A sip of hot tea was the perfect start to the gentleman’s day.His newspaper rustled as he leafed through the pages, solely to ensure the City remained under control.
Thankfully, there appeared to be no new murder cases in recent weeks, but that didn’t mean other crimes weren’t brewing.
When the next atrocity occurred, the gentleman had little faith in Bow Street’s efforts.
Even though he’d initially been impressed by Kendrick’s ability to stop Sally Finch, who’d brutally murdered three men, he’d since learned that this had been Miss Hastings’s doing.Not Kendrick’s.
Now, after Croft attempting to catch Mr.Finn O’Leary, and failing, the gentleman worried the Irish crime lord might be plotting other nefarious deeds.As far as he knew, nothing had been heard from O’Leary since that night in Saint Giles when he’d vanished.
Earlier in the year, the gentleman admittedly had wondered if Finn O’Leary might be suitable as Croft’s replacement should efforts to guide Croft’s hand fail.The gentleman had since realized that the Irishman was cut from another cloth entirely.
Unlike Croft, O’Leary would seek only his own selfish gains.And he’d do so with the kind of ruthlessness the gentleman sought to abolish.
With this in mind, he prayed Croft would get to O’Leary first, and not the other way around.
3
Melody sat on the edge of her bed and stared at the swirls of color that made up the pattern in the rug beneath her feet.She’d not slept a wink.How could she when the man she loved had proposed marriage in a voice of icy contempt and for all the wrong reasons?The reminder made her heart overflow with misery.
Edward.
Marsdale, as he insisted she call him henceforth.
Where she’d once looked forward to their encounters, they now filled her with dread.It was as though both their lives had been broken by what she’d done, the prospect of shared happiness shattered.
He was the kindest man she’d ever known.She’d fallen for him with ease and she’d dreamed…impossible dreams of love and marriage.Preposterous.Anyone with an ounce of sense knew a laundress’s daughter could never become a countess.Which was why Melody’s employer, Lady Heathbrooke, who also happened to be Marsdale’s godmother, had chosen to remove Melody from England during the winter.
Just to be on the safe side.
Except, Marsdale had clearly not lost hope, or else he wouldn’t have kissed her as soon as their paths crossed again.It had happened immediately after she and Lady Heathbrooke returned from Italy.Melody had gone to post a letter on her ladyship’s behalf.On her way back to Heathbrooke House, she’d encountered Edward, who’d been out walking and… In retrospect, he’d given her enough time to retreat from his advance, except she’d not been able to.
Instead, she’d savored the kiss until it was over.Until reality cleared the blissful fog the kiss had induced.Instantly fearful of what had occurred, what it meant and the expectations he’d surely have, she’d fled.Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined he’d ever ask for her hand.
In the end, he’d forced the engagement.Another kiss, this time with a prominent witness, intended to trap her so she’d have no choice.
He was so furious with her, he wanted revenge.Because she’d lied to him, because she was not just his godmother’s meek companion but a spy strategically placed in her home, because the truth made him question every aspect of their relationship.Because the betrayal had crushed him.
She gulped down a ragged breath and dug her fingers into the coverlet.Her thoughts were a tangled mess of attempts to find her way to a positive outcome.Did such a thing even exist?Was it possible when pain speared her whenever she thought of what Marsdale had said and what would now follow?
I get to punish you for what you did.Until death do us part.
They were engaged to be married now, and he would make her life hell.
A knock at the bedchamber door made her flinch.Raising her gaze, she swallowed past a lump in her throat and managed a hoarse, “Come in.”
Caroline, Lady Heathbrooke’s lady’s maid, entered.“I’m sorry to disturb you, Miss Roberts, but her ladyship wishes to know if you will be joining her for breakfast.”
Melody blinked, then shot a look toward the clock that sat on her dresser.It was nearing nine o’clock.Her heart made a loud thump as she pushed off the bed in a panic.She’d never been late before and now she would have to explain herself to Lady Heathbrooke on top of everything else.
“I’d best not keep her waiting any longer.”She crossed to where Caroline stood.
The maid remained in the doorway, blocking Melody’s path.A soft smile pulled at her lips even as a few lines crinkled her brow.“Do you not wish to put on a pair of slippers first?”
Melody dropped her gaze to her stocking-clad feet.“Of course.”
“Are you all right?”Caroline asked while Melody put on her slippers.
“Yes.Fine.Just a little more tired than usual.”Melody patted her hair and smoothed out her skirts.“Nothing a hot cup of tea can’t fix.”
