Page 57 of Project Duchess
“I need to talk to you. And I need to make sure my brother isn’t privy to it.”
A darkness descended over his features. “I see.”
From then on, he made no remark as she marched down the path toward the spot where she’d determined she could get him alone.
As soon as they reached it, she tugged Grey through what looked at first glance like a thicket of bushes, but what really shielded a path into a large clearing with a stone bench and more.
He glanced around, obviously taking in the carefully constructed arbor on one end, overgrown with pink Ayrshire roses. “What is this place?”
“It was one of Uncle Armie’s first smaller projects created by his landscape fellow.” She shuddered to think what her uncle had probably used it for, but she knew of nowhere else that couldn’t be seen from the path, nowhere else they could talk privately.
“Does your brother know of this spot?”
“No.Iwouldn’t know of it if not for helping my uncle sort out the bills for the landscape fellow.” It began to dawn on her what had prompted the question. “Why do you ask?”
“No reason.” The wariness in his eyes belied his words.
“Tell the truth—you’re asking because you believe Joshua stood here,” she hissed. “That he lay in wait for Uncle Armie the night of his death.”
Grey crossed his arms over his chest. “Why would I believethat?”
She stared him down. “At least have the courtesy not to pretend ignorance to my face. I overheard you and Sheridan discussing my brother the day you and I danced privately together.”
As Grey released a coarse oath, Beatrice drew in a long, ragged breath. “You believe that my brother murdered my uncle.”
Chapter Sixteen
Damn it all to hell. She’d known all this time?
To Grey’s relief, at that moment they heard Wolfe and Gwyn talking as they made their slow way down the path past the entrance to the clearing. So he and Beatrice were forced to keep quiet, which gave him time to gather his shattered thoughts.
He should have seen this coming. Initially he’d been afraid that Beatrice might have heard him and Sheridan discussing her brother. But after days had passed and she hadn’t said or implied anything, he’d been lulled into believing his fears were unfounded. He’d simply assumed that her cool manner stemmed from his refusal to consider marrying her. Clearly, he’d been wrong.
As the sound of Wolfe’s and Gwyn’s voices and footfalls receded, he murmured, “I’m sorry, Beatrice. I didn’t mean to—”
“Blame my brother for someone’s accidental death?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Of course you did. Never mind that he served his country—and this estate—admirably. He was a decorated officer before he was wounded. Now he’s practically a hermit and snarls at everyone, so he’s the logical choice for a villain.Ifone is looking for a villain, which apparently you two are. Though I can’t imagine why.”
“Can’t you? You certainly do your best to avoid talking about him, as well as your uncle.”
She looked away. “I just . . . I don’t know what to say about him. Joshua is obviously unhappy. But that doesn’t mean he killed Uncle Armie!” Wrapping her arms about herself, she gazed at him. “And I don’t like talking about Uncle Armie because I don’t want to speak ill of the dead.”
Thatagain. “You didn’t mind speaking ill of the dead when you were telling me of your uncle’s lording it over you and your brother.”
“Those wereyourwords, not mine. It was anaccident.” She sounded as if she was trying to convince herself. “I brought you in here to tell you that you’re wrong about Joshua. He isn’t guilty of anything but being a grump.” Her breath grew ragged, hoarse. “So you can stop your flirting and your compliments and your . . . your cozying up to me and all of that. It’s not going to make me c-confirm your suspicions. Because they’re not true.”
“What the hell?” He stepped up close to her. “I didn’t ‘cozy’ up to you because of Sheridan’s suspicions. Good God, what kind of man do you think I am?”
When she thrust her face up to his, he saw the hurt glittering in her eyes, and it fairly slayed him.
“I think,” she choked out, “that you’re a man used to doing whatever he must to get what he wants, even if it means saying . . . lovely things to the ridiculous sister of . . . the man you suspect.” She bit her lower lip. “To your brother’s . . . ‘self-conscious, awkward cousin.’”
Holy hell, this was worse than he’d thought—she’d actually heard Sheridan’s guesses about why Grey would never marry a woman like her.
He grabbed her by the shoulders. “Those were Sheridan’s words, not mine. And I have never thought you awkward or ridiculous. You can’t really believe I pretended to desire you just to learn more about your brother.”
That impertinent chin of hers came up again. “Youwere the one who told your brother: ‘How the devil do you expect me to find out about Wolfe’s involvement with the deaths if I can’t speak to Beatrice alone?’” She glowered at him. “Your so-called desire was all part of your scheme to help my cousin learn the truth. Although I daresay he wouldn’t approve of the tactics you used in trying to find it out.”
“No,” Grey bit out, “he wouldn’t approve. And neither would I. I’d never use a woman in such a fashion. Which is why Itriedto resist my worst impulses with you.” His gaze dropped to her trembling lips. “But I failed. Even now, I want only to kiss you until you see exactly what nonsense your assumption is.”
