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"Ah," Aidan murmured when her face paled. "That's it then."
The girl pressed her lips together and dropped her head. She refused to say anything more no matter how many questions they peppered her with.
"Well," Edward sighed, "it's clear it must have something to do with one of you two."
"What?" Aidan barked, while Jude wondered again if it was Patience causing
this trouble. But he was nearly certain it didn't fit her personality. He'd inherited a gift from his mother, to meet a person for even a few moments and form a good impression of them. She had based her whole career on that sense. Choosing the right man could mean the difference between life and death for a woman like her.
"What do you mean?" Aidan asked, nudging Edward's foot with his.
Edward barked a laugh. "If there's a woman out to destroy our family, surely you can see your fingerprints in this."
"That's the most—"
"Hold!" Jude shouted over Aidan's rising voice. "Edward's right that it could have something to do with one of us, but let's not forget the focus of this madness. Marissa. If it's a woman behind this... she could've come by her knowledge any way."
Her brothers exchanged uncomfortable glances.
"I'm talking of visits and changes of dress and bathing in the pond and—"
"Oh," Edward interrupted. "Of course."
"So how do we figure it out?" Aidan asked.
They all turned to look at the girl. As they studied her in silence, Jude's mind turned back toward Marissa. When he'd looked up from Corrinc to catch her watching, he'd known that taunting her with Corrinc had been a bad idea. The dance itself had been a happy waltz through the memories of their time together. He'd enjoyed it, but that enjoyment only made his gut burn with guilt now.
While he'd meant to tweak her pride, he'd seen more than indignation on Marissa's face. He'd seen sorrow. Sorrow he'd caused.
He was ashamed now. The characteristics he'd always liked about Marissa, the wild, free heart that was so at odds with her cool exterior... he'd started to resent her for those very things. He could hardly blame her for being confused. A few days ago, he'd teased her for her love of pretty boys, and now he derided her and called her shallow.
If his mother were here, she would toss her head in disgust and call him a fool. And she would be right.
Furious with himself, he turned that anger on this girl who was trying to harm Marissa. "We are almost to the York estate. You only have a short time left to confess what you know. I'll personally retrieve the constable myself as soon as we are settled, and then the matter will be out of our hands."
Though she took a shuddering breath, the girl said nothing.
"Tell us your mistress's name, and we'll let you go."
She was shaking her head when the carriage slowed and pulled to a stop.
"We're here," Edward murmured. "Let's get her inside and decide what is to be done. But if the girl is missed, it could already be too late."
Jude stepped heavily from the carriage and pulled the girl toward her temporary prison. For the first time, this family seemed more scandalous than his own, and he was quite sure he was no longer enjoying the drama.
Marissa raced through the house, heart and hands both trembling with anxiety. She knew nothing except that someone had been caught and brought back to their estate, which made no sense. Harry claimed that the men knew nothing more than she, and he seemed just as unconcerned as the baroness, who'd chattered brightly about intrigue on the whole ride home. Marissa was beside herself.
Her family's reputation was poised on the brink of ruin because of her actions, and the rest of them seemed to think it a farce. Maddening people.
Her slippers slid across the floor when she tried to make the turn. Marissa bumped hard into the wall, then kept going. She put her arm out to keep herself from tumbling around the next corner, and then she was at her brother's study... only to find the door was locked.
After wiggling the knob, she knocked impatiently. The quiet murmur of male voices stopped, and she was under the distinct impression that everyone, herself included, was holding their breath.
"Let me in!" she finally hissed.
The murmurs started again, and a few moments later she finally heard the click of the lock turning. Edward stuck his head out. "You shouldn't be here, Marissa. It's no place for a woman."
She tried to shove him out of the way, but his body didn't budge. "This is my scandal, Edward. Don't be ridiculous."
