Page 70 of Her Magnificent Mistake
“That you are.” With a gentle smile, Marcia reached for him, tugging his head down so she could kiss him. “I’m happy for you, Hawk.”
He hummed in agreement as he scooped up the shirt he’d worn yesterday and shrugged into it. Well, no one was going to notice that he was wearing yesterday’s clothes, were they? “I never expected for Tostinham to become mine, and I would’ve never asked for my family members to die to make it happen…but I’ll admit that I am the best choice as steward.” He nodded thoughtfully as he finished his buttons. “I love Tostinham in a way none of them did.”
“This place is finally in good hands.” Marcia was bent at her waist, tying up her boots. “Once we catch whoever is trying to kill the Barons of Tostinham, you and Allison can be safe. ItoldBull the evidence against you did not make sense, but of course we had to investigate…”
Marcia continued to speak, but Hawk heard none of it afterwe had to investigate. He stood, frozen, his hands halfway through tucking in his shirt, as the implications hit him.
Had to investigate. Told Bull the evidence against you…had to investigate…
When she straightened and saw his expression, Marcia turned wary. “Hawk?”
“Ye kenned?” he whispered in a strangled voice. “Of course ye kenned.” She and Bull were close, and it was Bull’s case. Ofcoursehe discussed it with her. But had she done more than discuss? “Did he send ye here to investigate me? Who else was in on it?”
Marcia was frowning at him, and now her hands went to her hips. He did his best not to notice how delicious she looked when half dressed, thick brown curls falling around her shoulders, and huffing in apparent exasperation, “In on what?”
“Bull’s agency was hired to find evidence marking me as guilty, right? Did he send ye? How much of this was an act? Bull’s amnesia?” Pain was searing through his chest.Had to investigate.
The unconcern when Bull was injured. The sudden need, after ten years, to see him. The flirting, that damned foot under the table?—
Marcia’s expression had gone wary, but now she shook her head. “I thought perhaps at first Bull was jesting, but nay. He says whenever he tries to remember what happened, his head aches, and the doctor says not to push it.”
“Oh, his little mistress, Smith-Smith-Smithity-McSmith-Smith? The medical expert who claims to be yer maid but clearly shares something with Bull?—”
“That is Gabby,” Marcia snapped, frowning at his implications. “Gabby. Bull’s niece, whoismedically trained…just not exactly for humans. I brought her along because she could pose as my maid and could search for the truth among the servants.”
Hands shaking with either anger or devastation, Hawk dragged his hand through his hair.She’d just admitted to coming to Tostinham to investigate ye!“How much of it was a lie? Dear God, Rupert? Rupert has been dallying with my niece? Dallying, just to drop her when inconvenient?”
At that, Marcia’s expression hardened into a scowl, and she crossed her arms in front of her chest. “He wouldnever—and that concern is a little rich, coming from you.”
Hawk whirled about, stomping toward his closet to find a jacket. “How many times do I have to apologize for that?” he snapped, knowing full well he hadn’t apologized enough, but too shaken to try now.
It was all a lie.
“At least one more!” he heard her yell from the other side of the room. “Where are you going?”
“I’m getting dressed!” Hawk shook the coat at her, realized he’d mislaid his tie, and decided it didn’t matter. “So we can go down to breakfast.”
Since she was still standing there in just her drawers, stockings, and boots, it was a foolish claim, and the way she rolled her eyes proved it. “Surely, after yesterday and your talk with Bull, this is not a surprise to you.”
“What? That ye and Rupert and yer cousin showed up on my doorstep to prove me guilty of murder? That ye lied and manipulated?—”
“I never lied to you!”
“Och, so ye admit ye manipulated me!” Hawk tried to shove one arm into his jacket, missed, tried again, realized he was holding it backwards, and decided he was too angry to care. “Dear God, Marcia!” he cried as he tossed the damn thing to the carpet. “Did ye fook me because ye were manipulating me? Ye were trying to get closer to me? Isthatwhy ye went through my finances?”
Her chin rose in defiance of his accusations.
“Ifookedyou because you said you still loved me.”
“Idolove ye!” His hands were balled into fists at his side, as he practically vibrated with anger. “Answer the God-damned questions!”
His shout seemed to echo about the room in the sudden silence.
Slowly, Marcia uncrossed her arms and lowered them to her side. Holding his gaze, she took a deep breath, held it…and then nodded. “Fine. I-I used what we once had to try to get closer to you and find the evidence the Crown was demanding.”
He remembered what she’d told him yesterday—Christ, had it only been yesterday?—about the Crown and public opinion being against him. He remembered how relieved she’d been when he swore that he hadn’t hurt his family; it had been Bull’s response as well.
Relief. Because they’d been sure he was guilty.
