Page 79 of Secrets of the Marriage Bed
Chapter Fourteen
Seeing Julia and Digger together, talking like old friends, did something to Alistair’s insides. He rubbed at the strange ache behind his sternum.
But for the folly of his youth, this sort of camaraderie with his wife might have been his. ‘Might’ being the operative word. A man with a lofty title was a target for every matchmaking mama in the kingdom. More likely he’d have married for power and position and never known Julia at all.
As a man, he counted for nothing. There was only his duty to the Duchy. Especially after what he’d done. He knew it in his mind, yet there was this aching loneliness inside him for something more, something better for them both, but especially for Julia.
While she had married him as an escape—a choice between transportation, life in a bordello or him—with all this going on, he wasn’t sure she had made the right choice in choosing him.
They had both gone into this marriage with open eyes. No illusions of sentiment. But now he knew her better, the dissembling left him feeling horribly guilty.
‘So when before you said someone was trying to poison you,’ Digger said after hearing the entire tale, ‘you were not joking?’
‘Not poison,’ Julia said. ‘Put me to sleep so soundly I would not awaken at the attempt to smother me.’
Digger shook her head and tutted. ‘How awful. Do you suspect who might be behind this terrible deed?’
Alistair quelled the urge to smile at the dear lady’s excitement at being presented with a mystery to solve. It really was no smiling matter, but he could see Digger was thrilled they had brought her their problems.
Julia shook her head and looked at Alistair.
‘My brother. He is the only one who gains.’
Digger looked pained. ‘I can’t believe my dear little Luke would do anything so mean.’
She might believe it if she knew how badly Alistair had betrayed his brother. Plus the fact that someone at Beauworth had tampered with his saddle. Not to mention that a ship sent by Alistair’s father to bring him home from Italy had sailed off without him and the captain fled to America. She might. But Digger was steadfast in her loyalty to both him and Luke.
‘Once they realise Robins is gone,’ Julia said, ‘are they likely to try another tack?’
‘Highly likely.’ But not one which would involve Julia if he had any say in the matter.
‘Perhaps I could lure them out into the open,’ Julia mused.
‘Leave yourself exposed?’ Digger said, looking shocked, but also intrigued.
‘No!’ Alistair almost shouted. ‘Categorically not,’ he said more calmly. The thought of it made his blood run cold.
Julia frowned at him.
‘Then how do we ferret them out?’ Digger said, pursing her lips. ‘Do we know yet who recommended Robins to Julia?’
‘We do not. I wrote to Lewis a few days ago, but he has a great deal on his plate. I know he will reply at the first opportunity.’
‘You don’t suspect him?’ Julia asked. ‘Mr Lewis? He did leave the moment things started happening.’
Admiration for his wife’s quick wit assaulted him anew. Why hadn’t he thought of Lewis as a suspect?
He considered the idea. ‘Honestly, I cannot believe it of him.’ Whereas he could believe it of his half-brother. ‘And besides, what would it gain him?’
Silence descended.
‘Then we do nothing,’ Julia said. ‘And wait to hear from Lewis.’ She sounded upset.
He reached across the table and took her hand. ‘I will make sure nothing untoward happens in the meantime.’ Even if he had to lock her in her room and stand a guard at the door.
Hell, talk about the need to protect his own. It had been there all along, of course, or he would never have married her. He could only hope he could keep her safe. Failing was not an option. It was his fault she was in danger.
Fortunately, the look on her face said she drew comfort from his words and that pleased him far more than he would ever have believed possible a few short weeks ago.
