Page 44 of The Wise Daughter

At first, Nora only listened at her door, waiting, but when it was clear she needed to be closer, she crept into the sitting room that joined her bedchamber to Aaron’s.

Men’s voices sounded on the other side of Aaron’s door along with enough thumps to make one think they were rearranging the furniture.

“Easy now,” a man grunted. “Didn’t think he would drop this quickly.”

She didn’t hear everything that went on, but she thought she discerned Chuff’s voice and the mention of a doctor amidst terse pieces of conversation.

Though her muscles itched with the urge to rush in, Nora didn’t think she should announce her presence to unknown gentlemen by barging into Aaron’s bedchamber, engaged to him or not.

So, she waited. Whatever was going on, they were tending to Aaron.

She must have waited nearly an hour, imagining the most horrendous injuries and the trouble that caused them. When the voices and shuffling finally died down, Nora waited longer, then quietly turned the cold knob.

The floorboard creaked slightly with her first step. She had never been in Aaron’s bedchamber, not even to peek inside, though she had been curious what his room looked like. The darkness didn’t afford her much clarity, but she could tell the room was set up in the mirror image of hers.

The crackle of fire on the grate lent heat to the room, sending a dance of shadows that pulled at her nerves.

“Aaron?” she whispered, hoping not to startle him as she drew closer to his bed.

The hairs on her arms rose despite the fire. Aaron’s bed curtains had been drawn, so she couldn’t see him or how severe his injuries were. She shuddered just thinking about the possibilities.

“Miss Lacy?”

Nora jumped, her whole body drawing in like a whip with the sound of the voice behind her. She turned, pulling her shawl tight around herself.

“Ruthers,” she gasped as he rose from a chair in the corner of the room. Janie’s accusations hung fresh in her thoughts. “I… I heard noises. I only came to see… I…” She didn’t know how to explain herself. All she wanted was him gone.

“So that’s where Derricott put you.” He gestured toward her room with his head. “As close to himself as he could. Doesn’t surprise me.”

Ruthers stood and drew closer. Nora stumbled backward, bumping into one of the bed posters. Swallowing a cry, she scrambled to draw open the curtain and see Aaron for herself.

“There’s no need to worry, Miss Lacy. He’ll be fine.” Though Ruthers spoke as easily as he always did, his movements felt ominous.

Nora drew the curtains further open despite Ruthers’s reassurances. She needed to see Aaron.

He was sleeping on his back, entirely still except for the slow rise and fall of his chest. She couldn’t see any bruises in the darkness, but there was swelling around his left eye. His left sleeve was torn open, revealing a bandaged forearm.

At the sound of the floorboard creaking, she spun back to face Ruthers and pointed a finger. “Not a step closer.”

“Easy, Miss Lacy, or you’ll wake him up. Actually,” Ruthers scratched his cheek, “probably not since the doctor just gave him some opium.”

This declaration sent Nora’s heart racing. “What’s happened?”

“Derricott and I along with a few of the stablehands and the constable took care of Gaines.”

Nora reached for breath to speak, her racing heart making it difficult. “Took care of? Then why is Aaron hurt?” She could now see swelling around Ruthers’s lips and a thin scratch on his cheek.

“He was right to bring the lot of us. Gaines had his friends with him. Can you believe it? One of them was Vander. Somehow Derricott tricked him into confessing to loosening that chandelier before sending you to the music room.”

“That was him?” Nora placed a hand on her chest. So, the chandelier crashing had not been an accident.

“They certainly put up a fight.” Ruthers chuckled. “Derricott and I each took a few hits. Oh, they’ll pay extra for hitting the duke, I promise you that, but Derricott is strong. He’ll be fine.”

“Then why the doctor? Why the opium?”

Ruthers made a face of disgust. “That was Carver’s doing. He insisted on sending for the doctor when he saw the state we were in, fussing over Derricott like a mama cat. Though, I suppose it was best in the end. The doctor had to stitch up Aaron’s arm.”

“What happened to his arm?” Nora swallowed, her voice rising too much.

“Easy, Miss Lacy. It looks worse than it is.”

She repeated herself, more emphatically. “What happened to his arm?”

Ruthers sighed. “Gaines had a knife. It probably would have found its way into my back if Derricott hadn’t stepped in the way and wrestled it free. I suppose we’re even now.”

“Even?”

