Loving the Marquess (28 page)

“Lady Overlea told me the modiste we used for my wardrobe
will visit later this week to measure you for the evening wear you’ll need next
spring.”

Catherine clutched her hand. “Isn’t it wonderful, Louisa?
When I think of how things were such a short time ago, how dire our
circumstances…” She shook her head. “It was most fortunate that Nicholas found
his way to our house that night. I know you worry about John, but we must have
faith that he is well.”

She winced inwardly when she realized she hadn’t thought
about her younger brother for some time. “That isn’t what I wished to speak to
you about. I wanted to discuss Lord Kerrick.”

“He’s only been away for a week, but I do miss him.”
Catherine’s forehead creased as a thought occurred to her. “I imagine when he
returns his visit will be a short one.”

“Listen to yourself. Lord Kerrick is eleven years your
senior.”

Catherine stiffened. “I am aware of his age. What does that
have to do with anything?”

“It has become apparent to all that you have developed an
infatuation for Lord Kerrick.”

“Why should I not? Are you annoyed he may no longer pay
attention to you? It is most unfair, Louisa. Must you have every man’s
interest?”

Louisa was shocked at her sister’s accusation, especially
since the opposite had been true recently. Over the last few years she’d seen
the speculative male glances aimed at Catherine. However, given the deception
she and Kerrick had played to rouse Nicholas’s jealousy, she couldn’t blame her
sister for believing what she did.

“Lord Kerrick and I are only friends. I have no desire to
receive any romantic attention from him.”

Her sister’s anger deflated. “Really?”

“How could you think otherwise? Is it not clear that I have
feelings for my husband? You know I am not a flirt.”

Catherine appeared all of her seventeen years, her
uncertainty and relief very evident.

“I didn’t think you the type, but there were times when I
saw the two of you together… I couldn’t help but wonder.”

Louisa weighed how much to tell her sister. If she’d noticed
the game she and Kerrick had played in order to waken her husband’s jealously,
then how many others had also noticed?

“Lord Kerrick was amusing himself at Nicholas’s expense. He
found my husband’s displays of jealousy amusing.”

“I am relieved to hear you say that,” Catherine said, but
Louisa wasn’t sure her sister believed her.

A horrible thought occurred to her. She didn’t think Lord
Kerrick was the type to take advantage of an innocent, but she had to ask. “Did
Lord Kerrick make any inappropriate advances toward you?”

Catherine colored. “Of course not. I am not yet out.”

Louisa knew that wouldn’t stop many men. She was relieved,
however, to know that her faith in Nicholas’s friend was not misplaced.

Catherine stood and turned to leave, and Louisa let her go
with a silent hope that her sister wouldn’t be in for future heartbreak. She
knew Kerrick liked Catherine and found her attractive. She’d caught him looking
at her enough times to discern his admiration for her beauty. But that didn’t
mean he intended to court her.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Catherine said. “Before you came
downstairs I gave Nicholas the list of plants he wanted.”

Louisa frowned. She hadn’t thought Nicholas was interested
in botany. “What list of plants?”

“The list of poisonous plants he asked me to get for him.”

“Why does he need a list of poisonous plants?”

Catherine rolled her eyes as though the answer should have
been obvious.

“To keep them out of the house. One of the plants in the
conservatory made him dizzy last week.”

Catherine turned and left the breakfast room, leaving her
dumbstruck. Nicholas had suffered another spell recently and hadn’t told her
about it? She started toward the study to confront him but stopped short when
she realized she was overreacting.

She would have known if he’d suffered an attack. He had been
dizzy, though, and Catherine and he both thought one of the plants in the
conservatory had caused it. What did that mean? More importantly, why hadn’t
Nicholas told her about the episode?

* * *
* *

Nicholas looked up from the papers he was studying and
rubbed his eyes. He’d never realized how much work was involved in being a
marquess. As the younger son he’d never had to learn all the details involved
in running the estate, and while he’d always held an interest in politics, his
opinions had been just that. Opinions. Now that he was expected to sit in
Parliament, he took that responsibility seriously. Especially since he now had
renewed hope for his future.

