CHAPTER 24
The first thing she felt was the scratch of fabric against her cheek. She blinked her eyes open.
She saw him. Julian lay beside her. The events of the previous evening flooded back at once—Marianne’s husband appearing out of the dark, the way she and Julian had worked together to fend the man off, and the way she had broken down afterwards.
Julian had been there for her. He had held her when she needed holding, and then he had slept beside her.
She was vaguely aware that at some point, when the light outside had already begun its slow battle against the night, she had turned and wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. She had known she ought not to. She had been too exhausted from the restless night to do anything else.
She glanced down and saw that her arm still lay across his stomach, his hand resting on top of hers.
She removed her hand and put distance between them. He stirred in his sleep and rolled to his side. Did he know they had slept like that? Curled together, her head on his shoulder, his hand over hers?
She did not know. She was not entirely sure she wanted to.
Quietly, she got out of bed and stepped into the adjacent dressing room. Water had already been delivered at some point through the separate door as was the custom. She attended to her morning toilet and dressed herself, and by the time she stepped back into the main room, Julian was awake. He had likewise already dressed though a slight stubble was visible along his jaw and chin.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Good morning,” she replied. “Did you sleep well?”
He smiled. “As well as can be expected. Which is to say, quite terribly.”
“The same,” she said.
“Well.” He pressed his hands together. “Let us go downstairs and see about breakfast. I cannot promise much from a place like this, but we ought to try. Then the docks.”
“Yes, and we should find Marianne and Nell first to make sure that both they and the children are well.”
“We will do that first. I will speak to Frederick again before we set out. What do you think?”
“A very good idea,” she replied.
They left the room together and made their way downstairs. Breakfast was indeed being served—hard-boiled eggs, bread, cheese, assorted cold meats, and small ale. She sat down to eat while Julian went to attend to his conversation with Frederick. Marianne joined her after a few minutes.
“The children are fed. Nell has taken them for a walk in a park nearby. The coachmen are both with her.”
“Good, thank you. Are you well?” Clara asked.
Marianne nodded. “Charlie has been taken by the constables and will not trouble me again. His assault on His Grace will only count further against him.” She paused. “I did have to tell Frederick who you really are, however.”
“Oh,” Clara said. “I suppose he will not be very disposed to help us now.”
Marianne smiled. “I think he is after seeing how His Grace conducted himself last night and you as well. Although I do not think he knows any more than he has already told us.”
“I feared as much,” Clara said and took a bite of the cheese which had already gone hard around the edges.
“I do want to thank you,” Marianne said, “for supporting me last night.” She reached across the table and took Clara’s hand.
“You are most welcome. You put yourself at considerable risk by coming here at all.”
Marianne retrieved her hand. “Perhaps. But it had to be dealt with sooner or later.” She glanced up. “Here is His Grace now.”
Julian slipped into the chair beside Clara and reached for a piece of bread. He pulled off the crust, set it aside, and rolled the center absently into a ball.
“Well,” he said, “Frederick has told us everything he knows. There is nothing more to be done here but go down to the docks and hope we can speak to someone who will allow us to see the ship manifest.”
“Would you like me to come?” Marianne asked.