“Didn’t he tell you? I saved his life once. Back in Hesse-Kassel. He was cornered by a rotten moneylender, one of the worst. I stepped in just in time. That was before Derricott swore off gambling.”

“I see.” Nora sifted through these thoughts, struggling to make sense of it all.

Was that why Aaron hadn’t wanted to discuss why he trusted Ruthers so much?

Because their friendship was linked to his past gambling habits?

“If that’s true, then why have you been stealing from Aaron?

” Nora steeled her courage. “I saw you hiding something in the stables that day. Care to tell me what it was?”

His shoulders drooped. “Why not? I already told Derricott. I think that day it was a pearl necklace. I still have that one in safe keeping, but I didn’t exactly steal it.”

“Oh really? And I suppose you didn’t steal the old duchess’s diamond necklace and ring? They’re in my safe keeping.”

“Oh, thank goodness you found them!” He looked like he was about to laugh, but he released an enormous sigh instead. “I was afraid one of the actual thieves had collected it.”

She didn’t bother clarifying that it was her maid who found it. “Why did you have it in the first place? I think it’s time that you and I and everyone else in the castle develop the habit of being forthright with each other. No more secrets. Now, tell me.”

Ruthers nodded. “I should have known you’d catch me eventually.

I admit, I have been taking things, but it’s not what you think.

None of it has been for my own gain. Once we all caught on to the thefts, I saw a pattern.

It wasn’t the most valuable things being stolen.

It was the things of personal value to Derricott, especially his mother’s things.

When it was clear that catching our thieves was going to be quite a job, I couldn’t stand the thought of sitting back and letting it happen.

So, I started taking things myself before the thieves could get to them. ”

“Before? Does that mean you have these items hidden somewhere safe?”

“Well…” He turned around, scratching his cheek again and paced a few steps. “Some things, yes. I’ve had to sell a few others.”

Nora drew closer to the unconscious Aaron.

“Someone should have taught you, Ruthers, but that does, indeed, make you a thief.”

“I promise, my mother taught me well. I had a very good reason for selling the things I did. It had to be done.”

Nora sneered. “I imagine a great many thieves have justified their actions in similar ways. Unless you can convince me that your reasons were truly exceptional, I won’t believe you. I’ll send for the constable myself right now if I have to.”

Nora reached out and took Aaron’s hand, a small comfort while he was unconscious, but it gave her courage.

“Miss Lacy, I understand you. I really do, but I can’t say more without breaking a rather important promise.”

“I don’t care a whit for thieves’ promises.”

“I’m not a thief!” For the first time, his voice rose.

Softer, he repeated, “I’m not a thief. My promise is to someone respectable and important.

As I said, I’ve already talked with Derricott about this.

He knows everything I just told you. I don’t blame you for being suspicious, but I’m begging you to trust me.

Wait just a little longer, and you’ll know for yourself soon.

I should go now. Already been here too long. Goodnight, Miss Lacy.”

Ruthers bowed and hurried out before she could inform him that she made no promises to trust him.

She was now alone with Aaron. She should have left.

She nearly did. Any young lady could have told her how incredibly improper it was for her to stay, but the sight of that swelling on his head and those thick wrappings around his arm pinned her to the spot.

She sat on the edge of his bed and brushed his hair off his glistening brow.

“Oh, Aaron,” she whispered. “I’m so relieved you’re all right.

” She swallowed back the thickness in her throat.

“I’ll save my apologies for making a mess of this business with the foal for when you are awake, but for now…

” She gently held his hand, careful not to move him.

“I’ll tell you a secret. It’s a very good secret too, one I don’t know how to tell you when you are capable of responding, so I’ll start with this.

” She bent down and kissed his cheek, then took a deep breath.

“You already know that the night I found you, I made a wish on the bridge. What you don’t know is that, despite the heaviness I was feeling that night, I closed my eyes and wished with every part of me that I would find someone to love.

I don’t know what overcame me. I didn’t think it was possible, but when I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was you.

This is it, Aaron. You. No matter what that marriage settlement says, this isn’t about money.

Whether you’re a duke or a blacksmith or a beggar, I only need you. ”

She sat very still, warming his hand between hers.

“Nora,” he whispered in a groan. His eyelids fluttered but never opened.

She held perfectly still, not risking a single breath, though her heart raced frantically. Had Aaron actually heard her?