Page 27

Dinner was served a couple of hours later, allowing them to take a break and rest. With the light dimming as evening approached, focusing on all the tightly printed names had become increasingly hard.

They’d started swimming in front of Samantha’s eyes when she’d scanned the pages for the fourth time.

“Have you heard from Edward since he left for Longmeadow?” Samantha asked before popping a succulent piece of roast lamb in her mouth.

Adrian swallowed the bite he’d been chewing and nodded. “He sent a letter after arriving to let me know all was well. His mother is getting on in years and was very happy to see him again. She hates it when he’s away in London.”

“She could join him on his visits here, could she not?”

“I don’t believe she cares for the noise, the smell of sewage, or any of London’s other charms.” He drank some wine. “In case you’re wondering, he didn’t inquire after Miss Roberts.”

“So he’s either put her out of his mind or he’s worried you’ll judge him for bringing her up.” It pained Samantha to force the two apart but Adrian was right. Edward would just end up hurt if he pursued Melody in earnest.

“Exactly.”

“Any idea which it might be?”

He paused with his fork between his plate and his mouth. “Considering the way in which he mentioned her to me, as though he wanted my blessing, I’m fairly sure it’s the latter.”

Samantha sighed. “Maybe Lady Heathbrooke’s idea to get Melody out of the country will work. It should give Edward the chance to meet someone else during her absence.”

“I see little chance of that occurring. Edward is already well acquainted with all the eligible ladies Society has to offer. Had he been interested in any of them, he’d have gotten engaged years ago instead of letting his tendre for Evie distract him.”

“He has a duty, however,” Samantha pointed out. “Surely he’ll want to fulfill it. Having lost the love of his life and realizing Melody isn’t a feasible choice, I imagine he’ll want to make a strategic decision moving forward rather than an emotional one.”

“Do you have a particular candidate in mind for him?”

Samantha snorted, almost choking on the wine she was drinking.

She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and sent her husband an incredulous look.

“No, and I’ve no intention of giving the matter more thought.

It’s up to Edward to figure out who he wants to marry.

You and I have meddled enough in his affairs.

We’d be wise to let the matter rest from now on. ”

“You’re right of course. I just hope the next woman who catches his interest will have both the pedigree and the character he deserves.”

Samantha understood precisely what he meant.

Edward was the best man there was. His falling for Melody had been bittersweet.

Tragic in a way since there was no future for them unless he made her his mistress.

Knowing Melody, Samantha doubted her friend would accept such an option.

She’d want the man she loved entirely to herself or not at all.

She wondered where Melody was at the moment. Judging from the date she’d departed, she must be close to reaching Paris. If she hadn’t already.

Perhaps the sojourn in Italy would provide her the chance to make a more appropriate match for herself as well. Surely no one there would care one whit about who her parents had been. Or at the very least, there was no need to provide the people she met with such details.

“This name appears in both places,” she said a while later when they’d returned to the library to resume their investigation.

The discarded plates from the dessert they’d chosen to eat in here were piled on the far side of the table.

Samantha indicated a spot in the records.

“Victor Melroy. He’s listed as a surgeon employed by St. George’s. ”

“Maybe he’s our man,” Adrian said. He pulled the page toward him and studied the information.

“He’s connected to Preordian and may have been at the hospital when Mr. Booker was brought in.

If he realized his patient survived what was done to him – that there was a chance he might talk once he regained consciousness – Melroy could have silenced him without anyone being the wiser. ”

“We should definitely meet with him tomorrow.”

“I’ll meet with him,” Adrian told her firmly. “You’ll stay here until you’ve fully recovered.”

She glowered at him. “I’m perfectly fine.”

“You had a bad fall the night before last and twisted your knee so badly you struggled to remove your breeches. Besides which, you took a punch to the stomach.”

“I didn’t fall,” Samantha argued, annoyed by his overbearing manner. “I jumped down from a balcony without having realized there were stairs beneath me.”

“The result is the same.”

