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The next kiss to her lips was the merest brush. ‘Goodnight, Beauty.’ He backed away, staring at her, and she didn’t know who or what he really saw.
* * *
Warrington had stayed from the house in the daylight hours and returned through the servants’ entrance so he could find Broomer. Broomer said Melina hadn’t stirred, except to ask about the earl, and the servant hadn’t been able to tell her what he didn’t know. From the spark in Broomer’s eyes when given instructions, he still relished a challenge. Warrington gave him one.
Now Warrington sat in the glow of only one candle on the small table by his side. The painting of Melina’s family showed murky in the dimness. Tonight, he would have preferred taunting eyes of black-hearted mermaids.
The thumping steps outside the door alerted Warrington. Broomer had his own ways of getting a job done.
War pulled the blade out, the movement releasing the leather scent from the scabbard, and he flicked the steel back and forth through the flame.
Ludgate walked into the room, crutch under his arm. Broomer pulled the door shut behind them and leaned back.
Ludgate paused, his eyes taking in the room. He turned and saw the exit blocked. His fingers tightened on the crutch and his free hand went across his body and clasped the wood as if he needed even more help to stand. ‘I knew you would find out.’
Silence and the flickering of the candle filled the air between them.
Ludgate spoke again, his words gruff. ‘I know you’re aware.’
‘Broomer. Leave us and lock the door with the key.’
Without a word, the big man opened the door and left.
Warrington looked to the flame. ‘Had I suspected you, I would not have been so slow to find out who bedded my wife. I held her responsible. No one else. But you betrayed me, as well.’
‘If you had cared for her, you would have searched sooner.’
He held the blade tip in the flame and his fingers tightened on the handle. He kept his voice conversational. ‘I suggest we not get in a match over who cared more for my wife.’
Ludgate spoke, each word measured. ‘She was a woman no man could help but desire.’
Rage boiled in Warrington’s body, causing a twitch in the knife blade. ‘You should not mention your lust for her, either.’
Ludgate stepped back. Someone outside rattled the doorknob. Warrington ignored the sound.
Warrington didn’t speak and he could hear Ludgate’s breaths from across the room. ‘Don’t be in a hurry to leave.’ He used the blade to snuff out the candle.
‘I didn’t know she’d return to you. She told us you were dying.’ The words sounded through clenched teeth. ‘She said you were dying.’
‘Makes it all the better, doesn’t it? I’m breathing my last breaths on my deathbed. You’re ploughing my wife.’
‘Light a candle,’ Ludgate commanded.
‘I don’t like the sight of blood.’
‘Warrington. It’s over. She’s gone.’
‘Not entirely gone. Willa, you know. Little girl, about so high.’ He held out the hand with the knife in it to indicate Willa’s height. He was certain Ludgate couldn’t see the blade well, but that Ludgate’s heart was pounding every shadowed movement into his mind.
He heard Ludgate bump back against the door.
‘You didn’t find any irony in the fact that she named her Willa Marie,’ Ludgate said. ‘Marie is Daphne’s middle name.’ His voice rose. ‘My wife’s middle name and my full name is Robert William Ludgate.’
‘I didn’t know.’
‘Oh, I assure you, Cassandra knew. Daphne knew.’
Warrington touched the blade tip to the extinguished wick, scenting the room with smoke, and pressed the string down into the melted wax. ‘Cassandra would find it humorous. Like a final dusting of face powder to get just as she wished. But I want to know why you set a man on me. A man to kill me—when Cass was dead. It makes no sense. You don’t want the child—’
Again, the doorknob rattled hard. Warrington kept his eyes on Ludgate’s form. In seeing Ludgate’s slumped shadow, he knew the man wouldn’t challenge him.
‘Open the door,’ Melina called through the wood and she pounded against the door.
‘Leave us, Melina.’ He bit out the words.
‘No,’ she said, and he heard a push against the door and her words rushed. ‘Daphne is here.’
‘Bloody hell,’ Ludgate’s voice rang out. ‘I have an elderly aunt, as well. I hope you didn’t forget her invite.’
