Page 26 of An Execution, an Earl, and Miss Hughes
“Every woman does,” Lucian laughed, though he sensed—and understood—that her curiosity about his late wife could not be glossed over with a quip.
“Yes, Caroline did,” he continued, allowing himself a small smile as he reminisced. “Though she was not a very avid gardener. I think she’d be amused at what a a dreadful flower bore I’ve become.”
“Was it love at first sight?” Miss Hughes asked, rendering Lucian slightly amused at her wish to hear of romance.Minerva Presshad much to answer for, filling young women’s heads with sentimental expectations of men—Lucian knew a few too many who still resisted their daily bath.
“Not at first sight, no,” Lucian was honest; their marriage had been—as most of their class—arranged out of a mix of finance, duty, and lineage. “But love grew. We gave it the right conditions, we nurtured it daily, and we never took for granted that it needed our dedication to flourish.”
“And you miss her?” Sarah prompted, her eyes tellingly misty.
“Yes,” Lucian confirmed again, “Though I am blessed that I see her every day in Rowan. And he is blessed that he takes after her and not me in the looks department.”
This comment was met with an amused silence from Miss Hughes.
“I believe you are fishing, my lord,” she said, tearing her gaze from his to search for the rest of their party. Spotting them ahead, she took off, and Lucian fell into step beside her.
“I was not,” he replied with a grin. “But if you do believe me fishing, I can only conclude that you must also believe me handsome—otherwise what would be the point of the attempt?”
“You’re insufferable, my lord,” she laughed, her blue eyes dancing.
“At least I’m handsome with it,” Lucian shrugged, earning himself another exasperated glance from his companion.
As they neared the trio of Mrs Mifford, Mr Dimblade, and Lady Chambers, they again slowed their pace. While it was good to be in sight of the party—to avoid any scandal—Lucian did not particularly wish to join them. Especially as, from what he could discern, Mrs Mifford now appeared to be lecturing the head-gardener, rather than the other way around.
“I called into Hill House to try get a feel for Colonel Fawkes,” he informed Sarah, gratified that she looked impressed by his efforts.
“And?” she whispered on an excited exhale.
“He has a pretty solid alibi for the night of the murder,” Lucian said, continuing on quickly as Sarah’s shoulders slumped with disappointment. “But Mrs Fawkes remained at home that night and, from her husband’s account, she’s quite comfortable with a shot gun.”
“Do you think she could have killed Mr Hardwick?” Sarah questioned, her mouth a perfect “o” of surprise.
“Passion is always a motive for murder,” Lucian advised, a touch too-knowingly.
“As you learned in The Bloody Register,” Miss Hughes teased.
“You’ll never let me live that down,” Lucian sighed, though inwardly he was delighted to say aloud the idea that their acquaintance held the possibility of continuing on forever.
“Did you learn anything about Mrs Bridges?” he queried, startled by her slight frown of response to his question.
He listened patiently as Sarah haltingly relayed her exchange with Flora Bridges, before finishing with her abject guilt at the idea she might bring trouble to Mrs Bridges’ door.
“It could be nothing,” he assured her, though disquiet stirred his soul. If Hardwick had been harassing the elderly woman, it was entirely possible that fear had driven her to extremes—especially if she was losing some of her faculties.
“We’ll endeavour to learn what it was the pair argued over,” Lucian continued, desperate to ease the anxiety that troubled Miss Hughes’ eyes. “Once we know that, I’m certain it will exonerate her.”
Though they had kept their pace slow, they at last caught up with Mr Dimblade and his charges. Mrs Mifford was lecturing the terrified gardener on how one best tackles greenfly—soap suds in water—while Mr Dimblade listened, eyes glazed.
“Help me,” Lady Chambers mouthed, as she scurried over to the pair. As she reached them, her eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
“What have you two been whispering about all this time?” she queried, hands on hips.
“Nothing,” Sarah said at the exact same moment Lucian replied; “Gardening.”
Lady Chambers was not to be fooled. She glanced from Sarah to Lucian, assessing them suspiciously.
“You’re investigating Mr Hardwick’s murder,” she guessed, glancing from one to the other to see who would break fist.
Miss Hughes blushed prettily, thus giving the game away.