She knitted her brow. “I’m perfectly able to visit St. George’s without issue. As you know, I’m already able to climb the stairs here without discomfort.”

“It’s only been a couple of days, Samantha. You know you ought to rest for at least one week, if not more.”

“Exercise is good for me and I promise not to push myself.”

He sat back, arms crossed. Annoyance narrowed his gaze. “There’s no need for both of us to interview Melroy. I want you to allow yourself the time you need in order to properly heal.”

“Staying at home and doing nothing while you head out to investigate will only make me feel useless.” Though she knew he had a point, she was also being honest with him.

Her leg was much better. As long as she moved with care she was sure she’d be fine.

In fact, she believed gentle movement would aid her recovery more than sitting still.

“There’s no need for you to do nothing. The rest of this list still requires reviewing. If you agree, you can do that tomorrow while I speak with Melroy. See if you’re able to find additional names.”

She huffed a breath. “I hate being relegated to the sidelines like this.”

“Consider it a necessity for our future success.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek.

“While this may go against your instinct, I have to know I can count on you in a fight. More than that, I need reassurance that you can protect yourself should you have to, which means your leg must recover. That’s the priority. ”

“Adrian, I—”

“Please don’t argue this point any more. Just think of how you reacted when I was stabbed in the shoulder. Hell, you wouldn’t even let me get out of bed.”

“Because you needed time to recover.” He gave her a pointed look in response to which she sighed. “Fine. I’ll accept your request but just so you know, I don’t like it.”

“Neither did I. You and Murry were both insufferable, colluding against me when all I wanted was to get out of the house. Can’t recall the last time I felt so trapped, but the truth is, I’m glad you protested my stubbornness or I might not have survived my encounter with Benjamin Lawrence.”

Samantha dropped her gaze to the table. Discomfort rippled through her.

She hated being reminded of how she’d failed her husband when she’d arrived on the scene to find him standing over Benjamin Lawrence’s lifeless body.

The look of anguish in his dark gaze when Kendrick arrived on her heels.

Adrian’s belief that she’d led the constable to him.

That she’d been to blame for his getting arrested.

All that had transpired since. The trial and the sentencing. Adrian’s life hanging in the balance.

Yes, she’d saved him from the noose and had since stood by his side as he fought to clear his name.

But she couldn’t help thinking that none of that would have had to occur had she been more careful.

If she’d paid better attention, she would have known her ruse to lead Kendrick astray hadn’t worked and that she was being followed.

Adrian’s hand settled over hers, pulling her out of her reverie. She looked at him and he set his palm against her cheek, his thumb gently stroking.

“Don’t do that,” he said, reading her thoughts as easily as he might read the paper. “Had events not played out as they did, we wouldn’t have found the missing children. Just imagine what they would be going through now had we not arrived at that house when we did.”

“They’d be on their way to Constantinople.

” Samantha shuddered at the thought of what would have happened to them.

Instead, Mrs. Hillford had taken their place.

The wretched woman would now face the torment she’d had no qualms about foisting on innocent children so she could fill her own pockets with coin.

“We were in the right place at the right time, but only because Kendrick captured me and you were determined to help me escape.”

Samantha firmed her lips and turned her hand over so she could lace her fingers with his. “Thank you for reminding me of that.”

“It’s the least I can do after everything you have done for me.” His forehead touched hers and he paused for a moment, as if to simply enjoy the proximity.

Though they’d been married only four months, their marriage had already been tested beyond all reason on more than one occasion.

It was enough to make Samantha wonder what sort of trials might await them around the next corner.

But for now, there was only Adrian and his warm breath against her jaw.

Until he tilted his head, closed the remaining distance between them, and kissed her as though this kiss was their first.

It stole her breath and transported her back to the private meadow where their path as one united entity had begun. She happily surrendered and wound her arms around his neck, felt the strength in his shoulders, the muscle flexing beneath his jacket as he moved to lift her into his arms.

Right now, the only thing that mattered to her was him. The rest of the bloody world could wait until morning.