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“Unless he sought a strong partner who would make him change? Someone who could hold him accountable?”
Varying emotions played across Richard’s face for a while. She waited for him to think it through until she finally saw understanding dawn. “I wanted to change?”
“And that is the trait I admire about you above all else—except for the courage to leap on weapon-wielding lunatics in order to save me.” She shuddered at the memory of the night before. “The reason I agreed to marry you was that I grew up with two men in my life who each and every day made worse and worse decisions. They kept moving toward moral oblivion, but you—you came to me from the brink of moral ruin and decisively announced your intention to change. Not just in words, but with genuine action that you were taking. Until that moment, I was not aware that it could be done, but I saw the sincerity in your eyes and it moved me. It was … inspiring.”
“I … inspired you?”
“More than any person I ever met.”
Richard finally looked at her, his eyes filled with admiration. “You are utterly amazing.”
With that, he raised a hand to cup the back of her head and tugged her forward to lay a searing kiss on her lips. She squeaked in surprise before parting her lips to meld her tongue against his in delighted response, pressing her curves into his hardness in anticipation of where this might lead. It seemed somehow life-affirming to lose herself in his arms while his hand traced down to rest on the slope of her neck where her pulse beat frantically.
* * *
Richard foundPerry waiting in his study when he went downstairs. His brother stood hovering near his desk.
“I have been thinking. I went through all of the recent events, starting the day of the wedding. The only conclusion is that the countess’s brother gained access to the house through the library. Remember, he was standing by the doors that face the garden during the ceremony? He could have unlocked those doors to gain entrance later.”
Richard took a seat at his desk, noticing a page covered with the timeline of events in his brother’s untidy hand, along with a quill dripping ink on his smooth mahogany. Perry, who was so impeccable in his dress, had always been disorderly with his work. Richard nodded absent-mindedly while he pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the ink from the surface. He hoped the housekeeper or one of the maids knew how to clean the stain off the lacquer.
Perry pressed on. “So my question is, how did he know about Ethan? In order for that caricature to appear at the print shops so quickly, he would have needed to know about Ethan’s existence from the moment the boy arrived at Balfour Terrace. Unless you believe that Johnson, Long, or Radcliffe would have leaked the information?”
“Never. I trust those men implicitly. There were maids who prepared the nursery, but only that day when my son arrived.”
“So how did this Hayward fellow know about your son? I thought about it, and given … um … your reputation …” Perry pulled at his cravat in discomfort. “Well, I do not know how to say this, but if I witnessed a young child arriving in the family carriage and put it together with your reputation, I might assume that your basta—I mean, natural born child was joining your household. And we know the scoundrel does not care for facts because of the lies he told Lord Stanford and Lord Wood, so let us assume he did not care whether he guessed correctly. His intention was to create as much trouble as quickly as he could.”
“That makes sense.”
“Well, how did he observe Ethan was here? The boy arrived, entered the house to eat, he spent time with you and went up to the nursery to sleep.”
Richard scowled, trying to understand Perry’s point while muddling through his emotions and thoughts about the discussion with Sophia regarding his former betrothed. Then, with sudden clarity, he realized what Perry was trying to point out. “He must have seen the carriage arrive with Johnson and Ethan!”
“Exactly! If he did that, then he must be consistently watching the house.”
“Which means we might find him somewhere in this square!”
“Perhaps Hayward has been visiting someone here, or he is staying as a guest. Or possibly he just broke into a home that is closed up for some reason. I propose that you and I go to meet our neighbors because no one is going to refuse an earl at their front door. What do you think? Are you tired of this situation yet? Should we take action?”
“It will certainly be better than sitting here waiting for his next strike. Do you still carry the pistol I lent you?”
* * *
While Sophia dressedwith the help of her maid, her mind worked over what Richard had told her about his failed betrothal. She wanted to do something for him. Last night, he had saved her life. At the time, they believed the danger had been caused by his past misdeeds, but that made it no less telling of his character when, to protect his household, he leapt onto a physically imposing man wielding a weapon.
Then it came to light that she was the one who had brought the villainous machinations to their doorstep. To which her husband had responded by giving her solace without a word of complaint. Even now, he had gone downstairs to plan with Perry how to locate her brother and end the threat.
He was doing all the work. What had she done except sit around useless? She needed to contribute in a meaningful way, and an idea had come to her after Richard left her chambers. An idea that took root and she felt driven to execute. Immediately. The moment she was dressed, she ordered a carriage be brought round. While she prepared to leave the townhouse, she saw the taller John hovering close by.
“Where is the other John? Is he all right?”
“He is recovering and well today, but his lordship assigned him the lighter duties of the nursery and tasked me with taking his place.”
“Good. We are going out.” With that, she stepped out the front door and headed for the carriage.
A short drive to a nearby Mayfair home and then Sophia was standing in the entrance hall waiting to be shown in. She hoped the noblewoman would see her. She needed to do something useful, and this felt right. It would help Richard confront his inner demons, so he could finally forgive himself for his past sins.
The butler returned. In an unusually hoarse voice, he informed her that the duchess would see her and showed her into a drawing room.