His future. He smiled as he thought of Louisa and the life
they would have together. But first he had to determine Edward’s guilt. Kerrick
couldn’t get here soon enough. His letter had said he would be accompanied by
Lord Brantford. He didn’t give further details, but Nicholas knew Kerrick had
friends who were involved in intelligence. He’d never imagined the Earl of
Brantford was one of those men, however.

He turned his attention back to his reading but was
interrupted a few minutes later by a knock at the door. Hoping it was his
Louisa, he bade her enter, but instead it was his valet. He was disappointed,
but only for a moment. Harrison had been acting strangely and it was time to
get to the reason for his evasiveness.

“I beg your pardon, my lord,” the valet said with a brief
bow.

The man was definitely nervous. Nicholas made a show of
looking at the mantel clock before speaking.

“Is this something that couldn’t wait until I saw you
later?”

“Lady Overlea may interfere later.”

It appeared he would not need to draw his valet out after
all. He knew the man referred to Louisa and had to tamp down on the urge to
reprimand him for speaking against the mistress of the house.

“What is it, then?”

“I was able to acquire some bottles of your favorite brandy.
Lady Overlea was quite thorough when she had all the spirits in the house
disposed of, and I know she took the last bottle I gave you. I thought it would
be more prudent if she did not learn that you have new stock.”

New stock? Good lord, how much did the man acquire? He
realized it was very likely that his next drink would contain a lethal dose of
the poison. Edward must be getting impatient.

He leaned back in his chair, affecting an appearance of
resignation. “That won’t be necessary, Harrison.”

“She has relented?”

He shook his head.

“I’m afraid my wife may have a point. Given the severity of
my last attack, I’ve decided to stop drinking.”

Nicholas watched the other man carefully for his reaction.

“Not drink? You mean not drink brandy, my lord? If that is
the case I can obtain something else for you.”

Nicholas shook his head. “I’m afraid I will have to stop
drinking spirits altogether.”

The expression on Harrison’s face was priceless. “But you’ve
always enjoyed a good drink now and again.”

Nicholas sighed. “I’m afraid those days are now behind me.
It shall have to be tea and coffee for however long I have left.”

“Tea?”

While his valet was off-balance, Nicholas moved in for the
kill.

“When were you planning to tell me about your connection to
my cousin’s household?”

The color drained completely from Harrison’s face.

“I beg your pardon, my lord?”

“You were seen, Harrison.”

His valet appeared as though he wanted nothing more than to
turn around and flee.

“Did you think I would frown on you forming a romantic attachment?
I may have been an avowed bachelor before my marriage, but I was hardly a monk.
I understand that a man has needs.”

The relief on the other man’s face was laughably obvious. He
hoped Harrison never took up gambling. He would be horrible at it.

“A romantic attachment. Of course. You are referring to…”

“Your meeting with my cousin’s maid. She was seen passing
you a love note.”

Harrison looked away and cleared his throat before
continuing. “There was nothing to tell, my lord. I’m afraid the girl has formed
a stronger attachment than I’d intended. It was merely a light flirtation.”

He stumbled over his words as he spoke. Good, Nicholas
thought. He had the man clearly rattled.

“I understand. But if the relationship becomes more serious,
you will come to me, I hope. I am not such an ogre that I would expect the two
of you to continue to sneak around behind my back.”

“No, my lord. Thank you, my lord. I will allow you to get
back to your work now…”

Nicholas’s mouth firmed into a grim line as he watched the
man scurry from the room. It was clear that Harrison was involved in the
poisoning. Nicholas had every confidence he would fold quickly under
questioning.

He stood and began to pace. He wanted nothing more than to
follow his valet and wring the man’s neck. To ferret out the details of the
plot that very moment. When he thought about how Edward had killed his father
and brother… His fists clenched and he had to take several deep breaths before
he could relax. Nothing would be gained by rushing in now. He only hoped that
his impulsive questioning hadn’t tipped his hand. It was vital that his cousin
believe he would be successful in killing the current marquess.

