to do before leaving for London.”
His gaze rose above the neckline of her nightgown to rest on her bare shoulder. Were they to relive old memories: a ride across open fields together on horseback or an intimate lunch on a blanket in the meadow?
“Where are you taking me?” she teased.
