Aidan thought about the bloodied note. “The woman who delivered the letter to Halmesbury’s home?”
Filminster lifted his shoulders. “It could be her. Miss Audrey Gideon. No one seems to know too much about her, but it cannot be a coincidence that two people residing in the same home disappeared in the same afternoon. The trouble is we have to be discreet so we do not endanger Trafford or Miss Gideon any more than they already are, so our inquiries are hampered.”
Aidan could tell that his brother-in-law was worried. “Trafford is ingenious in his schemes. He will work it out to get word to us soon.”
“I hope so. It is difficult knowing that a friend has endangered his life to assist me. I have been trying to think how I could have handled the whole matter differently.”
Aidan shook his head. “What is done is done. All that remains is to deal with the present. Trafford was adamant about helping, and he is no fool.”
Filminster burst out laughing despite his anxiety. “That is not true. Trafford would be the first to insist that he is, indeed, a fool.”
Chuckling, Aidan shook his head at the ridiculous assertion he had just made. “I meant to say … he is an enterprising and gumptious fool.”
The two of them stood in silence, thinking their private thoughts about the odd fish, Trafford.
Aidan eventually shifted. “What news of Michaels? You said he had been injured.”
“My butler is a hardy and cantankerous old devil. He wasmeant to rest on doctor’s orders, but he is already up and about terrorizing my household staff.”
“What happened exactly?”
Filminster rubbed a hand through his hair. “The stubborn bastard tackled a man half his age when the ruffian breached my study through one of the windows. Michaels heard the sound of glass breaking and instead of calling for the guards, he ran in and threw himself at the blackguard and got a good whack in the face for his troubles. Apparently, he then thunked the ruffian with the same sculpture that was used to kill the baron before hollering for help. Unfortunately, the reprobate got away.”
Aidan shook his head. “Michaels is a good man, even if he is a belligerent old goat.”
His brother-in-law groped the stone balustrade and peered into the night. “I owe Michaels everything for saving Lily that day. I could not imagine what I would …” Filminster broke off, unable to complete the sentence.
Exhaling sharply, Aidan lifted a hand to pat Filminster on the back. “I know … Brendan. Believe me, I know.”
“Do you suppose … that Trafford will be all right?”
Aidan’s gut clenched in anxiety. “He has to be. If anyone can take care of himself, it is Trafford.”
Filminster nodded, but his face was wreathed with concern as he stared into the shadowed garden.
Gwen sippeda cup of tea and tried to think about recent events from a new point of view. The warmth of the aromatic leaves was a boon to her wounded heart and helped lift her spirits. The ache in her chest could not be denied, but at least she could think to explore her options.
She recalled Lady Moreland’s visit, and the revelationthat Lily had been attacked in the aftermath of the baron’s murder.
Gwen supposed, given the circumstances, she could understand that Aidan would take extreme measures to protect his family. It was unfortunate that she had been embroiled in his plans, and it hurt that he had used her so. But she could place herself in his shoes and comprehend how desperation had driven his actions.
Sadly, none of this abated the pain that she had merely been a pawn in his game to seek vengeance against Papa. But thinking about that would only lead her back to tears. She took another sip, enjoying the sensation of the beverage spreading heat through her veins to warm her icy fingers and toes. Sitting at the window in the chill of the storm had allowed the cold to seep into her very bones, but now she was slowly warming up.
“This is a good cup of tea.” Octavia sighed from the bench at the foot of the bed, holding her cup and saucer close to her flat bosom.
“That seems rather self-congratulatory.”
The lady’s maid shrugged. “A fact is a fact. Just because I made the tea doesn’t mean it’s not true.”
Gwen huffed a weak laugh. “I wish I had an ounce of your confidence.”
Octavia frowned, staring down into her cup. “You do, Gwendolyn Smythe. In everything except yourself.”
Sighing, Gwen put her cup down on the side table next to her mother’s armchair. “It is clear Aidan did not marry me because of an interest in me, but rather to get closer to Papa.”
“I don’t think that’s true.” Octavia’s tone was belligerent. “I’ve seen how he looks at you. That’s not a man who’s been forced into an unwanted marriage.”
“Come. Let us not quarrel. I need to think about what comes next. I did not wish to trap Aidan in this marriage, butI think we are stuck with each other now. Annulment will not be possible, considering we have consummated the marriage.”