He made his way back to his desk and tried to refocus his
attention on his reading. All he could do now was wait.

From the way Louisa kept looking at
him over dinner, Nicholas could tell she wanted to speak to him. Since
Catherine had given him the list he’d requested that morning, he guessed she
may have told her sister what had happened in the conservatory. He’d wrestled
with how much to tell her about that incident and his increasing conviction
that the men in his family had been, and were continuing to be, poisoned. He
didn’t want to lie to her, but it was paramount that he keep her safe. She’d
already been on the receiving end of one deliberate attempt to hurt her. Would
knowing the truth allow her to be extra cautious, or would it place a larger
target on her if she started behaving differently after learning the truth?

Thank God Kerrick and Lord Brantford were due to arrive
tomorrow. He wanted this whole mess finished. There was no telling what Edward
would do next.

Louisa retired after dinner, claiming a headache. The look
she gave him before she headed upstairs, however, made it clear that she wanted
him to follow. He smiled as he contemplated all the things he would do to try
to distract her from the questions she wanted to ask. He’d leave her with no
doubt that he was at the peak of health.

Grinning, he entered his rooms a quarter of an hour later.
He’d expected to find Louisa awake, so the sight of her asleep on his bed, atop
the coverlet, gave him pause. Perhaps she really was suffering from a headache.

He closed the door softly before approaching the bed and
looking down at his wife. His heart turned over with the depth of his feelings
for her. He couldn’t wait for this ordeal to be over so he could tell her he
loved her. While his life was in danger, however, he didn’t want to add to her
loss if something were to happen to him. He guessed she felt the same way about
him. At least, he hoped she did. He suffered a moment of doubt as he wondered
if she was only worried about him because it was in her nature to take care of
others. She had, after all, been in charge of her family’s household for some
years, taking care of her younger siblings and nursing her father during the
illness that finally took his life. He frowned as doubts crowded his mind.

His breath froze when he noticed she was flushed. That
wasn’t a normal symptom of a headache. He placed a slightly shaking hand on her
forehead and swore silently when he discovered how hot she was to the touch.
This was more than just a headache.

It was only then that he noticed the teacup peeking out from
under a fold of her dress. His gaze moved to the night table, upon which rested
a tray with teapot and another cup. He’d been so preoccupied he hadn’t noticed
it and his heart clenched as he realized what must have happened.

He cursed himself for his stupidity when he’d baited
Harrison that afternoon, telling him that he would only be drinking tea from
that point forward. It never occurred to him that Louisa might consume a poison
that was meant for him. No, not only for him. There were two cups. Sweat broke
out on his own brow. Had Harrison, in an act of desperation, decided to take
matters into his own hands, or had he been ordered to do so?

He strode to the bellpull and tugged on it before returning
to the bed. He placed the empty cup with its mate on the tea tray and with
exaggerated care lowered himself onto the bed beside his wife. He brought a
hand up to cradle her cheek and spoke softly.

“Louisa? Can you hear me?”

Nothing.

He shook her gently. “Louisa? Please, sweetheart, open your
eyes. Let me know you are all right.”

To his relief her eyelids fluttered open, but they closed
again almost immediately. Her mouth moved, forming his name, but no sound
escaped.

There was a soft knock at the door before one of the house
maids entered. Nicholas wasn’t surprised. After such a desperate act, Harrison
was probably long gone.

He ordered the maid to send one of the footmen up and to
send for the doctor. Panic clouded his brain and his stomach clenched as he
looked down at Louisa, lying motionless on the bed. Her breathing was shallow,
but he thanked God that she was still breathing.

He rose when the footman entered. Nicholas didn’t know the
man personally, but he did know his family. The Tates had been tenants of the
estate for many generations and from everything he’d heard they were a good, solid
family. There was nothing else for it. He’d have to hope that the man could be
trusted.