Page 77 of An Arranged Marriage with a Mad Marquess
“The constables have arrested the three of them. Thomasin has confessed to plotting your murder, and Mr. Blackburn confessed shortly after. Clayton refuses to speak with the constables, but it’s rather too late. His companions have implicated him. They will all three spend their lives in prison. Nobody speaks of the late Lord Morendale, however.”
Neil closed his eyes briefly. “I can imagine not. An attempted murder is extremely serious, but for the successful poisoning of a Marquess? They’d all three hang.”
Patrina shuddered at that. It wasn’t pleasant to think of anyone hanging, even Clayton Tidemore.
“It’s strange, but I don’t think my father would have wanted them to hang,” Neil murmured. “He was so fond of his brother. My uncle, you know. Aunt Thomasin’s husband and Clayton’s father. I wonder sometimes if there were things he could have done better, but he never deserved to die in that manner. Not at the hands of those he loved most. I miss him, you know. I miss him dreadfully.”
Patrina reached out to take his hand, squeezing it silently. He turned to look at her and smiled faintly.
“So, I might recover, then? It looks as though you won’t be a widow anytime soon. My apologies.”
Patrina tutted, shaking her head. “I don’twantto be a widow. I like you, Neil. I thought that was clear.”
“Well, you saved my life, it seems. Without you, well…” he trailed off, shaking his head. “Without you I might be dead by now, in fact.”
That was closer to the truth than Patrina cared to think about. She cleared her throat, swallowing hard.
“I… I think that your mother wished to speak to you, once you’re ready to talk. I believe she’s feeling guilty.”
Neil bit his lip. “She shouldn’t.”
“I know. Emma only wanted what was best for you. She believed she could trust Mr. Blackburn. I told her this, but… well, I think she’ll prefer to hear it from you.”
Neil glanced up at her, twining his fingers through hers. “I believe that she’ll like you a good deal better than before, after this.”
“I hope so. I like your family, Neil. They’ve all been so kind to me, in their way. Well, except for…” she trailed off, clearing her throat.
He tilted his head, gaze still fixed on her. Patrina felt warmth spread through her chest, her breath shortening. She couldn’t look away.
“You have beautiful eyes, you know,” she heard herself say. “Green-gold. Such a rare colour.”
A slow smile spread over Neil’s face. “And here I was, about to complimentyouon your eyes. You’ve been a better wife than I deserved, Patrina. I… frankly, I believe I am in love with you.”
Her breath stopped in her throat. Patrina smiled wryly down at him, squeezing his hand.
“How convenient, because I believe that I amalsoin love with you, my dear, mad, Marquess.”
