Page 119 of A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Heirs

Anne lifted her chin. “I didn’t want to interrupt, although you do seem to be in better spirits since your marriage. I wanted to agree with you. Lydia is a schemer.”

Juliana pushed against the sofa with her elbows, hissing at the pain in her stitches and drawing Honoria’s attention. “Although I agree with Lady Charlotte and Anne to some extent, I don’t believe Lydia is the mastermind. Involved somehow and knows something, yes. But if you had seen the fear on her face when Victor and I pressed her for more information on the perpetrator’s identity, it would erase any doubt she is responsible.”

“Lydia is an accomplished liar,” Miranda said. “I don’t think we can discount her completely.”

“Perhaps not completely. But she wasn’t the one who shot Victor,” Juliana said.

“Lydia couldn’t shoot an effigy of Prinny two feet from her,” Aunt Kitty said. “She could have enlisted someone to do her dirty work. And don’t forget, the target most likely was you, Juliana.”

“You think the perpetrator and the assailant are one and the same?” Charlotte asked.

“I think it’s possible.” Juliana winced, her eyes watering, as she attempted to sit up farther.

Honoria raced over to Juliana’s side and straightened her pillow. “Drake tried to get answers from Lydia, but the Whytes left for their estate in Derbyshire the day after the incident. I suspect their swift departure accounts for the paucity of details in the report. Reporting her own presence at the gaming hell would spark scandal. Whoever was responsible forThe Muckrakereither wasn’t privy to the information or had their own reasons for restraint.”

True. Although the scandal sheets reported the shocking turn of events that evening atThe Knave, wherein Mr. Victor Pratt had been shot by an unknown assailant, there had beenno mention of Juliana—or Lydia Whyte—at all. EvenThe Muckrakerhad been uncharacteristically silent regarding the situation, merely stating they believed Victor had been the victim in a failed robbery attempt and was expected to survive.

Charlotte nodded as if they had their answer. “Well, Lydia certainly wouldn’t want her name connected to what happened. And innocent people don’t run away.”

“Very well,” Bea said. “We shall include Miss Whyte. But as to my reasons for Edgerton—and I do beg your pardon, Lady Charlotte—but your brother is a sneaksby and a...a johnny-bum.”

“Bea!” Juliana laughed, exacerbating the pain in her side.

“Well, I’m sorry, but he is. I could say worse, but, well . . .”

Honoria adjusted Juliana’s pillow again. “But why would Edgerton write about his own brother and sister?The Muckrakerattacked both Nash and Charlotte.”

“Edgerton has no love for our brother,” Charlotte admitted. “Nash told me Roland has been ashamed of him for years.” She shook her head. “But I can’t forget the reports implicating Nash for the murder of Lady Worthington, and would Roland stoop that low?”

“He might to remove suspicion from himself,” Anne said.

Everyone’s eyes widened at Anne’s statement.

“An excellent point,” Bea said. “And one I was going to make. As for you, Charlotte, didn’t Edgerton pressure you to marry Lord Felix?”

“Yes, but I don’t see why shaming me with gossip...” Charlotte’s eyes widened. “Oh. Punishment because my refusal thwarted his plans. Roland said something about forming an alliance in Lords with Felix’s father, Lord Scarborough. An alliance against the proposed reforms.”

Bea held up a finger. “Reforms led by Burwood, Ashton, and Stratford. And if I understood you correctly, Juliana, Lydia saidthe perpetrator had a vendetta against Burwood and his family, which would include Honoria’s father, Lord Stratford.”

Aunt Kitty pounded her cane on the floor. “By God, they’re right about you, Lady Montgomery. You have a brilliant mind. And if what you’re suggesting is true, I want to help bring the scoundrel down.”

Honoria returned to her seat. “I believe we all do, Aunt Kitty. But Bea, you also mentioned Lord Middlebury. Do you really think he could be responsible?”

“Not directly, perhaps, but as Juliana suggested with Miss Whyte, I believe he’s involved in some way. Perhaps, unwittingly, but we must remember Edgerton hasn’t been present for the many of the events leading toThe Muckraker’sreports. However, Middlebury is his toady and could have kept him informed.”

A memory rose to the surface. “The day little Eva Somersby’s horse was spooked, we passed Edgerton and his family, and Middlebury was with them.”

“As was Lord Felix,” Honoria said. “I don’t think we can rule him out, either.”

Bea sighed. “If only so many of our traps from the ball weren’t included inThe Muckrakerwe could narrow it down further. If everyone agrees that Miss Whyte and Lord Middlebury might only be pawns, that leaves Edgerton and possibly Lord Felix. I think we should concentrate our efforts on Lord Edgerton first.”

“We need a plan,” Miranda said.

Juliana nodded. “And proof.”

Proppedup in bed with two large pillows, Victor traced a pencil over the rough paper and created a likeness of Juliana. He’d awoken from a restless sleep and requested the rudimentary supplies from Mr. Grey. If he couldn’t see Juliana in person, he did the next best thing and drew her.

Light from the late afternoon sun filtered in through the window, and Victor imagined Juliana standing before him as she would on their wedding day, her golden hair shining as the rays of light played across its long strands. She would wear her hair down of course, as she had the night of their engagement ball. Or maybe she would deign to wear it fashioned up to avoid any further whiff of scandal. Then, when they were alone, he would take his time, unpinning and releasing each glorious strand. Either way, he couldn’t wait to run his fingers through it.

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