Page 50 of Sacrificing the Untamed Lady Henrietta

“No.”

“Gambling debts all paid?”

“Without fail. You know I know my limits.”

“Indiscretions with the married ladies?”

“Not lately,” Averson said with a grunt.

“Your guess is as good as mine then. As I said, we rule no one out.”

* * *

Henrietta spent most of the day in her room, nursing a faint headache, and wondering why the Marquess made himself so scarce. She had slept deeply through the night despite still feeling a bit rattled after Anna had dressed her cuts and put her to bed. It seemed silly, but she had been comforted by the open connecting door, comforted knowing he was near, and even now she found it oddly relieving to admit that had he a mind to sweep her into his arms again, she would not resist. To feel again that strong and steady thud of his heartbeat, and how the warmth beneath his shirt had spread generously outward as if seeking to bring every inch of her into its circle. Heady feelings indeed.

Her warm shiver turned to a shudder as she remembered Lord Averson shoving her down and away from the falling chunk of stone. He had certainly saved her life, and his own as well.

Maybe the accident was intended to take Lord Averson’s life and not mine.

She dismissed that thought with a sigh, remembering the cryptic note she had received from ‘A Friend’. The writer had ordered her to withdraw her applications, but how could she do that? The mail coach would not have even reached London yet. Maybe Seth Booth didn’t know how the post worked.

Nonsense. Everyone knows how the post works.

More importantly, would she surrender her dreams to some vile threat? Especially if it was that abominable man Seth Booth that was behind it? No, she would not. The Marquess certainly had reason enough to see Mr. Booth attended to without her heaping on the knowledge of the threatening note.

The Marquess breezed into the room, interrupting her thoughts, troubled thoughts she happily relinquished.

“Where have you been hiding all day, my Lord Marquess?”

“I have a surprise for you,” Ewan announced pleasantly, his hands hidden behind his back.

“For me?” Henrietta smiled.

“Yes. My Lady, will you please close your eyes?”

“Very well.”

She was always wary of surprises. They tended to go poorly in her experience. But, he seemed so eager to give her a gift of some kind, and his eyes were sparkling so delightfully, she could hardly resist him.

“I asked you the other day what would make you smile in case I might be called upon someday to put a grin upon your face.”

“You brought me cake!” she exclaimed with delight.

“No, no, my Lady,” he winked at Anna, “but I’m sure Anna could procure us some tea and cake. Posthaste, Anna, if you please.”

“Yes, my Lord.” Anna curtseyed and darted from the room.

“You have a present for me, but it isn’t cake,” Henrietta mused.

“If you are able to bear up under the disappointment, I think you will be most pleasantly surprised. You may open your eyes now.”

Her eyes flew open excitedly. He held out before her a book, and she had to blink a few times to be sure she was seeing it correctly. In disbelief she read the title aloud, “Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine ‘Medico-Chirurgical Transactions.’”

Chapter 20

Fear seized her. Was this a trick? Was he testing her?

“I,” she stammered awkwardly, “I don’t know what to say.”