Page 34 of Her Heart's Rightful Earl
“Arabella, Edmund was also murdered.”
“What?!”
Alexander nodded apologetically. “The physician believes, upon more thorough investigation, that he was poisoned.”
Arabella’s hand flew to her chest, and she shook her head in disbelief.
“Are you suggesting that the same person who murdered your father also killed Edmund!?”
Alexander nodded sombrely. “That does appear to be the case, yes.”
“What grounds do you have for this?”
“Captain Morrison has employed the physician’s technical expertise, and he concluded death by poisoning. The content of the journal Edmund kept so meticulously was a detailed report of research he had made into the death of my father. It seems he was gaining traction in his discoveries—and somebody silenced him before he reached the truth.”
Arabella held her head in her hands, and Alexander allowed her a moment of silence to process the disturbing news.
“Somebody posted this under my door …” Alexander pulled the playing card from the inside pocket of his waistcoat and handed it to Arabella, who took it from him, frowning at it in the darkness. She held it up in the moonlight so that light was cast onto the ace of spades.
“What does it mean?” she asked naively.
“It is symbolic, in the criminal underworld.”
“What does it symbolize?”
“Death.” Alexander gulped.
Arabella blinked at him a few times, and her lips parted as she looked again at the card.
“Death … suggesting somebody is telling you they know you are investigating these deaths?”
“Possibly,” Alexander squirmed. “More likely, however, a threat …”
Arabella looked up sharply. “A threat toyourlife?”
Alexander nodded after a pause. “I believe so. But I also feel that it is a threat to anybody who is involved in the investigation …”
Arabella looked into his face with a stern expression fixed upon her as she realized what he was insinuating.
“I said I will help you, Alexander, and I will.”
He dropped his head regretfully. “I feared you would say that.”
“You came to ask me to withdraw?”
“I hoped that you would willingly. We have not yet involved you, and so there is no obligation for you to participate. You would be safer–”
“I would be cowardly, and that is not in my nature. Now tell me how to proceed. What do you need help with?”
Alexander scuffed the turf with his foot. “We are yet to formulate a plan, but I wanted to update you on the developments so far.”
“Thank you.” Arabella nodded and looked away, back towards the house. “In that case, if there is nothing more, I should return.”
“But wait!” Alexander pushed out a hand towards her, withdrawing it as soon as he saw her bristle. “May I ask how you are? I am aware what a shock it must have been for you—my reappearance. Your realization that the scenario you had believed for several years was an untruth. It must have been a difficult week for you, Arabella. How are you?”
Arabella swallowed hard, and in the moonlight, Alexander saw a light blush colour her pale cheeks. She shook her head.
“I have taken in very little sleep. I barely have an appetite. I am distracted and find my temper to be short with people. I am worried about your mother and your brother. I am obligedto lie to my sister. But I am otherwise quite well, thank you for enquiring.”
