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“Lady de la Croix, I presume?” I gave her a warm smile. “What a pleasure to have you in my home, though I wish it was under happier circumstances. You have my condolences.”

“Mrs Caine,” she said, her voice steely. “This is not a social call. As you understand I am in mourning after the murder of my husband.”

“Your husband’s death was deeply unfortunate, and completely unnecessary.”

Lady de la Croix’s eyes widened, her lips downturned in a furious grimace. “How dare you speak of him so. My husband was defending my honour.”

“And my husband was defending his own in the face of untruths, seeking to destroy his reputation.” My own boldness surprised me, but I was not about to be spoken down to in my own home, when this woman and her lies had almost cost me everything. “I am not sure what satisfaction you might seek here today, madam.”

Lady de la Croix’s face shifted and a look of pure evil settled on her face. “I came here today to tell you that before my husband was murdered, he imparted some knowledge upon me. Something he insisted I know, in case Azriel Caine was successful in killing him.”

“And what knowledge is that?”

“That you and your stepson plotted to murder your husband.”

My heart jolted against my ribcage, and the floor swayed beneath my feet. But I stood firm, clasping my hands against my body, and forcing out an incredulous laugh. “My first husband, as you well know, died peacefully in his sleep.”

“That is what you would say.” Lady de la Croix took a step towards me, her hands curled protectively over her belly. “But my husband, he knew.”

“Your husband, god rest his soul, knew nothing. And I would thank you to leave my house, and take your ridiculous accusations with you.”

“I will make sure that everyone in London knows who you are.” Lady de la Croix’s pained smile was almost maniacal. “I will make sure you both hang for this.”

“Get out of my house, now.” I could not believe how calm I was, watching Lady de la Croix stalk back out to her carriage.

My head was spinning, a million questions whirring in a loop, over and over. How could de la Croix ever think that Azriel and I had plotted to kill Acton? What cause could there have been? I told myself that he was bluffing, angry, simply mad with jealousy and looking for anything with which to lash out.

But what Grantham had told me about Azriel and de la Croix’s friendship seemed even more relevant.

And now only Azriel could tell me exactly why.

Azriel gazedat me lovingly as I washed his hair. “You spoil me, wife.”

I smiled, raking my fingers through his dark and unruly locks. “Soon enough you’ll be back to doing this on your own, don’t you worry.”

“Absolutely not. I rather enjoy this.” He leaned his head back, letting me wash the lather into the tub. “And I would like to think that seeing my naked form is rather pleasurable for you too?”

“I see your naked form every night in my bed, mydarling.” I planted a kiss on his lips, running my hands over his wet hair. “You know what they say about too much of a good thing.”

“That it’s never enough?” Azriel grinned, curling his hands round the back of my neck and drawing me in for a deeper, longer kiss. When we parted he gazed up at me, brushing a stray curl from my forehead. “My beautiful wife.”

“And don’t you forget it.” I turned to fetch the pitcher of hot water, pouring more slowly into the water. Azriel took up his pipe, lighting it and puffing smoke into the air above him. “I love the smell of tobacco.”

“Oh yes?”

“It is comforting, somehow.” I exhaled carefully as I replaced the pitcher, and sat down on the stool beside the tub. “May I ask you something?”

Azriel drew his brows together as he looked at me. “What kind of question is that? You know you may ask me anything.”

“Did you know de la Croix?”

“Yes, I suppose so.” He shrugged, sucking on his pipe. “In a way.”

“I only ask because at the Granthams’, you called him by his first name. It seems to imply that you may have known each other rather well.”

Azriel chuckled, shaking his head. “Ah yes, you would not have missed that, would you?” He gazed up at me with a sigh. “Has Grantham told you anything?”

“Only that you and de la Croix went to school together.”